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Medical cannabis is so defined as it refers to the homonymous plant which has two active ingredients or the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and the CBD cannabidiol e it differs from the recreational one for a number of factors and characteristics and therefore deserve to analyze them in depth if you intend to know more.
What is the difference between medical cannabis and recreational cannabis?
In general, there are strict guidelines on medical cannabis production; in fact, it has been formulated to offer some form of relief for the symptoms associated with a particular disease, or to counteract the side effects of other medical therapies.
Conversely, recreational cannabis use causes feelings of intoxication or mood swings. That said, it should also be added that sometimes this distinction becomes confusing if people use cannabis purchased for recreational use for what they perceive as medical reasons, or if medical cannabis is used by people more interested in being intoxicated.
But the purpose of the two products is quite different and therefore the evaluation must be done seriously.
Where is the research in terms of supporting the use of medical cannabis?
Evidence for the medical use of cannabinoids, or chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, is still considered “scant” when it comes to treating a range of medical conditions.
The guidelines that doctors now follow specifically address the use of cannabinoids for manage pain, nausea and vomiting and the muscle spasticity, and that they are the pathologies on which the most research has been done.
Obviously, we are talking about the products that must be known before consumption. So you don’t need a cannabis guide or manual, just know the risks and benefits of these products.
At the moment, there is not much evidence for or against the use of medical cannabis for most other conditions, at least until they are made official by the relevant bodies.
How does medical cannabis affect your health?
To your question of whether medical cannabis can help you sleep better, the answer is quite complex; in fact, you need to know that some people shouldn’t use it and especially those under 25 years old, as they run a high risk of encountering problems due to their nervous system which is not yet fully developed.
Even individuals with a psychiatric condition (psychosis, depression, anxiety or addiction) are at high risk of encountering problems using medical cannabis.
The damages of medical cannabis at the aforementioned age are also linked to the dose which must not exceed 400 mg since this weight contains 9% THC. The amount of cannabidiol present in cannabis should instead be at least equal and preferably greater than that of THC. In fact, cannabidiol it does not affect cognition or perception and may be responsible for the beneficial effects of cannabis.
What kind of problems does medical cannabis solve?
The guidelines of medical aids recommend limiting the use of cannabinoids in general, but they support potential limited use for a small subset of conditions that there is evidence to draw from.
These conditions range from neuropathic pain to palliative and end-of-life pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting or muscle twitching from multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. Having said that, it should however be added that medical cannabis can be smoked, vaporized, or taken orally, as well as mixed with food or candy.
On the sidelines you must also know that There are some interactions between medical cannabis and anticoagulants, anti-platelet medications or with certain herbs and supplements that aim to reduce blood clotting.
Medical cannabis can in fact increase the impact of these substances, with the potential risk of dangerous bleeding. Consulting your doctor is therefore a good option before taking any type of cannabis for medical purposes.
