Medical marijuana (MMJ) has become increasingly popular across the US as more and more people become aware of its health benefits. MMJ can relieve the symptoms of a variety of health conditions, and is an effective treatment for many mental and physical illnesses. For many patients, MMJ provides essential pain relief and is an important step on the road to recovery.

The best way to access MMJ safely, legally, and easily across the US is through use of a valid MMJ card. Each state has its own laws surrounding the sale and purchase of MMJ. It’s important to research individual state regulations to find out more about qualifying conditions, where to purchase MMJ, what form it is sold in, and how much you can buy. For more information on state-by-state regulations and on accessing your state’s MMJ card through MMJRecs, check out this page.

What are the qualifying conditions for an MMJ card?

Some of the conditions that usually respond well to MMJ treatment, and that often qualify for a state MMJ card, include:

• AIDS
• Anorexia
• Arthritis
• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Glaucoma
• Migraines
• Persistent muscle spasms
• Seizures, including those associated with epilepsy
• Severe nausea

Of course, the qualifying conditions for an MMJ card vary from state to state, so be sure to check out the conditions applicable to your own state to see if this applies to you.

Side effects of MMJ

MMJ, including both THC and CBD, can have side effects. Of course, this is true of almost any medication. These side effects can be both short-term and long-term, and differ between THC and CBD. THC is more likely to cause increased anxiety, increased heart rate, dry mouth, and altered judgement. CBD has been linked to short-term effects such as dizziness, fatigue, weight loss, and diarrhea.

However, most people do not suffer from severe side effects, and find that the positive effects of MMJ outweigh the negatives. Fortunately, a wide range of MMJ products now exists, allowing access to multiple strains and ways of dosing – from vapes to edibles to pre-rolls and even lotions. This variety means users of MMJ have more choice in finding the product that suits them.

Medical marijuana and blood thinning: does medical marijuana thin your blood?

CBD may interact with some blood thinning medication, increasing its effects. It’s very important to discuss this with your physician. They will ask about your medical history and the medications you are prescribed during your evaluation for an MMJ card. It is important that you’re truthful about your medical history during this process, as it ensures your safety.

Is CBD considered a blood thinner? There is ongoing research into the effects of CBD on its own in terms of thinning the blood. CBD affects the same systems at blood thinners do. However, research is ongoing into all its potential effects. It’s not totally clear at this stage whether CBD can thin the blood on its own, or to what extent this may occur. It is true, however, that CBD has the potential to exaggerate the effects of blood thinning medication. That’s why it’s so important to discuss your MMJ treatment with a medical professional.

How can I access an MMJ card?

Each state has its own rules surrounding MMJ, and some states are more restrictive than others. If you have one of the qualifying conditions for your state’s MMJ card, you can set up a quick and easy online consultation through the MMJRecs portal. This typically takes up to ten minutes, and can be done from the comfort of your own home.

The application process is generally relatively simple and involves registering with the relevant state body upon your physician’s approval. Once you have your MMJ card, you’re free to purchase MMJ at the dispensaries in your state (and sometimes you can use your MMJ card to purchase in other states, too – though this varies). So what are you waiting for? Book your online consultation today!

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Iowa’s medical marijuana program was created in 2014. It began as a very limited program, but was expanded in 2017 and 2020. Today, we’ll go through the process of how to get a medical marijuana card in Iowa in 2022.

Does Iowa Have Medical Marijuana?

Yes, Iowa has medical marijuana! Initially, when the Iowa MMJ program was introduced, patients were limited to low-THC preparations. This changed in 2020, and Iowa now allows patients access to higher-THC preparations. However, only medical marijuana preparations are legal in Iowa. Raw MMJ flower is still currently prohibited.

How Easy Is It To Get A Medical Card In Iowa?

The Iowa medical marijuana program is user-friendly, and getting a medical card in Iowa is a straightforward process. The list of qualifying conditions for Iowa MMJ is relatively long and inclusive.

Can You Get A Medical Card Online In Iowa?

The quickest and easiest way to apply for an Iowa medical marijuana card is online at the Iowa Office of Medical Cannabidiol website.

How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card In Iowa

So, how do I get my Iowa MMJ card in 2022? The first step is to have a telemedicine consultation with an Iowa MMJ doctor. This can be done at the MMJRecs online clinic. The doctor will complete the Practitioner Certification Form and email it to you within two business days.

Once you’ve received your patient certification from the doctor, you will need to fill out an online patient application for the medical marijuana program on the Iowa State website. You will include a copy of a valid state-issued driver’s license or ID and the necessary payment.

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Medical Card In Iowa In 2022?

The following medical conditions qualify a person for MMJ treatment in Iowa in 2022:

• Cancer – if the illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, cachexia or severe wasting
• Seizures
• Crohn’s disease
• Chronic pain
• Multiple sclerosis with severe and persistent muscle spasms
• AIDS or HIV
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Any terminal illness with a probable life expectancy of under one year – if the illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, cachexia or severe wasting
• Ulcerative colitis
• Severe, intractable autism (pediatric or adult) with self-injurious or aggressive behaviors
• Corticobasal degeneration

How Much Does A Medical Card Cost In Iowa?

The standard state application fee for an Iowa MMJ card is $100. The fee will be reduced to $25 if you can provide a copy of a Social Security Disability Benefit notice, proof of receipt of Supplemental Security Income Payment, an Iowa Medicaid member card, or a Hawk-I member card.

Where Can You Buy Medical Marijuana In Iowa?

You can purchase medical marijuana in one of Iowa’s MMJ dispensaries. Medical marijuana dispensaries are operating in five locations spread across the state.

How Many Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Are In Iowa?

Iowa law allows only five medical marijuana dispensaries and two licensed MMJ manufacturers. Iowa MMJ dispensaries are located in Iowa City, Waterloo, Des Moines, Sioux City, and Council Bluffs.

What MMJ Products Are Available In Iowa?

The following medical marijuana products are available in Iowa:

• Oral tablets, capsules, liquids, and tinctures
• Topical gels, ointments, creams, lotions, and transdermal patches
• Vapes
• Suppositories – rectal and vaginal

Medical marijuana flower and home cultivation are illegal in Iowa. All medical marijuana products in Iowa are labeled with a CBD:THC ratio for easy identification.

How Much MMJ Can You Legally Possess In Iowa?

Iowa medical marijuana patients are allowed to buy MMJ products containing up to a total of 4.5 grams of THC in a 90-day period. A patient can be exempt from this rule if they have a terminal illness or if their doctor signs a waiver form.

Does Iowa Practice Medical Marijuana Card Reciprocity?

Out-of-state medical marijuana patients with valid MMJ cards from their home states can possess and use MMJ in Iowa, but they are not able to purchase MMJ products from an Iowa dispensary.

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Crohn’s disease affects over three million people in America. It is a chronic condition that can develop at any age, usually during adolescence or early adulthood. So, can medical marijuana help relieve Crohn’s disease symptoms? Read on for all you need to know.

MMJ For Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease can be painful and debilitating. There is no known cure, but medical marijuana is being used to treat the symptoms of Crohn’s with a lot of reported success.

What Is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the small and/or large intestines and/or bowels. Crohn’s can cause a person to lose weight, become malnourished, and experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue.

What Are The Symptoms Of Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe. It lasts for an indefinite duration of time and is often a lifelong condition. It usually develops gradually and can go into remission for periods of time.

The most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are:

• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Blood in stool
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Mouth sores
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Pain or drainage around the anus
• Inflamed skin, eyes, or joints
• Inflamed liver or bile ducts
• Kidney stones
• Iron deficiency
• Delayed growth in children

What Are The Causes Of Crohn’s Disease?

In patients with Crohn’s disease, the body mistakes harmless bacteria for harmful foreign invaders, which results in the immune system responding with chronic inflammation. This in turn leads to ulceration and intestinal wall damage.

The causes of Crohn’s disease are not yet fully known, but research suggests that genetic and environmental factors contribute to its onset.

What Are The Treatments For Crohn’s Disease?

There is no known cure for Crohn’s disease. However, there are several treatments that help to alleviate its symptoms. These include:

• Medicines that reduce immune system response, such as steroids and immunomodulators.
• Medicines that help to control inflammation, such as aminosalicylates.
• Biologic therapy medicines that neutralize proteins made by the immune system, which decreases inflammation.
• Bowel rest (this involves fasting or reducing food and liquid intake).
• Surgery.
• Medical marijuana.

Can Medical Marijuana Help Relieve Crohn’s Disease Symptoms?

Studies have shown that medical marijuana can ease the symptoms of Crohn’s disease and lead to improvements in the quality of life of Crohn’s sufferers. However, no evidence was found to suggest that MMJ treatment can result in clinical remission.

How Does MMJ Help Treat Crohn’s Disease?

Medical marijuana helps to treat Crohn’s disease by relieving symptoms. MMJ can help to reduce chronic pain and nausea, increase mood, decrease stress response, and aid sleep.

Does CBD Help Crohn’s Disease?

CBD can improve the symptoms of Crohn’s by easing pain and increasing relaxation, and there is some evidence to suggest that cannabinoids can help to reduce inflammation. However, no studies have shown that CBD reduces the inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease.

How Much CBD Should You Take To Treat Crohn’s Disease?

It is always wise to treat with the smallest effective dose of medical marijuana or CBD. Start to treat your Crohn’s with a small dose of CBD or MMJ and slowly increase the dose if necessary as time passes.

What Is The Best Strain For Treating Crohn’s Disease?

The following MMJ strains have potent pain relief effects and are reported to be especially effective at treating Crohn’s disease symptoms:

• Medicine Man (hybrid strain)
• Golden Pineapple (hybrid strain)
• Chemo Marijuana (Indica strain)
• Jean Guy (Sativa strain)

Is It Better To Consume Edibles Rather Than Smoke When Treating Crohn’s Disease?

Both MMJ edibles and smoking marijuana can be effective in treating Crohn’s symptoms. Edibles reduce the risk that a person will get smoking-related diseases such as emphysema and cancer. However, when a Crohn’s sufferer is engaging in bowel rest treatment, smoking can be a better option than edibles.

How Can You Get An MMJ Card For Crohn’s Disease Treatment?

To get a medical marijuana card for Crohn’s disease, visit the MMJRecs online clinic and have a consultation with an MMJ doctor in your state. Once the doctor has verified your suitability for MMJ treatment, they will immediately email you an MMJ physician certification form.

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When the COVID-19 pandemic began, medical researchers were scrambling to find the best way to treat the viral infection. With numbers rising and deaths beginning to accumulate, the race was on to ensure that as few people as possible experienced the worst possible fate after contracting the infection. With that research came various treatment options, some of which were shown to be viable, with others being deemed unsuitable.

One such treatment option that researchers have looked into is medical cannabis. With the therapeutic effects of cannabis well-studied in recent years, many claims behind cannabis treatment for various health conditions have been validated several times over. But can cannabis be used to help treat COVID-19?

Can cannabis help treat COVID-19?

Considering the sheer number of medical conditions medical cannabis has been proven to help treat symptoms of, it’s only natural that people may be wondering if it can help with COVID-19. Some studies have found that cannabis does in fact play a role in the healing of COVID-19. One study published in January 2021 found that its impact on something called a cytokine storm makes it a possible medicinal tool that can be used to help people with the infection.

A cytokine storm occurs when the immune system goes into hyperdrive to help fight off an infection. While that may seem to be a good thing, it’s actually detrimental to health and can cause worsened cases of COVID-19. When a cytokine storm occurs, the immune cells known as cytokines signal the immune system to fight harder. But it can fight so hard that it is unable to stop itself and ends up attacking healthy cells in the body. The immune cells can begin to affect the liver, cause blood clots to form, and cause the lungs to fill up with fluid. Since COVID-19 affects the lungs, a cytokine storm is not a good outcome for those who have the viral infection.

The aforementioned study looked at cannabis and how it could hinder the development of a cytokine storm, and found that it was able to reduce cytokine pathways that led to an increase in immune action, essentially blocking a cytokine storm from actually occurring. (It should be noted that since COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, smoking cannabis is not recommended, as smoke can contribute to further lung damage.)

CBD and long COVID

Now that the virus has been around for a while, researchers are realizing that it can leave lasting effects. A condition known as “long COVID” is being used to describe the long-term health effects that can occur after a person has contracted and recovered from the initial infection.

