Medical
marijuana involves use of marijuana as drug for the cure of various diseases
and symptoms like cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, migraine headaches, pain and
weight loss etc. Medical marijuana is not covered under insurance since it is
not sold over the counter in pharmacies. Medical cannabis is available through dispensaries or can be cultivated at home by patients but only on prescription
by doctor or on holding medical cannabis ID card.
Marijuana
has many side effects and smoking it (even for medical purposes) can have
serious side effects. Burning marijuana leaves or buds can produced 50% to 70%
more carcinogens than tobacco cigarettes. So you can well imagine the side
effects it can have on the immune system. So for patients who have never smoked
or who don’t wish to smoke cannabis for medical use, there are alternative ways
they can consume medical cannabis.
Marijuana
has many side effects and smoking it (even for medical purposes) can have
serious side effects. Burning marijuana leaves or buds can produced 50% to 70%
more carcinogens than tobacco cigarettes. So you can well imagine the side
effects it can have on the immune system. So for patients who have never smoked
or who don’t wish to smoke cannabis for medical use, there are alternative ways
they can consume medical cannabis.
Non-smoking options for medical
cannabis
Before
anything else, it is important to know and understand that medical marijuana is
only and strictly doctor prescribed treatment and should be consumed in
accordance to doctor’s instructions. Anyone prescribed with medical cannabis,
but does not want to consume it by smoking can go in for the following options.
- Vaporizers
Marijuana
vapors are one of the very sought after alternative for smoking marijuana.
Inhaling marijuana is not as harmful as smoking it, and can be taken by
patients easily. Vaporizers are available as battery powered models or as
handheld device with plug in points. The vaporizer heats up marijuana leaves to
vaporize the THC (without burning the plant), the patient can easily breath in
the beneficial vapors without the toxic smoke. Marijuana in vapor form is
healthier for the lungs than smoking and is also more cost effective. Anyone
prescribed with medical marijuana can take home a vaporizer (available in
various price ranges) and inhale the maximum amount of THC with least side
effects.
- Cannabis in edible form
Medical
cannabis can also be heated and made into butter or oil. Cannabis flowered
leaves and tops can be submerged into butter or vegetable oil for a few hours.
Heating cannabis in butter for several hours transfers the THC and other
cannabis contents into the butter (oil). The butter/oil can then be filtered
and solid plant materials can be removed. The butter available is dark greenish
solution. This can be used in baking cookies, brownies and cakes etc., or can be
added to sauce etc, which can then be consumed by the patient. This cannabinoid
solution can also be mixed with drinks.
Consuming
THC in food or drink can be a slow affecting process. THC taken with food or
drink does not absorb in the blood stream very quickly (like when smoked). So,
patients often don’t have control on how much drug they consume. It is
important to keep a check on how much cannabis has been consumed when
administering the drug in edible form.
- Tinctures
Cannabis leaves and flowered tops are soaked in
alcohol. The plant materials transfer THC and other cannabinoid to the alcohol.
Patients can then consume this tincture directly (in small quantity) or can add
it to food or beverage. The tincture can also be applied to the skin.
