What Is The Best Way To Use Medical Cannabis?

Cannabis consumers can be separated into two broad categories, medical users and recreational consumers. While some consider themselves part of both categories, others identify as only one or the other.

So apart from the terminology, is there any difference between medical and recreational cannabis? Hope not to confuse you, but the correct answer is both “yes and no.” Let's try to define it in simpler terms.

Both medical and recreational cannabis come from the same genus of plant. Recreational cannabis is weed that contains THC in large enough quantities to be considered psychoactive. Under the majority of jurisdictions around the world, this is what makes cannabis illegal. If it does not have THC, it will generally be considered 'hemp'.

THC is the main constituent of the cannabis plant that gets you high. People who seek this experience consume “recreational” cannabis - to have fun. But THC also has medicinal potential, along with the hundreds of other active compounds in the plant. Therefore, high-THC plants are medicinal too. For example, more and more individuals with PTSD are turning to THC to help with their condition.

THE BEST WAY TO CONSUME MEDICAL CANNABIS

The best way to consume medical cannabis is really up to the individual to decide. Not all ailments are equal, and all methods of delivery have their pros and cons.

Below, we take a look at some of most tried and tested methods of medicinal cannabis delivery.

SMOKING MEDICAL CANNABIS

Smoking cannabis is when you inhale smoke derived from combusted plant material. This can be in the form of a joint (without tobacco!), a bong (water-pipe), or just a regular pipe.

Pros:

• Most cost-effective and common method
• Very fast onset of effects - particularly beneficial for pain relief
• Very easy to dose

Cons:

• Combustion of plant matter produces toxic by-products and carbon monoxide
• Lung irritant - not suited for those with pulmonary issues

VAPING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

We are not referring to the e-cigarette type with glycol-based liquids. Anyone who smokes medical cannabis should look into acquiring a quality vaporizer. The reason is quite simple; it has all the benefits of smoking medical weed, without the health disadvantages. There are two main types, portable and desktop. For the more serious medical patients, we recommend a high-end desktop model.

Pros:

• No combustion - vaporizers use hot air to sublimate resin glands into a vapor
• Best models allow you to regulate temperature settings to target specific cannabinoids, terpenes, and effects
• Higher accuracy of cannabinoid dosing
• Relatively low equipment maintenance
• Portable models are inconspicuous

Cons:

• Requires the initial cost of equipment
• Different high than smoking
• Unique taste - some cannabis patients enjoy the more “pure” flavour while others need time to adapt

EATING MEDICAL CANNABIS - EDIBLES

Eating medical cannabis is a great way to deliver cannabinoids. Edibles come in many shapes and forms - baked, candy, ice cream, soup - virtually anything you can think of can be infused with cannabis.

There is just one big caveat – if using high-THC strains, it is very easy to over-consume and get extremely high for an impressively long time. There is also some variation between plants of the same strain. Therefore, even the most modern processes of producing edibles offer no guarantee of complete consistency between batches.

Pros:

• Huge diversity of options
• Very efficient method of delivery - effects last much longer than smoking or vaping
• More dosing accuracy than with “old-school” edibles
• Possibly the most inconspicuous method of delivery
• No toxins ingested from smoke - ideal for patients

Cons:

• Onset is quite slow - takes up to one hour before effects kick in
• Unique onset can lead patients to accidentally over-consume
• THC high is quite different, offering more “psychedelic” effects that some do not like
• Over-consumption can be quite debilitating regarding social interaction

MEDICAL CANNABIS TINCTURES - SUBLINGUAL METHOD

Tinctures are extractions from the cannabis plant made using alcohol, glycerin, or MCT oils. Tinctures can be made to varying degrees of strength, and are easily ingested.

Tinctures work very well using the sublingual method of delivery. Just a few drops under your tongue and try not to swallow too often for several minutes. This will allow the active molecules to go straight into the bloodstream, bypassing the whole digestive system.

In lay terms, these cannabinoids will work in a slightly different way, but are equally effective.

Pros:

• Very precise dosing
• Faster onset than edibles - does not rival smoking, but effects are felt within minutes
• Possibly the ideal delivery method patients with special needs

Cons:

• Can be quite expensive depending on dosing requirements
• Some dislike tinctures made with alcohol
• Many Tinctures do not taste good

DABBING MEDICAL CANNABIS CONCENTRATES

Medical cannabis concentrates come in many forms with slang terms like hot wax, butane hash oil (BHO), rosin, shatter, budder, and more. Generally speaking, they are all similar end products of an extraction method that uses a solvent. This solvent will remove the resin glands from the plant, then a second step purges the solvent, leaving behind a near-pure concentrate. In some cases, THC content can exceed 90%.

Dabbing is the term used for inhaling concentrate through a dabber or dab rig. A dabber is the required apparatus to heat the oil, quickly sublimating it into a cloud that is promptly inhaled through a water-pipe to cool it down before it enters the lungs.

Pros:

• Much stronger than most methods
• Fastest and most efficient way to provide near-instant medical effects
• Very cost-effective as a means to deliver large quantities of cannabinoids
• Lack of plant matter results in a better-tasting, more pure product

Cons:

• Low-quality concentrates leave behind solvent residue, which is toxic
• Dabbing increases THC tolerance quickly
• Cumbersome, expensive, and unattractive use of a full dab rig
• Extremely dangerous to make - classic disclaimer - do not try this at home unless you know exactly what you are doing and have the right equipment

DRINKING MEDICAL CANNABIS INFUSIONS

In most aspects, this is very similar to eating infused edibles. The main difference is that the onset will be marginally faster since the molecules in liquid form are easier to digest. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you’re particularly thirsty, you run the risk of over-consuming.

Speaking of tea and other beverages you can infuse, remember that you will require a solvent as the resin glands of the cannabis plant are hydrophobes. This means that water alone cannot dissolve plant trichomes and extract cannabinoids. You will need an alcohol-based add-on or an oil base like butter or coconut oil - both of which can add unwanted tastes and side-effects.

But cannabis culinary science has been evolving with leaps and bounds. There are many commercial options tailored to all sorts of different medical and recreational consumers.

TOPICAL/TRANSDERMAL MEDICAL CANNABIS INTAKE

This simple method uses a typical patch placed over the affected area of skin. In practical terms, application is similar to that of a nicotine patch. There are patches of different sizes and concentrations and they are even surprisingly easy to make at home if you can source the right materials.

Pros:

• Relatively quick onset and long-lasting (up to 10 hours in some cases)
• If containing THC, it will not be as strong as edibles
• Very practical

Cons:

• Can be quite expensive - quality products can cost upwards of $16 a patch
• Some may experience an allergic reaction
• May require removal of excessive body hair to work correctly

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO CONSUME MEDICAL CANNABIS?

As you can see, there is no single solution to all problems. And not all individuals have equal tastes, preferences, and tolerances. Also, there is still much we need to learn about this wonderful plant and its medical potential.

The best thing to do is to experiment after becoming well-informed. But never forget, there is no such thing as a lethal cannabis overdose. While you can technically overdose on THC, the results are non-life-threatening, albeit occasionally uncomfortable. So do not fear experimentation. Even if you accidentally consume a massive quantity of super strong chocolate chip cookies, the worst thing that will happen is you will be extremely high for a few hours. As they say, preparation goes a long way.

Steven Voser

Steven Voser is an independent cannabis journalist with over 6 years of experience writing about all things weed; how to grow it, how best to enjoy it, and the booming industry and murky legal landscape surrounding it.

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