Symptoms associated with long COVID include:

• Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Worsened symptoms after physical or mental activities
• Brain fog
• Coughing
• Chronic pain in the chest, stomach, joints, muscles, or head
• Heart palpitations
• Pins and needles in the extremities
• Mood changes
• Dizziness upon standing
• Sleep disturbances
• Fever
• Rash
• Changes in smell or taste
• Menstrual cycle disruptions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these symptoms can last for months following the initial infection.

While not all of these symptoms can be mitigated by CBD, research has shown that some can be helped. Chronic pain, for example, has been shown to be greatly reduced by the intake of CBD because of the way it affects serotonin, the chemical associated with happiness, joy, and feelings of wellbeing. Serotonin also plays a role in pain signaling.

CBD has also shown to be effective at helping:

• Sleep disturbances: Cannabinoids have been shown to help improve sleep quality and sleep disturbances. This could also help with fatigue and tiredness.
• Mood changes: CBD has proven to be a helpful aid in the treatment of anxiety and other mood disorders.

Because of the effects that cannabis has on things like chronic pain, sleep, and mood disorders, CBD could be a viable option in the management of the symptoms of long COVID. It can also be helpful in the recovery of COVID-19 by helping to lessen the severity of some of the symptoms. While more research is needed in this area, the studies produced so far show promising results when it comes to the use of cannabis and cannabinoid products to help treat and manage COVID-19 and the resulting health effects it can have on people.

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On April 17, 2016, Pennsylvania’s governor legalized the use of medical marijuana in the state, and from February 15^th, 2018, those with a need for medical marijuana because of various health conditions were able to purchase and use cannabis legally. The medical relief provided by these new laws helped many patients who had been suffering from long-term conditions.

To get medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, patients have to register through the medical marijuana registry, be certified by a physician, pay for their medical marijuana ID card, and obtain their medication from approved dispensaries across the state. When it comes to medical marijuana laws in Pennsylvania, some might be unsure of what is OK and what isn’t, especially when it comes to their workplace. So, does having a medical marijuana card in the state of Pennsylvania make it more difficult to get and keep a job? Can you get fired for having a medical card in Pennsylvania? Let’s find out.

Getting a job with a medical card in Pennsylvania

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, over half a million people in the state have a medical marijuana card for various health conditions such as cancer and epilepsy. There are some complications when it comes to work due to the fact that marijuana is still illegal on a federal level. The state of Pennsylvania does provide some protection for those looking for a job with medical marijuana cards; however, this protection is limited.

The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act was launched to help those who are looking for work in the state at the same time as using medical marijuana. Since many people have debilitating health conditions, the use of marijuana as medicine can help to curb or lessen their symptoms, making them more able to perform work tasks.

Can my employer find out I have a medical card?

As per the laws surrounding medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, your employer does not have to be privy to the fact that you have a medical marijuana card. You do not have to disclose to your employer that you use medical marijuana off hours for a debilitating health condition, and chances are they will not ask. In the event that they do ask about your medical marijuana card status (since it is not against the law to inquire about), the best approach is to tell them the truth.

In the event that you are applying for a job that performs drug tests, you should be prepared to be upfront about your medical marijuana card status and provide your supporting documentation. Since it is against the law for an employer to refuse hiring you if you use medical marijuana, that should not hinder your chances of securing a job.

Can an employer fire you for using CBD oil?

In the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act, there are some anti-discrimination protections for patients when it comes to their jobs. These protections are meant to help people when it comes to getting hired (or fired) from their respective employment. The laws say that employees cannot be fired, threatened, refused employment, or otherwise discriminated against on the grounds that they have a medical marijuana card and use medical marijuana.

This means that if you are looking for work or you’re already employed and you have a medical marijuana card, an employer cannot legally fire you or refuse to hire you for using cannabis as medicine. These laws were put into place to help employees when it comes to random drug testing.

Can I use medical marijuana while at work?

When it comes to where you use your medical marijuana, the laws can be a little bit more complicated. It is typically up to the employer whether or not you are able to use your medical marijuana while on the job, depending on how well you can perform and whether the use of MMJ affects the safety of yourself or others around you.

Pennsylvania laws do not force employers’ hands when it comes to accommodations for the use of medical marijuana by employees at their business. If you are using MMJ while at work, it is also up to the employer whether or not to discipline you for being under the influence of a substance while on the job.

Depending on how much THC is in your blood while on the job, employers can also limit your duties, according to the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act. If you have more than 10 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood in your system, you could be restricted from working with chemicals that require a state or federal permit, with high-voltage electricity, or with other public utilities.

Can you pass a drug test with a medical card?

Having a medical marijuana card does not exempt you from drug tests, nor will it help when it comes to testing positive for having marijuana in your system. If you take medical marijuana to help with a chronic health condition, you will test positive for marijuana in your system.

The best way to approach employment in the state of Pennsylvania when you have a medical marijuana card is to know your rights and any limitations that you face.

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As you get older, there are tons of changes that can occur in nearly every part of your body and mind. Some of these signs of aging can be relatively minor and won’t affect your day-to-day life, while others can have a significant impact on your quality of life. So, how do you treat “old age”? Luckily, there are plenty of ways to help keep yourself young (in body and spirit). Here’s a rundown of what you need to know for treating symptoms of “old age”.

What are the signs and symptoms of aging?

There are many symptoms that you might experience that are directly correlated to you getting older. Some of the most common include:

Wrinkles and age spots

These signs on your skin might increase as you age. You’re also more likely to experience dry skin because your body produces fewer natural oils as you get older. Your skin also thins and becomes less elastic, while the fatty tissue just below the skin decreases; this can result in you bruising much more easily.

Changes to your cardiovascular system

For most people, blood vessels and arteries stiffen as you age. This causes your heart to work harder to pump blood. The heart muscles have to adjust to working harder and your heart rate won’t increase much during physical activity anymore. These changes, however, do mean that you’re at an increased risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) and other cardiovascular issues.

Bones that shrink in size and density

Bones typically shrink as you age, which makes them weaker and more susceptible to fracture. This is also why it seems that some people get shorter the older they get.

Muscles that lose strength and flexibility

Weaker and less flexible muscles can end up affecting coordination and balance.Some older individuals are much less steady on their feet than when they were younger; older people are more likely to experience serious falls because of this.

Stiffness in joints

The severity of this can differ depending on the individual, but can be anything from minor stiffness to severe arthritis.

Minor effects on your memory

People can experience memory effects in different ways, such as temporarily forgetting the words for things or being less able to multitask. More serious memory problems like dementia and Alzheimer’s can develop in some individuals.

How can you reduce the symptoms of aging?

You don’t have to just sit back and watch yourself grow older. There are plenty of actions you can take to ensure that you’re staying healthy as you age. To help reduce some of your symptoms, try the following suggestions.

1. Use medical marijuana (MMJ) or CBD

MMJ can be a really helpful tool in combating aging. It can help with everything from chronic pain and loss of appetite to depression and glaucoma. MMJ products are also typically safer than taking prescribed medications and come with much fewer side effects.

If you’re wondering, “Is CBD good for the elderly?”, the answer is yes! CBD products are much easier to acquire than MMJ because they’re legal in all 50 states, and they can be relatively inexpensive (perfect for seniors on a budget). These types of natural products can be gentle on a senior’s system but also incredibly helpful in treating a variety of symptoms of aging.

2. Keep up an active lifestyle with regular physical activity

It’s absolutely crucial to stay active as you age. Moderate exercise can include a variety of activities, including walking, swimming, and yoga, which can all work to keep your heart healthy and prevent additional stiffness or muscle issues.

3. Stick to a healthy diet

Eating a nutritious diet is a key element of good health. Eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods, and lean proteins (such as fish) and you’ll be good to go. It’s okay to treat yourself every now and again, but try to limit foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar, or salt.

4. Don’t smoke

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle means you might have to give up some vices. Quit smoking and drinking in excess to make sure your body is able to function well. Smoking can impact your cardiovascular system and your lungs in significant ways, so kick the habit as soon as possible.

5. Get enough sleep

Most people don’t realize how critical good sleep is when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Quality sleep can help restore your system at night and can heal and repair your heart and blood vessels. You should be getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep every night.

6. Use supplements like vitamin D and calcium

Supplements can help keep your bones strong. Adults should be getting at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. For women 51 and older and for men 71 and older, the recommended amount goes up to 1,200 milligrams. It’s also a good idea to eat a calcium-rich diet full of dairy, broccoli, salmon, etc.

For vitamin D, adults should be consuming at least 600 IU. Adults over the age of 70 should be getting an intake of at least 800 IU. Seniors can get vitamin D from sunlight or food sources such as tuna and eggs.

For both calcium and vitamin D, seniors can also take a daily supplement to get the recommended dose.

7. Stay mentally active

While you focus on your physical health, it’s also important to take care of your brain health as well. To stay alert and sharp, doctors recommend things like reading, word games, new hobbies, or classes as a way to sustain memory and thinking skills. Make sure to remain connected to the world around you – it will help you stay mentally alert.

As you enter “old age”, it’s more important than ever to take care of your health. Follow the above-mentioned tips to help you treat symptoms of aging in a manageable, effective way!

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Cannabinoids are a group of chemical substances that exist both within the human body and in nature. Cannabinoids make up the endocannabinoid system in the body, a system that plays a role in communication between the brain and the body. It has a vital role in many functions within the body, including the immune response, mood, metabolism, and memory.

In medical marijuana, cannabinoids are found in the cannabis sativa plant. There are over 100 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) being the two more notable ones. While THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, CBD is thought the moderate or lessen the psychoactive effects of THC. It can also produce an anti-psychoactive effect.

What are the health benefits of cannabinoids?

Focusing on two specific cannabinoids, THC and CBD, reveals a myriad of different health benefits. THC and CBD have different benefits when ingested medicinally. THC can offer medical relief from the symptoms of several ailments and conditions, including:

• Chronic pain
• Insomnia
• Glaucoma
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Autism

Since CBD offers some health benefits without the psychoactive component of THC, it is an ideal choice for medical marijuana users who don’t wish to experience those particular sensations. CBD has been used for relief of conditions such as:

• Seizures disorders and epilepsy
• Chronic inflammation
• Chronic pain
• Psychosis or mental health disorders including anxiety and depression
• Nausea
• Migraine headaches
• Gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease

What medical conditions can be treated with CBD oil?

The aforementioned medical conditions such as migraines, seizure disorders, and chronic pain and inflammation are all classified as approved conditions for the use of CBD as medicine.

Other health conditions that can benefit from regular use of CBD oil include cancer, neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, and heart disease. Recent studies have found that the use of CBD oil in cancer helped to reduce nausea, vomiting, and pain in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

In the case of neurodegenerative disease, one particular study found that the use of an oral spray known as Sativex was able to reduce spasms in 75% of tested patients. Other studies have found that those with Parkinson’s disease saw an improvement in both sleep quality and overall quality of life following treatment with CBD oil. A study done on mice also found that rodents genetically predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s saw a reduction in cognitive decline with CBD treatment.

The medical use of cannabinoids such as CBD oil for heart disease has shown that those with high blood pressure may experience a reduction in resting blood pressure. One particular study also gave participants stress tests. The patients with a single dose of CBD experienced a lower rise in blood pressure than those who received the placebo.

New research continues to come to light on the use of CBD oil for a plethora of different health conditions, with many studies showing promise in the area of medicinal use of cannabinoids.

What are the side effects of cannabinoids?

Although cannabinoids have been proven to have positive effects on many health conditions, they may also come with a host of different side effects. In the case of THC, side effects can be experienced both in short-term and long-term use.

Short-term THC side effects are temporary and can include:  

• Increased heart rate
• Dry mouth
• Red eyes
• Memory loss
• Increased anxiety
• Slower reaction times
• Lessened coordination abilities
• Altered judgment
• Paranoia and psychosis when ingested in large amounts

The long-term side effects of THC typically only occur when it is taken in heavy doses for a long period of time. Those side effects can include:

• Altered brain development if used during early adolescence
• Chronic bronchitis (typical when ingestion method is smoking)
• An increased risk for developing psychosis disorders such as schizophrenia (in those with a predisposition to develop these disorders)

When it comes to the medical use of CBD, side effects may differ from those of THC. Short-term side effects of CBD include:

• Changes in appetite
• Weight loss
• Dizziness
• Gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea
• Fatigue

Since CBD is largely well tolerated by most people, the side effects are generally mild or non-existent. It can interact with certain medications such as blood thinners, though, so it’s important to take personal health history into account prior to starting a course of CBD treatment.

