First Time Medical Marijuana Patients Guide to Buying and Using Cannabis

Posted on February 6, 2022
Medical Marijuana

You likely have some questions and concerns about using medical marijuana to treat your medical condition if you’ve just decided to try it. The medical marijuana industry is very new, and many things to learn.

However, let’s start at the beginning. When choosing a medical marijuana option, you need to ensure that it is appropriate for your health condition. Talking with your physician is always a good idea. Furthermore, knowing whether medical marijuana is legal in your city, province, or country is essential. The rules for who qualifies for medical marijuana and how it can be legally used may vary from province to province. If you need a legal certificate or medical marijuana card, make sure you check with your province’s designated department.

Ask your health care provider lots of questions when applying for a medical marijuana card. During your appointment, you should also let your doctor know if you have any concerns about smoking marijuana compared to other methods. In addition, there are things to know about the product itself – this means that not all buds are created equal.

You must also consider safety considerations, know how to obtain your medical marijuana, and choose the right product. All of these factors will play a role in your decision.

Conditions Treated by Medical Marijuana

If you are considering medical marijuana treatment, ensure your specific health condition can be treated with the drug and that you are legally permitted to do so.

It is common for consumers to be confused about when to utilize marijuana for medical purposes due to the many misconceptions surrounding the medical marijuana industry. Medical marijuana may even be ineffective for treating their condition, and many doubt its health benefits.

The following symptoms can be treated with medical cannabis:

  • PTSD
  • Cancer
  • Eating disorders
  • Chronic pain
  • Arthritis
  • Epilepsy
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Glaucoma
  • Hepatitis C
  • ALS
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Various other chronic or debilitating diseases and conditions

This is not a comprehensive or official list. Check with your healthcare provider to determine whether your condition is eligible for medical marijuana treatments.

Before You Visit an Online Weed Dispensary

To legally use marijuana to treat your condition, you must first talk to your certified medical healthcare practitioner. It could be a physician, psychiatrist, RN, or other medical professionals. 

Where Can You Buy High-Quality Cannabis?

Medicinal cannabis products can be legally purchased in various places like an online cannabis dispensary. You must, however, be sure that your province has approved them as a distributor of medical marijuana. There are many different dispensaries legally authorized to sell medicinal marijuana products. Every company is a separate company, so it should carry a different product line, provide a different service and have its own staff.

Other names for medical marijuana dispensaries include wellness clinics and compassion clinics. In addition to medical cannabis products, wellness clinics provide health and wellness programs to patients.

Choosing Your Weed Product

As a beginner, you may be overwhelmed by the number of products available. Because of this, choosing a reputable dispensary is essential. Having a positive experience with medical marijuana depends on having a knowledgeable and compassionate staff. Know the following:

1. Choosing a Weed Strain

Cannabis products are classified as strains or varieties depending on what type of cannabis product they are. Medicinal marijuana products are classified according to their strains, which is a type of plant. Strains differ in how much effect they have and what kind of experience they offer. Within each strain, there are multiple subtypes.

In general, marijuana strains can be classified into the following categories.

Cannabis Sativa: 

The plants that grow in equatorial regions are tall cannabis plants known as sativas. Medical marijuana in the sativa variety usually stimulates creativity and physical activity. Sativa products are therefore used to treat conditions such as depression and chronic fatigue.

Cannabis Indica: 

Indica plants are shorter than sativas and usually grow in mountainous regions. These plants also produce thicker resin coats to protect themselves. The medicinal benefits of Indica strains indicate they provide relaxation. It helps calm nerves and relieves pain, making Indicas an ideal treatment for insomnia or chronic pain.

Cannabis Hybrids: 

Indica and Sativa plants are combined to create hybrid cannabis plants. The combination of the two produces multiple effects. Hybrid plants are usually recommended for medical marijuana patients who have particular symptom needs. For beginners with severe medical conditions, hybrids are recommended for their ability to tailor the effects.

2. THC and CBD Levels

When purchasing medical marijuana, the level of THC in the strain is one of the most fundamental factors to consider.

Marijuana’s psychoactive effects are due to the active compound in the cannabis plant, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). The potency of the psychoactive effects of marijuana depends on the concentration of THC in the product. As a rule, first-time users should use low THC levels to avoid a bad or scary experience with psychoactive compounds.

Rather, most experts will suggest that first-time consumers purchase products with lower levels of THC and higher levels of CBD (cannabidiol). CBD does not have the psychoactive effect of THC. CBD’s relaxing effects reduce THC’s anxiety-inducing effects. Before consuming any medicinal marijuana product, it is vital to inquire about THC to CBD ratio.

3. Try Different Strains

The quality of medical marijuana varies from producer to producer and product to product, just as it does with pharmaceutical drugs. Each of these drugs has different effects on different individuals. Buying decisions should be based on your own needs and reactions to the product. As a beginner, you won’t have any experience to draw upon. To determine which strains or varieties work best for you, experts suggest trying small amounts of each.

4. Choose Your Delivery Method

Following the selection of the appropriate marijuana strain for you based on your personal needs, you will need to choose the delivery method. Once again, this is a matter of personal choice, as different ways of consuming marijuana affect different patients in different ways. You must talk with your doctor ahead of time if you have any questions about marijuana consumption methods. To make the best choice for your personal preferences, be sure to ask lots of questions.

Marijuana can be consumed in a variety of ways, but the most common methods are:

Smoking: 

Marijuana is most commonly consumed by smoking. Marijuana is primarily smoked because it is easier to obtain and provides better dose control. It usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the acute effects of smoking marijuana to subside. Smoking, however, can lead to severe throat irritation and coughing fits. People often avoid smoking because of this irritation.

Vaporizing: 

Vaping has become one of the most popular methods of experiencing marijuana effects for the first time, and it is seen as the easiest and most convenient way to do so. It has fewer harsh side effects on the throat and lungs than smoking. In addition to the convenient refillable pens for beginners, vaporizers for beginners are also available in handy bottles.

Ingesting: 

Edibles are used to consume marijuana. People new to medical marijuana usually opt for this option as they don’t want to smoke cannabis. To consume edible marijuana in small amounts at a slow pace, it is recommended to do so slowly. Compared to smoking marijuana, the effects of eating it are delayed.

Topical: 

Cannabis topicals can be applied directly to the skin as lotions or balms. As cannabis is absorbed through the skin, localized pain and inflammation are relieved. Topical application is much more effective than oral consumption when treating specific conditions, such as arthritis or other inflammatory conditions. Since topicals often don’t cause a “high” effect, they are also an excellent alternative for those who want to relieve symptoms without triggering any psychoactive effects.

Conclusion

If you are thinking about using cannabis to treat your condition, the most important thing is to talk to your healthcare provider. They can safely guide you through the process and advise you on which strain and consumption method to choose. IF you want to buy the highest quality weed strains that help alleviate your symptoms, contact us at our online weed dispensary and browse through our extensive collection of cannabis products.

Written by: I Love Smoke

Written by: I Love Smoke

‘I Love Smoke’ got established with the idea of making weed available in different regions of Canada, including Hamilton, Woodstock, and Cambridge, at reasonable prices.

If you are searching for high-quality weed products, such as flowers, concentrates, and edibles, I Love Smoke is your source for everything Weed. 

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, and we'll be happy to assist you in every way we can.