Methods of ingestion

For those who want to reap the benefits of using medicinal cannabinoids while mitigating risk of developing certain lung issues because of smoking, there are various ways to ingest cannabinoids. Many popular methods include topical creams; edibles such as candy, chocolate, beverages and powders; and oils.

Choosing the right cannabinoid and dosing method for you is important on your journey to wellness. The research for medical marijuana continues to grow, and at present, the benefits of cannabinoids far outweigh the risks for many people suffering from a chronic health condition.

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Medical marijuana (MMJ) can be a useful tool when helping to treat a variety of physical and emotional health conditions. If you’re thinking about applying for an MMJ card or already have one and want to find out more about the rules surrounding MMJ usage, it’s important for you to know the laws around medical marijuana and driving.

Read on for some helpful information that should keep you on the right side of the law!

Can you drive on MMJ?

One of the most commonly asked questions that medical marijuana patients have is whether they’re permitted to drive while under the influence of cannabis. This question is actually quite complex with a lot of different factors.

First off, every MMJ patient is different in terms of the quantity of cannabis they’re ingesting and how often they need to use it. This means that the level of which someone is intoxicated from the MMJ can vary from person to person. Some individuals might not experience a “high” feeling, while others might find themselves in a state that is not conducive to safe driving (experiencing slow reaction times, lack of concentration, etc.).

What is the legal limit for medical marijuana when driving?

This question can also be a little tricky to answer, mainly because each state has its own set of rules (especially states that permit recreational marijuana). But when you’re asking yourself, “Is there an MMJ limit when driving?”, it’s important to realize that anytime you have marijuana in your system, you’re likely to be considered an impaired driver.

Even if you have a valid MMJ card, law enforcement will potentially view you as intoxicated if they have cause to stop you. Having substances in your bloodstream (whether they’re legal or not) can still affect your driving, so in the eyes of the law, you probably shouldn’t be driving at all if you’ve recently used your MMJ products.

Image by Christina Winter on Unsplash: It’s best to avoid driving after you’ve used MMJ products in case you’re impaired.

Here are a few other important things to keep in mind when it comes to MMJ and driving.

1. You need to know your own limits before you get behind the wheel

For some people, it might be hard to not drive after they use MMJ products (especially if they require pretty frequent usage). It’s crucial to experiment with different strains of MMJ and frequency of use to discover your own personal limits. If you feel at all impaired, it’s best to avoid driving.

2. You can still get a DUI with MMJ

There are different regulations from state to state, but because marijuana is still considered illegal on a federal level, there is always the potential for you to be pulled over by law enforcement and charged with a DUI if they think you’re intoxicated and unable to operate a vehicle safely.

To be convicted of a DUI, a prosecutor must show that you were under the influence of marijuana at the time you were driving, even if it was legally prescribed. They can demonstrate this by showing that you had a certain concentration of THC (the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) in your system, or by showing that you were actually impaired, which is usually illustrated by you breaking some traffic laws or getting in an accident.

There are 17 states that have a zero-tolerance policy; in these places, simply having marijuana in your system while driving is illegal. Make sure you know what the regulations are in your state to avoid getting charged with a crime or involved in an accident.

3. There are severe consequences for driving while intoxicated

If you’re pulled over by law enforcement and they have reason to believe you’re intoxicated, you could receive some pretty harsh punishments. Depending on what law enforcement decides to do (and if you’ve posed a threat to other cars on the road), you could be ticketed, fined, or faced with jail time. If you’re a repeat offender, you could get your license suspended or put on probation.

More severe penalties are imposed if you’re charged with reckless driving, are involved in an accident (especially one that results in injury or death), or if you have a minor in the car with you at the time of the stop. Most police will not care if you have an MMJ card if the result is one of these things – you would still be considered to be breaking the law.

4. There is no standard sobriety test for MMJ

At this time, there is no specific field test for marijuana like there is for alcohol (such as a breathalyzer). If you’re stopped and law enforcement believes you’re intoxicated, they might still perform a standardized field sobriety test. This consists of a horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test, a walk-and-turn test, and a one-leg stand test, all of which can allow the police officer to tell whether you’re impaired or not.

Even if they can’t use a breathalyzer in the field to definitively test whether you’re high, they’ll use these tests to decide whether to ticket or book you. Most likely, your blood will be tested if you are arrested; the amount of THC in your bloodstream will be used against you (even if it’s from medically prescribed marijuana).

Image by Zac Ong on Unsplash: If you’re pulled over and found to be intoxicated, you could get charged with a DUI.

5. You can drive with MMJ stored in your car if you have your card

In most states where MMJ is legal, you are permitted to store products in your car. To be on the safe side, it’s best to put your products in the truck or the backseat, so if you’re pulled over the officer can’t assume you’ve recently imbibed.

If you can avoid it, it’s probably smart not to carry your MMJ around with you. Of course, you’ll need to transport it from the dispensary to your home, but the less time you have the MMJ with you, the less chance of police finding it in your car and you having to explain it to them. You do always have the option of denying officers the right to search your vehicle if you’re pulled over, but this can sometimes make you appear as if you’re hiding something.

6. Consider traveling with your MMJ card and a doctor’s note

To help avoid searches of your car like the one mentioned above, it’s a good idea to always travel with your authentic MMJ card with you at all times. This, along with a doctor’s note, can show law enforcement that you’re entitled to have MMJ in your possession.

While it won’t get you out of trouble if you’ve been pulled over for violating a law, it might help your case if you can demonstrate that you have a legal reason for having MMJ products in your car.

7. Use other modes of transportation when possible

Because you can’t foresee all issues that can arise from using MMJ before you drive, your best bet is to use other forms of transportation whenever you can.

Getting rides from friends and family, taking public transportation like the subway or bus, or using a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft to get around can mean you may use your MMJ products without worrying about what will happen if you get behind the wheel of a car. This is the safest option, both for you and for other drivers on the road.

If you want to make sure you’re completely avoiding any legal issues that can come up while using cannabis and driving, do some research on the specific laws that exist in your state so that you’re completely informed. You do have rights as an MMJ cardholder, but you should also keep your safety and the safety of everyone else on the road in mind whenever you use your medicinal cannabis.

When using MMJ, try to skip getting behind the wheel if possible, and you won’t have to worry about being impaired and breaking any laws.

Featured image by Cory Bouthillette on Unsplash

What is THC? How does THC work? Is THC the same as CBD? Is THC effective at treating pain? Is THC the same as MMJ? These are just some of the questions that people have about THC and how it can benefit them.

There is quite a lot of confusion in the general public about what exactly THC is, as well as how it relates to medical marijuana and the more well-known compound CBD. In this article, we will discuss THC, what it is, how it works, its benefits and risks, and how it can help to treat various medical conditions and their symptoms.

Image by 7raysmarketing on Pixabay: THC is found in the cannabis plant.

What Is THC?

THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol. It is one of the active compounds found in medical marijuana. THC is responsible for most of marijuana’s psychoactive effects. Different strains of medical marijuana contain different levels of THC. The amount of THC present in an MMJ strain will have a profound impact on how powerful the strain is and on the type of psychological effects it induces.

Is THC The Same As CBD?

THC and CBD are both compounds found in medical marijuana. They are the two most active compounds found in the cannabis plant and the two biggest contributors to the physical and psychological effects of MMJ. THC and CBD are not the same thing, and they have different effects.

THC and CBD both interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, but they induce very different physiological and psychological states. While CBD mainly affects the body and creates a physically relaxed feeling, THC affects the mind and induces the psychoactive effects associated with marijuana.

How Does THC Work?

THC attaches to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. When THC binds to these receptors, it activates them, and this impacts memory, thought, emotion, concentration, and coordination. THC can stimulate feelings of pleasure and euphoria, bring on vivid hallucinations, and encourage novel mental associations. It also distorts sensory and temporal perceptions.

Is THC Effective At Treating Pain?

THC is very effective at treating various kinds of pain. It does this primarily by activating cannabinoid receptors in the brain and throughout the nervous system, which has the effect of lowering pain.

The other way THC reduces pain is by stimulating a psychoactive response in the brain. The euphoria, pleasure, distorted sensory and temporal perceptions, and hallucinogenic effects of THC often stop the brain from focusing on pain, greatly reducing the patient’s awareness and experience of pain.

Image by Derneuemann on Pixabay: THC is effective at treating pain.

How To Consume THC

There are several different ways to consume THC. The most common way is to smoke it in a marijuana joint or pipe. The downside of this method of ingestion is that it is associated with various health risks caused by smoking.

Other, healthier ways to consume THC include vaping; eating, in the form of marijuana-infused candies, cakes, or meals; and drinking, in the form of marijuana-infused teas, juices, and soft drinks.

What Strength Of THC Is Considered An Average Dose?

Different strains of medical marijuana contain different amounts of THC. Also, the method of ingestion will affect the amount of THC released into the system. Raw cannabis contains very little active THC, as the compound only becomes effective once it has been heated, which results in the activation of the compound – a process known as decarboxylation.

When smoked or vaped, THC enters the bloodstream quite rapidly, and the effects are felt almost instantaneously. When eaten, THC takes a lot longer to take effect, as it is processed by the liver first. This can mean that a person must wait between 30 minutes and two hours after they have eaten MMJ-infused foods for the effects of THC to take hold.

The average recommended dose of THC from edibles for a beginner or low-tolerance patient is 5–10 milligrams.

Can THC Be Dangerous?

Like any chemical compound, THC can be dangerous if abused or consumed in too large quantities. Some of the possible side effects of consuming THC include anxiety, increased heart rate, increased appetite, dry mouth, memory loss, inability to sleep or increased drowsiness, exacerbated schizophrenic symptoms, red and watering eyes, loss of coordination, and slower reaction times.

While using THC in moderate doses is usually safe and has many health benefits, it is certainly not advisable to operate machinery or to drive a vehicle while under the influence of THC.

How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card

If you have not yet gotten an MMJ card, the easiest way to get one is to apply online at MMJRecs. MMJRecs will set up an online consultation between you and a medical marijuana doctor in your locality who can examine you and write a medical marijuana recommendation letter. The process couldn’t be easier!

Featured image by gjbmiller on Pixabay

Now that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has seemingly take hold of the whole world, it can be tricky to know whether all the things you’re hearing about it are factual. You probably have tons of questions surrounding COVID-19, including, “Are medical marijuana patients at risk from coronavirus?” Keep reading to find out more about how you might be affected as a medical marijuana (MMJ) user, and for suggestions on how to dose MMJ without smoking.

Is CV19 a respiratory illness?

COVID-19 is an upper-respiratory-tract illness. Its symptoms include a dry cough, shortness of breath, and a fever. The disease is spread through person-to-person contact. If an infected person coughs or sneezes close to you, respiratory droplets can transfer to your nose or mouth or can be inhaled into your lungs. People are considered to be the most contagious when their symptoms are at their worst; however, the infection can still be spread to other people even if the person is not exhibiting obvious symptoms.

Are smokers at risk of developing more serious symptoms?

Because the virus is so new (it only appeared in humans for the first time last year), research is still being conducted towards fully understanding its effects. However, in general, smoking or vaping can lead to suppressed immune function in the lungs and an increase of inflammation. Smokers, vapers, and e-cigarette users have all already been associated with a heightened risk of developing chronic lung conditions. In turn, individuals with chronic lung conditions have also been noted to have more severe symptoms after contracting COVID-19, according to some early research out of China. Therefore, it’s easy to make the connection that smokers are likely more at risk of catching the virus and of having more severe symptoms.

Image by CDC on Unsplash: Does HCoV-19 affect your lungs? Yes – so it’s possible that smokers are at higher risk.

Are MMJ smokers more at risk from COVID-19?

There aren’t any definitive studies to show that MMJ smokers are more at risk of catching COVID-19, but it makes sense to assume that inhaling any hot smoke could be damaging to your lungs (especially if they are impacted by coronavirus or even just a regular cold). Smoking tobacco is likely much worse for your lungs because of the many chemicals and harmful ingredients, but smoking MMJ might not be a whole lot better for your lung health.

Should I stop smoking my medical marijuana during the COV-19 pandemic?

Because there isn’t enough proof to definitively state that smoking MMJ is dangerous during the spread of COVID-19, you might want to err on the side of caution and refrain from smoking until there have been more studies conducted to rule it out as a danger. There are several different ways you can dose MMJ without smoking or vaping it, so why not just play it safe and try those instead? As we all discover the effects of the coronavirus together, doing all you can to avoid catching it is a good thing.

What are some alternative ways to dose MMJ?

If you’re unfamiliar with alternate ways to ingest your MMJ products, here’s a rundown of a few options.

1. Edibles

Cannabis-infused foods are one of the most popular ways patients consume their medical marijuana. Most dispensaries carry everything from cannabis brownies and chocolate bars to gummies and mints. Plus, because you can purchase cannabis butter or oil, you can infuse lots of different foods yourself. This can be a great way to get your MMJ dose without smoking. However, it’s important to note that edibles can take a while to kick in (because they have to be digested), so don’t be tempted to eat more if you don’t feel the effects right away. Some edibles might have an even stronger psychoactive effect, so it’s important not to overdo it.

2. Teas

There are lots of different beverages on the market with marijuana in them. You can try fun options like lemonade or cold-brew coffee, or stick to a slightly healthier choice like tea. You can infuse tea at home with THC as well if you’d like to experiment with your own brewing.

3. Tinctures

Tinctures are infused liquids that extract cannabis compounds using an alcohol soak. They’re then applied directly under your tongue. Tinctures are very fast-acting since they enter the bloodstream immediately. This means they’re a great option for quick relief and can be easier to control the dose. There are also tons of flavors and potencies available, so it should be fairly easy for you to find a product that works for your needs. There are ways you can make your own tinctures at home too. If you’re experiencing loss of appetite or nausea, tinctures can be an easy way to get your MMJ dose without having to eat something.

Image by Margo Amala on Unsplash: Anything from an edible (like a cookie) to an ingestible oil can be an alternative MMJ dosing method.

4. Ingestible oils

Basically, ingestible oils are any cannabis concentrate that you can consume orally. Many come in pill form (in capsules or plastic applicators), which means you can swallow them or add them to your food or drinks. Similar to edibles, ingestible oils can take a little while to kick in, so you have to be careful about the dose you’re consuming.

5. Topicals

Topicals are marijuana-infused body products such as lotions or balms. They’re applied directly to the skin for help with pain, soreness, or inflammation. They typically don’t produce a psychoactive effect, so they can be a good option if you need to skip the feeling of being high. They won’t work for everyone’s medical conditions, but for localized relief, they can be helpful.

Ingesting MMJ instead of smoking or vaping it can mean that its effects might not be present as quickly as when you smoke. Therefore, it might take some experimentation to determine the most effective products or strains to help best treat your medical condition. Also, be sure to pay attention to the THC level in all the products you’re consuming so that you’re aware exactly how much you’re putting into your body. Check with your doctor if you’re considering switching to a higher dose of THC in your cannabis products.

As long as we’re unclear about the true effect of smoking on the likelihood of catching COVID-19, it seems like a good idea to play it safe and consume MMJ products in another fashion. Everyone should be doing all they can to avoid infection, so try out an alternative dosing method while we learn more about the virus and its effects.

Featured image by Dimitri Bong on Unsplash

If you’re suffering from specific physical or emotional symptoms, you might be interested in using medical marijuana (MMJ) or CBD products to help alleviate those symptoms. However, things can get confusing when it comes to how to decide whether to use CBD or MMJ. Both substances offer relief from some medical conditions, but a few aspects of their usage can differ. Keep reading for a breakdown of the differences between CBD and MMJ so you can make an informed decision.

What is marijuana?

Also known as cannabis, marijuana is a mixture of the dried flowers of Cannabis sativa. It can be consumed in a ton of different forms, including cigarettes, water pipes, vaporizers, and even food products (called “edibles”). The main psychoactive or mind-altering chemical in marijuana is called THC. When it’s consumed, many people experience a feeling of euphoria and a sense of relaxation. Some people might also experience heightened sensory perception, an altered perception of time, and/or increased appetite. There are 11 states in the U.S. in which recreational marijuana is currently legal.

What is MMJ?

MMJ, or medical marijuana, is marijuana that is used for medicinal purposes. Currently, there are 33 states in the U.S. that offer legal medical marijuana. MMJ products are used to treat a variety of physical and emotional medical conditions, including but not limited to:

• Chronic pain
• Eating disorders
• Symptoms from cancer (including severe nausea)
• HIV/AIDS
• Glaucoma
• Insomnia
• Muscle spasticity
• Multiple sclerosis

Image by Sam Doucette on Unsplash: Medical marijuana can help treat a variety of medical conditions.

Many people wonder, “Do I need a prescription to use MMJ?” The answer is technically yes. In order to get legal MMJ products, you are typically required to have a licensed physician in your state fill out a written form that verifies you have a valid need for MMJ. Some states also require you to apply for an ID card. The exact requirements for MMJ usage do differ from state to state, so it’s always a good idea to check with your individual state’s regulations before you act.

If you don’t have a physician who can help with the documentation you might need, MMJRecs is at your service! They can connect you virtually with a doctor who can assist you with your medical certification (as well as offer a way to get your ID card) so that you can get all set up to purchase MMJ products at your convenience.

What is CBD?

CBD comes from the word cannabidiol; it’s one of the two properties found in marijuana (the other being THC, the one that gets you high). CBD is extracted from hemp or marijuana products and is sold in many forms, including oils, gummies, and extracts. Because of its lack of THC, you won’t feel high when you use it, but you can still feel its many positive effects, such as relief from pain, reduction in symptoms of anxiety, and lower blood pressure.

So, is CBD the same as MMJ? They’re similar in that they treat many physical and emotional symptoms, but the main difference is that you won’t feel high when you use CBD. There are also a few things CBD can help with that MMJ products can’t, including reducing symptoms of depression, decreasing seizures, and helping with psychosis. CBD is legal in 23 states. Another 14 states do allow CBD oil to be legal. There are just three states that have completely banned CBD products: Idaho, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

What are the differences between CBD and MMJ?

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I use CBD or MMJ to treat my symptoms?”, there are some main differences you should keep in mind.

1. You do not need any kind of medical intervention to purchase CBD products if it’s legal in your state. In fact, it’s possible to purchase CBD products in many stores and online. You might want to try CBD products if you don’t want to get evaluated by a doctor (like you would need to do in order to purchase MMJ).
2. There are basically no side effects when using CBD. Marijuana can cause increased heart rate, coordination problems, dry mouth, red eyes, memory loss, and slower reaction times. High rates of THC use (and long-term use) can also result in possible long-term psychiatric problems.
3. Not every drug test will result in a positive for CBD use, but all drug tests will result in a positive for MMJ products.

So, when considering whether to use CBD or MMJ products, research which would better treat your individual symptoms and best fit your needs. Some people might find that CBD products work well enough to treat their issues (including things like easing migraines, decreasing seizures, and working as an anti-inflammatory). However, MMJ products might be a good option if CBD products won’t do the trick. For example, CBD products won’t help with increased appetite, but MMJ products can.

Image by CBD-Infos-com on Pixabay: CBD oil has virtually zero side effects, so you can always use it safely.

Bottom line: Both CBD and MMJ products are safe to use and don’t need to be monitored by a doctor in order for you to use them. If you’d like to limit the amount of side effects or don’t wish to have the feeling of being high, CBD products will work well for you. CBD is also legal in more places in the U.S. However, MMJ products are great for people who want relief from their symptoms along with experiencing a euphoric and relaxed state.

Talk to your doctor before trying any of these products to make sure they won’t interact with any other medications you might be on or other physical conditions you have. Then you can start getting the benefits of these products as soon as possible!

Featured image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Glaucoma is a painful medical condition that affects the optic nerve. Glaucoma occurs when intraocular pressure – increased pressure in the eye caused by a buildup of fluid – irritates and damages to the optic nerve. This buildup of fluid is usually caused by a blockage in the mesh-like channel that the naturally occurring fluid, known as aqueous humor, flows out through.

Glaucoma is a painful condition and can sometimes lead to sight loss and even blindness. So can MMJ treat glaucoma? And if so, exactly how does medical marijuana help glaucoma? Put simply, glaucoma patients can use medical cannabis to lower intraocular pressure. This reduction in IOP greatly reduces the painful symptoms of glaucoma.

If you’ve been wondering “Can a medical marijuana recommendation help glaucoma?”, read on for all you need to know.

Image by analogicus on Pixabay: Many older glaucoma patients use medical cannabis.

Does Glaucoma Count As A Qualifying Condition For A Medical Marijuana Recommendation?

In the vast majority of legal MMJ states, glaucoma counts as a qualifying condition for a medical marijuana recommendation. Glaucoma was one of the first medical conditions that health care professionals realized could benefit a lot from treatment with MMJ.

What Are The Symptoms of Glaucoma?

The symptoms of glaucoma include eye pain, nausea, headache, blurred vision, sight loss, visual disturbance, and reddening of the eye. Glaucoma patients and medical cannabis can go hand in hand, with MMJ helping to alleviate the painful symptoms of the condition when used correctly.

Who Usually Suffers From Glaucoma?

Before we answer the question “Can MMJ treat glaucoma?”, here is a list of people who are most likely to suffer from the condition:

• People over 40
• People with a family history of glaucoma
• People of African, Irish, Japanese, Russian, Hispanic, Innuit, or Scandinavian heritage
• People with diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure
• People with high eye pressure, or who have suffered an injury to the eye

How Does Medical Marijuana Help Glaucoma?

A medical marijuana recommendation can help treat glaucoma because MMJ lowers intraocular pressure. Cannabinoid receptors are myriad in ocular tissue and they play a large role in pressure reduction. Because intraocular pressure causes the painful symptoms as well as long-term eye damage associated with glaucoma, lowering IOP by ingesting medical marijuana helps glaucoma patients to feel more comfortable and to stave off long-term sight loss.

What Are The Limitations Of Medical Marijuana As A Treatment For Glaucoma?

MMJ cannot cure glaucoma; it can only alleviate the symptoms of the condition. Some doctors are reluctant to prescribe MMJ for glaucoma because they believe the health risks involved in smoking outweigh the benefits of symptom reduction for glaucoma sufferers. This can be mitigated by ingesting medical marijuana in other ways, such as through vaping or edibles.

Another limitation when treating glaucoma with medical marijuana is that the intraocular pressure-lowering effect of MMJ only lasts for about four hours, so MMJ needs to be ingested regularly throughout the day and night to maintain the positive IOP-reducing effects.

Which Medical Marijuana Strains Are Best For Treating Glaucoma?

Glaucoma patients consistently rate certain medical cannabis strains as being most effective for treating their condition. These strains are:

• Sour Diesel
• Tesla Tower
• Sour Grape
• Bubba Kush
• Girl Scout Cookies
• Blue Dream

All of these strains have robust pain-killing properties and are also effective at reducing intraocular pressure.

Image by 7raysmarketing on Pixabay: Can MMJ treat glaucoma? Research indicates that it can definitely help!

How Can I Get Medical Marijuana For Glaucoma?

You can get MMJ to treat your glaucoma by first getting a medical marijuana card. Once you have an MMJ card for glaucoma, you can then purchase MMJ products from your local dispensaries, or depending on what state you live in, you can cultivate your MMJ for glaucoma at home.

Where Can You Get Further Information About Medical Marijuana And Glaucoma?

If you want to learn more about how a medical marijuana recommendation helps glaucoma, it is best to go to your local dispensary and ask the staff. In 2020, MMJ dispensaries not only dispense MMJ products, but also knowledge and education. The MMJ market is now super-competitive and dispensaries try to set themselves apart by offering the best service possible. A big part of this is providing cutting-edge information and education to their customers, so take advantage of this!

What Medical Marijuana Dosage Is Best For Treating Glaucoma?

There are many ways to ingest medical marijuana for glaucoma. As mentioned earlier, the intraocular pressure-reducing effect of MMJ only lasts for about four hours, so it is necessary to ingest MMJ regularly to get a constant effect. Glaucoma patients often choose to use medical cannabis by vaping or in the form of edibles, to avoid the health risks associated with smoking.

How Can You Get A Medical Marijuana Card For Glaucoma?

The best way to get an MMJ card for glaucoma is to have an online consultation with a medical professional through MMJRecs. This can be done quickly, from the comfort of your own home. Once the consultation is complete, the medical professional will recommend a medical marijuana card for glaucoma, and this will enable you to begin treatment with MMJ.

Featured image by Skitterphoto on Pixabay

CBD has quickly become immensely popular in the U.S. Known for its calming properties, CBD can now be found in a wide range of trendy products – everything from body lotion to lattes. However, even with its popularity, people still have a lot of questions surrounding CBD usage. If you’re deciding whether to try out CBD products, you might be wondering, “Do I need a medical marijuana card to buy CBD?” Keep reading to find out the answer to that question and several others!

What is CBD?

Your first concern is probably to learn more about what CBD actually is. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the Cannabid sativa plant. It has some of the same elements of marijuana, but it does not contain THC, which is the main active ingredient in marijuana. Without THC, CBD products are not psychoactive, which means you won’t get high when you use them. So, if you’re thinking, “Is CBD in medical marijuana?”, the answer is yes – it’s just that CBD doesn’t have the element of THC to get you high, so you won’t feel sedated or like your behavior is altered in any way. CBD comes in a multitude of forms: oil, capsules, gummies, etc.

How does CBD help patients?

People report getting a variety of benefits from CBD products, including relief from pain, reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression, some alleviation of symptoms related to cancer, improvements with acne, and lower blood pressure. Many studies are currently being conducted to determine if CBD could help with any other conditions (such as diabetes and schizophrenia). There are patients whose symptoms will require additional intervention, so some may want to consider getting a medical marijuana (MMJ) card so that they’ll have access to the full benefits of MMJ as well.

Image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash: CBD products can be used to treat a variety of physical and emotional symptoms.

What are the laws surrounding CBD in the US?

In 2014, the Farm Bill passed, which determined that states can regulate the production of hemp and CBD. Recently, President Trump signed a new bill that made it federally legal to grow hemp. This means that consumers all over the country can grow and consume hemp and CBD legally. However, because there are some regulations set up individually by the states, these rules can vary widely.

There are currently 10 states where marijuana and CBD are completely legal for recreational and medicinal purposes. In 23 states, marijuana and CBD are legal for medicinal purposes. Another 14 states allow CBD oil only. There are three states that have completely banned CBD products: Idaho, Nebraska, and South Dakota. It’s important to note that CBD products are legal in some states where medical marijuana is not – and this could be helpful for people who are seeking relief from medical symptoms that don’t have access to legal MMJ products.

It’s also up to individual states to determine what quantities of CBD are legal; these can also vary from state to state. So it’s always a good idea to check the regulations of your specific state before you purchase any CBD products, especially if you’re going to be buying in larger quantities. Additionally, the Farm Bill does make it possible for people to legally travel between states with CBD products without any issues. Plus, CBD won’t show up on a drug test (as long as you’re buying authentic, third-party tested CBD with no added THC).

Do I need an MMJ recommendation for CBD?

At this time, you can purchase CBD products without an MMJ recommendation from a medical professional. In fact, using CBD products does not require you to consult with a doctor or to get any special paperwork from them. In the states where it’s legal, you can easily purchase products in stores and online without having to show that you have a medical use for it. However, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor before trying out any new products to make sure they won’t interact with other medications you’re taking or with your current physical condition.

Image by CBD-Infos-com on Pixabay: You won’t need an MMJ card to purchase CBD products that are THC-free.

Do I need an MMJ card for CBD purchases?

Since you don’t need medical clearance for CBD, you don’t need an MMJ card in order to purchase CBD products in most states. As long as you’re purchasing CBD products that don’t contain THC, you’re allowed to purchase them without an MMJ card.

If you’re thinking you’d like to try the CBD products that do contain THC, you will need to know how to get a medical marijuana recommendation for CBD oil. This process can be fairly simple if you head to MMJRecs. We can help you complete an online application and a licensed doctor will then process your application after reviewing your medical history. Afterward, you’ll be emailed an MMJ recommendation to help give you access to MMJ products – and it’s all done virtually, so you don’t have to leave your home!

In general, you won’t need an MMJ card to buy CBD products, but be sure to do some research on the regulations for your specific state so that you can always stay in the legal realm of things. Then you can try out some CBD products to find what works to best alleviate or reduce your personal symptoms.

Featured image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Being a caregiver to a medical marijuana patient is a big responsibility. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure that you’re doing it to the best of your ability, which involves educating yourself on the proper dosage and ways to administer MMJ in order to treat various ailments. It may sound complicated, but MMJRecs is here to help! Here is a primary caregiver’s guide to medical marijuana to help you feel confident and knowledgeable in your MMJ duties.

How Much Medical Marijuana Should I Give My Patient?

One of the most important things to remember about being an MMJ caregiver is that it’s best to start slow and go low. While medical marijuana offers a large array of benefits to those who suffer from certain medical conditions, the effects of marijuana may not be immediately felt. Plus, everyone responds just a bit differently to MMJ strengths, which is why it’s essential to start slow with a low dose to see how it impacts the patient and helps to manage their symptoms.

Medical marijuana has a wide safety margin. There’s a low risk of overdose, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use caution until you know how the MMJ will impact the patient. Measuring medical cannabis doses for patients accurately is very important – remember, the dosage can vary widely between people, even if they have the same condition. Responses to dosages can vary due to a patient’s other medical conditions, how they consumed the MMJ, and the THC and CBD concentrations of the product they consumed.

The answer to the question “How do I know how much MMJ to give my patient?” depends entirely on the patient. Talk to their doctor to see if they can recommend a starting dosage. As stated above, start with a low dose and go from there. Keep a log that tracks how much was given and the effects felt by the patient. This can help you determine if you need to up the dose.

Image by Margo Amala on Unsplash: Edible marijuana is a popular way to help patients get the proper does of MMJ.

How to Dose a Patient with Medical Marijuana

There are a variety of ways to dose a medical marijuana patient. Make sure the method you’re using is legal in your state by checking with the MMJ regulating body. Once you have that sorted out, the most popular ways to dose include:

Oral

This is when medical marijuana is administered through the mouth, where it will absorb through the mucous membranes into the body’s circulation. Relevant products include spays and oils that are placed under the tongue for absorption. With oral dosing, it can take about 15 to 40 minutes for the impact to be felt and the effects can be experienced for up to two hours.

Inhalation

This is a very popular method of consumption but may not be the best choice for everyone, depending on their medical condition. That’s because it involves marijuana being vaporized and then inhaled directly into the lungs. Handheld vaporizers or disposable vaporizers are widely available. With inhalation, the effects of medical marijuana are felt almost immediately or within a few minutes. The effects peak after about 30 minutes, but the patient may still feel effects for up to 12 hours.

Ingestion

Ingestion is another popular method of dosing a patient with medical marijuana. This is where you eat the MMJ and it enters the bloodstream after being broken down in the digestive system. Patients start to feel the effects of the MMJ within 30 to 120 minutes and can expect it to last up to eight hours.

Topical

Ointments, lotions, patches, and balms are available for dosing MMJ, too. They are placed directly on the skin in the place where it is needed to help a patient deal with symptoms. The onset of the effects of MMJ when topically applied can be felt right away or take up to one hour. Patients can expect the effects to last up to two hours with most products, through transdermal patches can last up to 12 hours.

Image by Esteban Lopez on Unsplash: How much medical marijuana should I give my patient? MMJ doses vary by patient, depending on what they are being treated for.

How Medical Marijuana Can Help

There are a variety of conditions that medical marijuana can assist in managing. In many states, medical marijuana is given to treat everything from muscle spasms to epilepsy to chronic pain. MMJ is useful in the treatment of many conditions because of the cannabinoids present. These chemicals are very similar to chemicals produced by the body that are involved in regulating pain, movement, memory, and appetite.

One of the primary uses of MMJ is to help cancer patients, especially those going through rounds of chemotherapy and suffering nausea and vomiting as a result. Studies have found that inhaling MMJ helps cancer patients to better manage pain and keep their appetites up.

Chronic pain is another issue that medical marijuana helps many patients with. MMJ that is inhaled, applied topically, or consumed orally has been shown in studies to help relieve pain from nerve damage and arthritis.

Stay Current

Being an MMJ caregiver is something many people excel at. If you’re one of them, don’t forget to keep your medical marijuana card current. MMJRecs can help you to always ensure that your MMJ card is legal, renewing your card each year quickly and easily so you can devote your time where it’s needed most: to your patients.

Featured image by Kimzy Nanney on Unsplash

Chronic back pain is experienced by millions of Americans across the country each day. The sometimes crippling affliction is one of the number one reasons cited in medical marijuana card applications every year. Though MMJ on its own can be pretty power-packed when it comes to banishing those lower back blues, sometimes you need a little something extra to get you feeling yourself again. If you find yourself wanting a little bit more relief than your MMJ card can afford you, try some of these back-pain-busting exercises.

Decompression Breathing

Yes, you heard that right: our first exercise on the list is simply breathing! Well, not quite. Decompression breathing is the exercise of taking nice deep breaths as you make an attempt to lengthen your body as much as possible. This not only is great for increasing blood and oxygen flow around the body but it also essentially acts as a “reset” button, teaching your body to get your spine long and strong once more.

How to do it:

Stand perfectly straight with your toes touching and your heels slightly apart. With your weight on your heels, start to gently pull them towards each other, keeping your knees unlocked as you do it. Then, reach your arms upwards as you press your fingertips together, totally elongating your body. At this point you should feel every tiny muscle in your body stretching. Inhale and lift your ribcage upwards away from your hips. Exhale and tighten those important core muscles to sufficiently support your spine. Repeat this exercise at least 15 times per day and you’ll soon find yourself feeling a few inches taller, and most importantly, you’ll start to feel your chronic back pain melting away.

There are several simple exercises you can do to help manage chronic back pain.

Pilates Pelvic Tilt

Most pilates exercises could find there way to the top of this list, if we’re honest. MMJ card holders and non-card holders alike swear by the all-over body workout they get when they practice, saying that it’s great for mind and body alike.

Pilates works by strengthening those all-important core muscles that support and align our spines, meaning that you’re making sure every bit of your backbone is exactly where it needs to be. As well as soothing your chronic back pain, it also significantly reduces your risk of injury by building up those muscles and increasing flexibility. Pretty neat, huh?!

Of all the pilates exercises that could work to ease your chronic back pain, we think the pelvic tilt is one of the most effective and easy to do. It stretches your lower back muscles, drawing out any pain while also strengthening your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.

How to do it:

Place a soft mat on your floor and lie faceup on it. Bend your knees and keep your ankles directly under your knees. While exhaling, tilt your hips up slightly. Keep your butt on the floor and keep your back nice and flat. When your hips are tilted, hold for five seconds, then return to your starting position while inhaling. We recommend doing this 10 times every morning.

Stretching it out regularly can help you reduce pain.

Transversus Abdominis Muscle Strengthening

Now, we know what you’re thinking: “Hey! I’m meant to be doing back exercises!” But trust us, strengthening those abdominal muscles can be just as good for spinal alignment as more targeted work (and you might just get some hardcore abs in the process!).

Though abdominal exercises are usually targeting at the “six pack” area, with this exercise, you’re going to focus instead on the transversus abdominus. This is how you’ll achieve greater spinal stability, which will in turn reduce your chronic back pain.

When you’re doing this exercise, it’s very important to maintain a neutral lumbar spine position – i.e. don’t unnaturally force your back all the way onto the floor. Instead, just lie on the ground as you would naturally, allowing your back to maintain its natural curvature upwards off the flat surface.

How to do it:

Lie on your back and bend your knees, keeping your knees and feet shoulder-width apart. Draw your belly button inwards toward your spine – this is where it’s important to maintain that neutral back position! When you exhale, reach towards the ceiling as if you’re trying to grab something dangling above you. After this, raise your head and shoulders gently off the floor and hold tight for two seconds. Return to your starting point while exhaling and repeat until you get too tired to continue. In order to really get the benefit of this back-pain-busting exercise, we recommend doing it once per day, four days per week.

With these exercises, your medical marijuana card, and some nutrient-packed MMJ fighting in your corner, you’re bound to start feeling a difference when it comes to easing your chronic back pain. If you’re already doing the exercises but don’t yet have an MMJ card, get in touch with us today and we’ll organize an online consultation with a qualified health professional in order to get you one. The MMJ revolution has begun – don’t miss out!

Before we get into the best strains of medial marijuana for inducing sleep, let’s talk about insomnia.

Insomnia is a frustrating and debilitating condition that impacts the lives of 60 million Americans. Not being able to sleep, despite being tired, drained, and having little energy, is very unpleasant and can lead to all sorts of negative physical and psychological effects.

For most of us, the harder we try to fall asleep, the more difficult it is to do so. If you suffer from insomnia it can be damn near impossible to drift off, no matter how many sheep you count!

Conventional sleeping pills are one solution, but they can have unpleasant physical and mental side effects. They can also be addictive and many people develop crippling dependencies that are extremely difficult to escape.

Another cure for insomnia is medical cannabis, and now that cannabis cards are legal in 29 states, more and more people who find it difficult to get some shut-eye are using particular MMJ strains for sleep benefits.

It seems that medical cannabis really is a bit of a magic bullet when it comes to treating insomnia.

Did you know you can use medical marijuana for inducing sleep?

But not all strains of medical cannabis are created equally when it comes to blasting people off into dreamland. Indicas, with their less heady and more heavy, relaxing body-high, are usually best for inducing slumber. Most sativas, on the other hand, tend to have a more energizing, heady effect that may in fact keep you awake.

But not all indicas are equally insomnia-crushing either – some strains will knock you out more assuredly than others. So here is our list of the six best strains of medical marijuana for inducing sleep.

Big Bud is a very strong indica plant with (yes, you’ve guessed it!) big buds. These big buds contain a super-dose of potent CBD that will make your eyelids feel heavier than boulders in no time. Big Bud will essentially knock you out within a few minutes. With this CBD-heavy beast circulating in your bloodstream, sleep is guaranteed. It is advisable to put your pajamas on and brush your teeth before you hit Big Bud, because you might not manage to do so afterwards.

Pound Hammer is an indica that is renowned for its mind-quieting and anxiety-reducing properties. For people who struggle with a head full of frantic thoughts and incessant self-chatter, Pound Hammer is a great choice of medical marijuana for inducing sleep. It gradually turns the volume down to zero on your self-talk and your worries, replacing them with a silent, dreamy, relaxed calm. Once you have a few hits of Pound Hammer there’s no turning back – it is well and truly time to say (or slur) “goodnight.”

Try one of these strains for some quality shut-eye.

Afghan Kush is a famous old indica strain that incites a heavy, drowsy, body-focused high. It is brilliant for getting rid of pain and quieting anxious thoughts. A few hits of Afghan Kush will give you a strong desire to eat anything you can get your hands on, but an even stronger desire to sleep. So don’t smoke unless you are ready to fall asleep pretty darn soon, and quite possibly wake up 10 hours later covered in chips and chocolate wondering, “What the hell just happened?”

Blue Mystic is one of the less potent “insomnia-blasters” on the list. It will not necessarily knock you into a coma in the same way that Big Bud or Afghan Kush will, but it will give you a delightful body-high and a warm, tingling feeling of relaxation. The chilled-out body-high and feelings of wellbeing that Blue Mystic induce will gently nudge you into a zone in which you can chill out and watch some TV, but you could also kick your shoes off, lie back, and drift off into a warm, fuzzy snooze. Blue Mystic is ideal for people who have mild insomnia or just like a little hit of something light to help them unwind, and maybe nap in front of the TV.

Bubba Kush is a hybrid of Bubble Gum and Kush. It has a relatively low THC content of 16%. Bubba Kush gives a strong, CBD-induced body-high. It is very relaxing and almost numbing. A few hits of Bubba Kush and you will have a blissfully clear mind (almost as if you’ve just been on a month-long meditation retreat!). With Bubba Kush massaging your neurons, the world moves in slow motion and sleep becomes impossible to resist. A gallon of strong coffee couldn’t keep you awake after a few tokes of Bubba Kush.

Critical Mass is an indica-dominant strain that is a heavy sleep-inducer. It has a mellow, earthy, citrus flavor and strong, strong sedative qualities. When the Sandman gets even a faint whiff of Critical Mass in the air, he drops whatever he’s doing and immediately follows his nose straight to the source, where he gently puts his index finger on your forehead and whispers “Sleep.” Just a few hits of Critical Mass and you will be ready to pass out wherever you happen to be sitting… Preferably in the comfort of your own home!

If you’ve read anything about medical marijuana, it’s likely that you’re aware of the very forgiving laws in California and are open to trying different strains and methods to treat your illness or condition. From anxiety, depression, eating disorders and multiple sclerosis, to cancer and Parkinson’s disease, medical marijuana can help alleviate many symptoms of different illnesses or conditions.

However, not all states have the same laws and New York has a particularly strict medical marijuana program that only covers certain illnesses and ailments.

Cancer

Although some think that using medical marijuana for cancer symptoms shouldn’t be allowed, many have found that MMJ has helped alleviate the pain associated with cancer.

Cancer can be defined as a condition that is typified by abnormal cell growth. It can occur at any site on the body and means that tumors form due to cells reproducing too quickly. As a result of these tumors, other symptoms can occur including pain, bleeding, coughing, visible lumps and blood in urine or stool, depending on the site of the cancer. It can be easily treated through surgery or chemotherapy or can be a terminal illness – depending on the cancer’s location and the time of diagnosis.

HIV/AIDS

HIV is a virus that attacks the human immune system, destroying white blood cells and thus the body’s ability to fight illness. AIDS is the associated syndrome that occurs when HIV progresses into obvious illness. Symptoms of AIDS include pneumonia, Kaposi’s sarcoma  (a very rare form of skin cancer), sweating and diarrhea. HIV is transmitted through blood and sexual fluids and is most commonly passed on through sexual intercourse, sharing of contaminated needles for intravenous drug use and from mother to baby in utero.

ALS

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a severely debilitating disease that causes people to lose all muscle function.

ALS is also known as motor neurone disease, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and it affects neurones that control muscles in the body. It means that those affected by this condition slowly lose control of all muscle function and become unable to walk, speak, feed themselves or control bodily functions. It is a slow-killing disease and most sufferers die from losing the ability to breathe while sleeping.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system that controls movement in the body. It is characterized by an unstable posture, muscle shaking and rigid limbs. It is slow-progressing and really impacts the lives of those affected, as it becomes impossible to take care of oneself without assistance due to incessant muscle shaking and posture limitations.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease that affects the coverings of nerves in the brain and spinal cord. It can present a variety of differing symptoms depending on the type of MS present, but symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, general pain, diarrhea and muscle spasms. While it is not typically defined as a terminal illness, it does have the potential to limit the life expectancy of those who are diagnosed with it.

Damage to the Nervous Tissue of the Spinal Cord with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity

Intractable spasticity is a muscle control disorder that is usually cause by trauma to the brain or spinal cord. It is most common in those who have suffered an accident such as a car collision, fall or abuse. It is defined by spasms, deformities and generalized muscle and bone pain.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is characterised by seizures. The severity and frequency of the seizures varies from person to person and is also dependent on the type of epilepsy diagnosed. It can be present from birth or can be brought on by brain injuries, brain tumors or strokes. Epilepsy diagnosed in childhood can sometimes disappear with the onset of puberty.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of autoimmune illnesses that involve the ulceration or inflammation of the bowel and lower intenstine. The most common types of inflammatory bowel disease are Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions are often very painful and can limit the sufferer’s ability to live an independent life due to the need to be close to a toilet.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is nerve damage that an affect any part of the body. Its cause can be obvious or totally unknown and symptoms include tingling, numbness, tremors and extreme pain.

Chronic Pain as Defined by 10 NYCRR §1004.2(a)(8)(xi)

The NYC MMJ bill defines chronic pain as “any severe debilitating pain that the practitioner determines degrades health and functional capability; where the patient has contraindications, has experienced intolerable side effects, or has experienced failure of one or more previously tried therapeutic options; and where there is documented medical evidence of such pain having lasted three months or more beyond onset, or the practitioner reasonably anticipates such pain to last three months or more beyond onset.”

Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease is a genetically inherited illness that results in the destruction of brain cells. Symptoms usually begin in late thirties or early forties and include random muscle jerks, subtle changes in personality and random eye movements. Sufferers then degenerate further and sleep and muscle control are affected. Death most commonly occurs within twenty years of diagnosis from pneumonia, heart disease or suicide.

Medical marijuana is helpful from a wide range of symptoms, from something serious, like cancer, to something more common, like nausea.

As well as one of the conditions above, you need to be suffering from one of the following associated symptoms or conditions as a result of your illness:

• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Severe or chronic pain
• Severe nausea
• Seizures
• Severe or persistent muscles spasms 

Obviously, it is far more complex a process to get an MMJ card in New York than in other states. The best thing to do is to speak to your primary care physician if you suffer from one of the above conditions and to get their advice on if this is a good route of treatment for you to pursue.

Now, more than ever, MMJ card holders have so many choices when it comes to how they can consume their medical marijuana. While there are some MMJ purists who stick to smoking or vaporizers, medical marijuana card holders are by no means restricted to these more traditional consumption methods.

Once you have your MMJ card, the world is your oyster as to how you can consume your cannabis. Want to brew it up in a tea? Go for it! Feel like topicals might be more your style? Slather up!

From the weird to the wonderful and everything in between, here are our picks for 5 unusual ways to consume medical marijuana.

Tea

People have been experimenting with tea for thousands of years, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that more and more people are starting to drink medical marijuana-infused tea. Tea – like medical marijuana – is naturally reparative and soothing, so the combination of these two super ‘foods’ is a match made in MMJ heaven.

On its own, tea is full of hard-working antioxidants, theanine and phytochemicals, making it a great body booster in and of itself. As well as that, drinking a warm cup of calming tea has been proven to improve concentration, lower stress levels and even tackle bouts of depression.

Making medical marijuana-infused tea is seriously easy and can be done using the normal method – check out our how-to guide here – or using tinctures – more on those next!

Tinctures

Tinctures are a great way to effectively administer medical marijuana – and they’re fun to use!

Back in the day, tinctures used to be one of the most popular ways to consume medical marijuana. Nowadays, popularity has dropped off in favor of other methods, but that doesn’t make using tinctures any less effective.

So what exactly is a tincture? Put simply, a tincture is a concentrated form of MMJ that is made by mixing it with an alcohol solution. This concentrated solution is a great way to consume as you can easily regulate dosage. A tincture is stored in a glass or plastic bottle with a dropper implement within the lid. Tinctures are delightfully discreet when it comes to consuming in public thanks to this design – they just look like a regular ‘ol eye dropper.

A tincture is used by dropping the alcohol solution into your food or drink or under your tongue. Those who don’t want to consume orally can apply it directly to their skin. From here the MMJ solution is absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

Tinctures are extremely efficient in delivering MMJ goodness, as they contain all 80 of the essential cannabinoids in the medical marijuana plant. Tinctures are also perfect for children with MMJ cards, as they can be administered easily and users don’t experience the psychoactive effects that can come with other methods of consumption.

Topicals

Like tinctures, topicals are another great way to consume medical marijuana without experiencing the psychoactive effects of the plants. As topicals are applied directly to the skin, they don’t come with a head high that can lead to bouts of anxiety or paranoia.

Topicals come in tons of different varieties, most of which you’ll be able to find at your local dispensary. Popular kinds of topicals include balms, creams and lotions.

While topicals may not be great for treating ailments like anxiety or depression, they are really effective at treating chronic pain and inflammation when applied to the ailing area. Topicals also act as an antibacterial agent – meaning they’re great for speeding up the healing process of cuts and scratches.

Suppositories

Suppositories are one of the most effective ways to reap the benefits of medical marijuana.

While consuming medical marijuana via a suppository may not be one of the most popular methods of consumption, you better believe it’s one of the most effective ones! When you ingest MMJ orally, you lose between 5-10% of the plant’s effectiveness as it’s digested by the gastrointestinal tract.

By consuming medical marijuana in suppository form, you’re bypassing the gastrointestinal tract entirely, meaning nothing is being wastefully digested and you benefit from every ounce of goodness in your MMJ.

The active components of the medical marijuana plant – e.g. the CBD, THC and cannabinoids – are absorbed directly into the bloodstream in a much higher concentration than they would be if they were ingested orally. MMJ suppositories take about an hour to take effect and the effects last up to an impressive 10 hours.

If you’re using your MMJ card to treat any gastrointestinal ailments, using suppositories is highly recommended, as they won’t upset your illness by passing through your digestive tract.

Patches

Patches – or transdermal patches – are adhesive patches laced with medical marijuana that are affixed to the skin. Similar to nicotine patches, medical marijuana patches release small amounts of MMJ onto the skin – and into the bloodstream – throughout the day of wear.

In contrast to topicals or tinctures, patches penetrate all 7 layers of epidermal skin delivering systematic – instead of localized – relief. The handy thing about using MMJ patches is that after you put one on in the morning, you don’t have to remember to keep dosing throughout the day – great for forgetful MMJ card carriers! Patches are non-psychoactive and can be personalized to suit your own dosing preferences.

Choosing the right method of consumption for you is a journey that takes time. It’s important to remember that there is no one umbrella method that suits every MMJ card holder – you’ll have to do a bit of trial and error before you figure out what’s right for you. But when you’ll do, you’ll be on cloud nine.

Medical marijuana card holders sure are a creative bunch. Since the dawn of the MMJ card, patients across cannabis friendly states haven’t been short on imagination when it comes to finding new and innovative ways to consume the plant.

Most California medical marijuana card holders are rightly on board with the healthy lifestyle that has long been held paramount across this beautiful state. With a strong focus on health and wellbeing, Californians are the benchmark to which every other state pits its own healthy ambitions to, desperately trying to keep up with the good example set to them.

One health revolution that the Sunshine State is particularly well known for is the juicing phenomenon that swept the state in the mid 2000s. Not being ones to scrimp on their physical fitness, Californians started to drink more and more nutrient packed juices to boost their immune systems and overall health. Since Californians are similarly trailblazers when it comes to the use of medical marijuana, it came as no surprise to anyone that these two miracle phenomena would be combined into one, ass kicking super drink.

When ingested within a juice, medical marijuana can be consumed in higher doses without negative side effects. These doses are infinitely more packed with nutrients like iron, calcium, fiber and those all important cannabinoids, due to the fact the plant isn’t being heated, therefore leaving all the goodness undamaged.

In addition to being delicious, MMJ juices are packed with nutrients like iron, calcium, fiber and cannabinoids.

Interested in starting your delicious MMJ juice journey? Of course you are! Here are a few tasty recipes to get you started.

MMJ Green Meanie

This Hulk-colored mega juice is absolutely packed with iron – great for boosting your red blood cells – and vitamin K – a super soldier in the fight for good bone health. Gulp a tall glass of this bad boy in the morning and you’ll be primed to tackle anything that the day might throw at you.

Ingredients:

• 3 large kale leaves (sliced)
• 1 cup seedless green grapes
• 1 cucumber (sliced)
• 1 small green apple (cored and sliced)
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup fresh, raw medical marijuana

Method:

1. Juice all of the ingredients – except the MMJ – until completely blended.
2. When you’re satisfied that everything is thoroughly mixed, add the MMJ and blend on pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

*NB It’s imperative when making MMJ juice that you don’t juice your medical marijuana for too long, as the heat of the rotating blades can damage the nutrients inside the plant.

Afternoon Slump Energy Booster

As the name suggests, this is a great juice to sip on when you start to feel your energy dip in the afternoon. It contains enough natural fruit sugars and electrolyte packed coconut water to wake you back up and keep you going.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of lychees in syrup (drained and rinsed)
• 1 cup peaches (frozen, thawed and sliced)
• ¾ cup coconut water
• ¼ cup fresh, raw medical marijuana

Method:

1. Juice all of the ingredients – except the MMJ – until completely blended.
2. When you’re satisfied that everything is thoroughly mixed, add the MMJ and blend on pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

Apple and Pear-rie Full Body Blast

Boost just about every part of your body with a couple of mouthfuls of this vitamin-packed super juice. Containing vitamins A, B, C and E, this delicious treat will leave your skin looking radiant.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium apple (cored and cubed)
• 2 medium soft pears (cored and cubed)
• ½  cup cherries (fresh with pits removed)
• ¼ cup fresh, raw medical marijuana

Method:

1. Juice all of the ingredients – except the MMJ – until completely blended.
2. When you’re satisfied that everything is thoroughly mixed, add the MMJ and blend on pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

MMJ juices contain some pretty good ingredients – medical cannabis, of course, but also everything from fresh berries and kiwi to good-for-your vegetables.

Anti-Inflammatory Juice Boost

This juice is packed with anti-inflammatory super foods to tackle your ailment right at its source. For the best – and juiciest – results, make it with canned pineapple in juice, instead of syrup.

Ingredients:

• 4 celery stalks
• ½ cucumber
• 1 cup pineapple
• ½ green apple
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 lemon
• 1 knob ginger
• ¼ cup fresh, raw medical marijuana

Method:

1. Juice all of the ingredients – except the MMJ – until completely blended.
2. When you’re satisfied that everything is thoroughly mixed, add the MMJ and blend on pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

Super Purple Juice

This vegetable-heavy juice is filled with cancer-fighting compounds and anti-inflammatory agents, making it quite the super juice. Packed to the brim with beets, carrots, kale, cabbage, ginger and lemon, there’s a whole lot of goodness in a tall, purple glass of this stuff.

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch purple kale
• ¼ head red cabbage
• 1 red beet
• 1-2 carrots
• ginger, 1 inch piece
• 1 lemon
• ¼ cup fresh, raw medical marijuana

Method:

1. Juice all of the ingredients – except the MMJ – until completely blended.
2. When you’re satisfied that everything is thoroughly mixed, add the MMJ and blend on pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

Migraine-Targeting Boost Juice

As headache-prone MMJ card holders will tell you, there’s nothing quite like a debilitating migraine to leave you bed ridden for a few days. If you need fast relief from a head splitting pain, mix up a glass or two of this super juice and you’ll be feeling right as rain in no time.

Ingredients:

• ½ pineapple
• 3-4 leaves kale or a bunch of spinach
• 1 stick of celery
• ¼ lemon
• ½ inch ginger root (optional)
• ¼ cup fresh, raw medical marijuana

Method:

1. Juice all of the ingredients – except the MMJ – until completely blended.
2. When you’re satisfied that everything is thoroughly mixed, add the MMJ and blend on pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

If these recipes sound too tasty to turn down, get your hands on a juicer, some crisp, fresh MMJ and your medical marijuana card and you’ll be starting on your way to making your own juicy creations in no time.

Not sure of how exactly to juice your MMJ? No worries! Check out our handy how-to guide and you’ll soon be sipping your way to better health.

Treatment of pain is one of the main reasons why people use medical marijuana. Patients have been using medical cannabis to treat the pain symptoms associated with headaches, inflammation, muscle soreness, spasms, cramps and spinal injuries for centuries.

There are references to cannabis being used to treat pain from texts dating as far back as 2700 B.C. The first written reports of marijuana being used to treat pain from the 19th century were by a pioneering Irish doctor named William B. O’Shaughnessy, who described the use of medical marijuana in the treatment of menstrual cramps and several other ailments such as rabies and tetanus.

So, how effective is medical cannabis in the treatment of pain?

Medical cannabis is effective in treating pain.

People report great relief from chronic pain when they ingest medical marijuana. Because every human’s physiology and psychology is different, people report differing levels of success in using MMJ to treat pain, but the vast majority of anecdotal evidence points to MMJ being very effective at treating pain.

In recent years, the hard science has caught up with the anecdotal evidence. Studies have been done to explore the effectiveness of using medical cannabis to treat pain as well as to ascertain whether doing so is safe and what, if any, side effects can be expected from long-term medical cannabis use.

A small mountain of research is now piling up that shows that MMJ is effective in the treatment of pain. A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report from January 2017 concluded that there is “substantial evidence” that cannabinoids are effective in treating chronic pain.

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics showed that cannabinoids helped to increase the effectiveness of opioid painkillers, without changing blood opioid levels. This strongly suggests that cannabinoids have painkilling properties of their own.

“Medical cannabis is a very effective therapy for chronic pain patients because it affects people’s perception of pain, has the ability to mitigate the inflammatory process and has been shown to affect voltage-gated sodium channels in nerves in a way similar to lidocaine,” says Mark Rabe, medical director of Centric Wellness in San Diego and chair of the Scientific Advisory Board at Medical Marijuana Sciences.

The exact ways in which marijuana relieves pain are not fully understood, but it seems likely that cannabinoid compounds such as THC and CBD affect the natural cannabinoid receptors that we already have in our body and that studies show have a big effect on pain control.

Studies have shown that Type 1 cannabinoid receptors are located all over the body and have a particularly high concentration in areas that control pain perception in the central nervous system. Type 2 cannabinoid receptors are mostly located in the areas of the body that control immune function.

The nervous system and the immune system are the two main body systems responsible for producing the sensation of pain, and it is cannabis’s effects on the cannabinoid receptors in these areas that are likely the cause of its pain-relieving properties.

Medical marijuana has no recorded fatalities and is non-addictive.

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that medical marijuana is a safer way to treat pain than conventional opioid-based painkillers. Opioids have numerous side effects, such as drowsiness, constipation and, most sinisterly, addiction. Many people die from opioid-related complications each year.

Cannabis, on the other hand, has no recorded fatalities and is non-addictive. The side effects of medical marijuana are relatively benign and easily manageable with intelligent use. They can include drowsiness, decreased motivation, increased appetite and increased libido.

Mark Ware, director of clinical research for the Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit at McGill University Health Center in Montreal, conducted a study that concluded that cannabis was safe to use as a treatment for chronic pain. His team found that using a cannabis card did not lead to an increased risk of “serious side effects,” although there was a possibility for less serious side effects such as nausea, headache, sleepiness and dizziness.

“In terms of a side effect profile, we felt the drug had a reasonably good safety profile if you compare those effects to other medications,” said the study’s lead author.

The study also reported that participants seemed to experience a reduction in pain symptoms when using medical cannabis.

“This is a paper they should bring to the attention of their physician or health care provider,” Ware says. “Anybody who is interested in using cannabis to treat pain should know this information, as it can influence the decision-making process considerably.”

More and more doctors are now advocating medical marijuana card use for treatment of chronic pain. Jonathan Kuo, an interventional pain management specialist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. is a firm believer in cannabis as a pain reducer.

“We frequently find that opioids are not a good long-term solution for chronic pain,” Kuo says. “We’d like to see some more of these long-term safety profiles of medical cannabis, and studies like these are important steps forward in that direction.”

So, it seems compelling that medical marijuana is indeed effective in treating pain. There are still elements of the situation that are not fully clear; therefore, more research needs to be done. The evidence at the moment points to cannabis being safe and effective, so if you are suffering from pain, getting your hands on a California medical marijuana card certainly seems like a step in the right direction.

Medical marijuana tinctures are probably the least controversial way to consume cannabis. They are also the most underrated of all the cannabis products because they are not as fun to take compared to smoking marijuana in a joint. Nonetheless, they are nothing new, despite how new they might be to so many marijuana consumers. Tinctures were actually the main form of medical marijuana until it was banned in 1937. They are an ideal method for both recreational and medical users, especially for children or people with respiratory problems.

Medical marijuana tinctures are a liquid concentration of cannabis where the THC and cannabinoids are extracted and dispersed into alcohol. In the past, tinctures were the most common form of marijuana medication used. Today, tinctures are not as popular, but they are simple to use and can provide an accurate dosage. They are discreet and can be taken on their own or combined with food or drinks, which allows medical patients to take their medication anywhere while still maintaining their privacy.

Medical marijuana tinctures are easy and inexpensive to make, and you can customize the recipe to suit your needs. Below are three methods that will allow you to produce tinctures in as little as an hour. Firstly, you will need the following:

• Herb grinder or food processor
• Glass/ceramic bowl
• Mesh strainer
• Cheesecloth
• Kitchen scale
• Canning jar with lid
• Tincture bottles with droppers
• 1 ounce of buds per quart of alcohol
• The highest proof alcohol you can find
  

  Method 1: The OG Method

  

  Medical marijuana tinctures are easy and inexpensive to make.

1. Thoroughly dry and grind 4 grams of bud.
2. Bake the cannabis at 240 degrees in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes to decarboxylase it. This is to create the psychoactive compounds in the weed.
3. Immerse the cannabis into 2 ounces of high-proof alcohol in a canning jar, stir and cover tightly so that the evaporating alcohol does not escape.
4. Let sit 2 to 3 hours in a cool, dark place. The longer it sits, the more effective it will become.
5. Stir the brew again, then strain through a cheesecloth, collecting the liquid tincture in a bowl.
6. Pour the liquid through the cheesecloth a second time, then bottle the tincture in opaque bottles as soon as possible to avoid exposing it to light.

Method 2: The Cold Brew Method

Freezing the cannabis maintains the integrity of the cannabinoids and increases the tincture effectiveness.

This cold brew method of creating medical marijuana tinctures freezes the plant matter to maintain the integrity of the cannabinoids and increases the tincture effectiveness. It takes longer to produce the tinctures, and this method works best if you use high-quality cannabis.

1. Put your well-dried and decarboxylase buds into a freezer bag, and place them in the freezer for a couple hours. Put your bottle of alcohol in there, too, as both plant matter and alcohol must be kept as cold as possible during this process.
2. Once the buds are frozen, take them out of the freezer and grind them into rough chunks using an herb grinder or food processor.
3. Combine 1 ounce of ground plant matter with 1 quart of alcohol in a sufficiently large mason jar.
4. Close the jar, and shake vigorously for at least 5 minutes before putting the jar back into the freezer.
5. Every few hours over the next 48, pull the jar out the freezer and give it a shake.
6. After 2 days, strain out the plant matter from the cold liquid tincture through a piece of cheesecloth and save it for use.
7. Pour the resulting tincture through a coffee filter to remove any fine particles, and bottle the tincture in opaque bottles as soon as possible to avoid exposing it to light.

Method 3: The Warm Brew Method

1. Mix the cannabis and alcohol in a 1-quart mason jar. Cover tightly, and shake well.
2. Completely cover the jar to block out all light, which can cause the tincture to go bad.
3. Place the covered jar in a warm, dry place for 30 to 60 days. The longer you wait, the more potent the tincture will be.
4. When ready to process, strain the mixture through a double-thick piece of cheesecloth over a mesh strainer into a bowl. The mixture should be dark green.
5. Transfer the alcohol tincture into opaque bottles, and keep in the refrigerator.

Overall, not only are medical marijuana tinctures a great smoke-free option, but also, they are an ideal method for children or for the elderly who cannot smoke. Tinctures are also a lower calorie alternative to edibles such as brownies and cookies, and they also have a long shelf life when stored properly in a cool, dark place.

Once you have made your tinctures, to use, simply apply drops of the solution under your tongue. The main advantage of this method is that the medicine is absorbed through into the body’s main blood supply to the tongue. The euphoric effects of a medical marijuana tinctures will start to become apparent slightly slower than they would if you were smoking but significantly quicker than they would from an edible. You’ll experience the effects of two to three drops under your tongue in around 15 minutes. Enjoy!

There are many ways to consume medical marijuana, from smoking and vaping to juicing and applying lotions. One of the less common ways to take marijuana is by consuming it in the form of cannabutter. Cannabutter is marijuana-infused butter that has beneficial cannabinoids, which results in a potent and highly concentrated form of medical marijuana. It is the main ingredient in many cannabis-infused recipes.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active chemical responsible for most of the marijuana’s psychological effects and is what is extracted during the process of making cannabutter. If you have ever eaten a space cake, then you have ingested cannabutter. It is the most common way of producing marijuana edibles. Cannabutter is not only the yummiest way to transport THC, but it is also highly effective at preserving the natural effects of the cannabis plant.

It is simple to make, and for non-smokers, cannabutter is a preferable way to take marijuana. It can be made using the remains of the plant, which are usually discarded after harvesting. However, the most effective cannabutter is produced using the buds or bud leaves, which contain an abundance of resin. Follow the simple steps below to produce the best cannabutter.

How to Make Cannabutter in Three Easy Steps

The most effective cannabutter is produced using the buds or bud leaves.

Step 1: Activate the THC

To activate the THC in cannabis, heat needs to be applied by a process called decarboxylation. To do this, place the cannabis on a baking sheet, heat the oven to 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 40 minutes or until the cannabis turns crumbly and dry.

Step 2: Melt Butter

Next, melt butter in a saucepan. Use four sticks of butter to every ounce of cannabis. Once the butter has melted, add the cannabis, and lower the heat to simmer.

Step 3: Let It Cook

Let the weed cook for three hours. Remember, good things take time! Don’t forget to stir occasionally, and keep the heat low. You will know it’s ready when the top of the liquid turns thick and glossy. After simmering, strain the butter to remove the buds. The butter can now be used as a replacement for normal butter in recipes.

The Difference Between Smoking MMJ and Eating Cannabutter

Most people know the physiological differences between smoking cannabis and consuming it. When you smoke a joint, THC travels through the lungs, passes into your bloodstream and is delivered unprocessed to your brain and heart. This produces a link to your nervous system, resulting in rapid psychedelic effects. Furthermore, the effects come on within a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The noticeable high tends to last for one to three hours.

When we consume cannabis, the way your body absorbs chemicals such as THC through digestion differs. THC travels through metabolizing enzymes produced by the liver before it can be fully immersed in your intestines. When you consume marijuana, it could take 30 to 90 minutes before you experience anything. This is also dependent on whether you have an empty stomach or not. The effects can last for three to seven hours, and then you gradually descend. Consuming marijuana is more effective for longer lasting pain relief, muscle spasms and other similar conditions, but it takes longer to work than smoking it and is therefore not as useful if you require immediate medical marijuana relief.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it can be easy to overdose or under-dose when eating marijuana-infused edibles, as the effects don’t become apparent immediately. An ideal way to ensure you get the right amount is to start with a small amount on an empty stomach and wait at least an hour for it to take effect, then decide if you need more.

In short, when you eat medical marijuana, it produces more body-centered effects versus smoking marijuana, and the effects are more evenly spread throughout the body.

The Benefits of Cannabutter

Most people agree that of all the fats and oils that can be used to create edibles, cannabutter produces the tastiest results.

There are many other reasons why cannabutter is amazing. Not only can cannabis-infused baked goods offer health benefits, but also, they provide a cleaner high because there is no smoke or carcinogens involved. Additionally, because butter is high in saturated fats, cannabutter can bind the THC molecules and stop them from cooking out. This allows you to make highly potent goods.

Most people agree that of all the fats and oils that can be used to create edibles, cannabutter produces the tastiest results. It can be used as a butter replacement in practically any a non-marijuana-infused recipe, giving you many different options. It is most commonly used in cakes, brownies and cookies, though it can be difficult to decide how much to use. Just remember that in edibles, the effect takes longer to come up, but it also stays longer in the system; therefore, it is best to start with a small amount first.

For children, people who suffer from respiratory allergies and asthma, or for people who simply don’t really want to smoke but still would like to have all the benefits of medicinal marijuana, cannabutter is the perfect answer.

So, now that you know how to make cannabutter, get ready for some serious baking in the kitchen. Whether it’s to treat pain or disease, cannabutter is not only simple to make but also provides great benefits for the mind and body.

So you finally got your medical marijuana license and your MMJ — now what?! Well, you have a big decision to make: How are you going to consume it? Medical marijuana is just about as diverse as a medical treatment can come, and there are plenty of ways you can choose how to consume it.

Before you make your decision, you need to ask a couple of questions: Do I want a discreet way to consume it? Do I like the idea of smoking? Do I want to be able to consume on the go, on my own time and with as little preparation as possible?

MMJ card holders are more inventive than ever, and these days, the list of ways to consume is growing even longer. If you’ve only recently gotten your medical marijuana card, you may be a little lost as to what consumption method to choose. Lucky for you, that’s where we come in to help you make an informed decision. We’ve outlined the best ways you can consume your medical marijuana.

Smoking

When you think of marijuana, the first thing that comes to mind is probably people smoking it, whether via a joint, pipe or bong. Sure, this is the preferred ingestion method for most recreational marijuana users, but for MMJ card holders, it’s not as popular, largely due to destructive nature of inhaling smoke. However, some medical marijuana users rate smoking as a good method of consumption because it delivers instant relief from their ailment as they inhale it through the lungs into the bloodstream.

Vaping

Vaping replicates the experience of smoking without the detrimental effects.

Ever increasing in popularity, vaping has become the new way to ingest MMJ without the dangers of smoke inhalation. As is evident by the name, a vaporizer creates a cloud from the cannabis by heating it up. Then, you inhale through a mouthpiece. As you’re not heating up the cannabis as much as you would be via smoking, you’re saving more of those all-important cannabinoids from being destroyed, thus making vaping all the better for you. A bonus of vaping is that it has been proven time and time again to be of assistance to those trying to quit smoking. It replicates the experience without the detrimental effects!

Edibles

The amazing beneficial effects of MMJ with the added deliciousness of an edible? Sign us up! And no, we’re not just talking about making some pot brownies! Medical marijuana edibles have come leaps and bounds from the clichéd chocolate treat that was once (OK, maybe still is) omnipotent in college dorms across the States. Granola bars, gummy bears, popcorn and even mac ’n’ cheese are some of the food items that have been given an MMJ makeover, and foodie 420 card holders around the world are ever so grateful for it. Consuming edibles has not only been proven to give longer lasting relief than other methods, but it’s also an ultra-discreet way to consume, which can be incredibly important depending on your surroundings. If you’re looking for some edible inspiration on what to make, check out some of our recipes here, here and here.

Tinctures

A what now? You may be scratching your head trying to figure out what exactly a tincture is. Let us give you some clarity: A tincture is a concentrated form of medical marijuana that is made in an alcohol solution. You use a tincture by adding it to your food or drink, dropping it under your tongue, or even by applying it to your skin. The container it comes in is very discreet — it looks like an eyedropper — making it perfect for public consumption. If you have a child that is consuming medical marijuana, this would be the best method for them.

Drinking

Drinking medical marijuana in juice or smoothie form avoids the loss of some of the nutritional value of MMJ.

Yes, you heard us right! Consuming your MMJ by drinking it has become very popular of late — not least in California thanks to the juicing craze that’s sweeping the state! Like most other vegetables — yes, MMJ is technically a vegetable! — cannabis loses a lot of its nutritional value when it’s heated like it is using other methods. Drinking MMJ in juice or smoothie form avoids this loss of the good stuff and allows users to benefit from the ameliorative powers of the plant without getting the cloudy high that is sometimes achieved via smoking, vaping or edibles. If you’re intrigued by this inventive method but aren’t sure where to start, check out our how-to guide for juicing medical marijuana. You’ll be reaching for your juicer in no time.

This is only a rundown of the most popular ways, but if none of these take your fancy, there’s plenty of other methods to choose from such as dabbing, patches, topicals, suppositories and even just ingesting the fresh plant on its own. Most California medical marijuana card holders will usually consume via a combination of these methods depending on their surroundings or the relief they’re looking for. As with most things, your MMJ journey will be an ever-evolving one, and you’ll figure out what works best for you as you go along. Embrace what works, and discard any method that doesn’t agree with you or is ineffective for your ailment. Don’t forget to trust what your body is telling you. It knows best!

There is a growing body of evidence, both research-based and anecdotal, that a medical marijuana card California can be an invaluable tool for improving the symptoms of depression. That’s because certain MMJ strains can greatly improve depression symptoms in many patients.

Certain strains of cannabis can enliven and energize, while others can promote feelings of well-being and euphoria, while others still can relax the body and mind and bring on sleep. All of these can be useful when a patient is battling depression.

Mild to moderate depression can be alleviated pretty effectively by using your California medical marijuana card to pick up some of the following MMJ strains.

Jack Herer

Like many MMJ strains, Jack Herer promotes well-being, positivity and creativity.

Named after the famous marijuana activist and Emperor of Hemp, this strain is sativa-dominant with a THC content of 17 to 24 percent. It promotes well-being, positivity and creativity, which makes Jack Herer an ideal weed to smoke when you are trying to write and record an original music album or make some exciting art. It gives a nice body buzz and makes the user want to be active. It is very effective at boosting mood, so it is great for combating depression. Use your cannabis card to get ahold of this strain of herb, and watch your depression melt away.

Amnesia Haze

Well-known for relaxing the mind — perhaps that’s why it’s called Amnesia Haze now that I think about it! — this is a sativa-dominant hybrid that often brings on giggling fits and happy feelings — the perfect antidote to a blue mood. This is an energizing strain that motivates the user to get out and into the world.

AK-47

This awesome strain has a trophy cabinet teeming with cups and medals at home. It is an MMJ industry favorite. The high produced by this sativa-dominant hybrid with 20 percent THC is calming while also being quite euphoric. It is a relaxed, hazy, joyful buzz, which will gently but insistently chase away the black clouds of depression. It is available in most good dispensaries with a marijuana card California.

Blue Dream

Many MMJ strains, including Blue Dream, help reduce anxiety and depression.

Easing anxiety and stress is the name of the game here. A sativa-dominant strain with a fair chunk of indica thrown in the mix, too, Blue Dream reduces anxiety while uplifting the general mood and injecting a pleasant shot of positivity into the user — ideal for somebody who is suffering from depression.

Girl Scout Cookies

GSC is one of the indica-dominant MMJ strains with a hefty chunk of sativa DNA in their also, so it packs an impressive punch both physically and mentally. This MMJ strain brings on deep feelings of relaxation as well as a pleasant elevation in mood and a nice psychoactive high. It has a THC range of 17 to 28 percent, which is high for an indica-dominant strain. The creative and euphoric moods it brings on are great for showing depression the door.

Chiesel

This hybrid strain is the result of a wild and steamy love affair between Big Buddha Cheese and NYC Diesel. Either Big Buddha Cheese forgot to suit up, or NYC Diesel lied about being on the pill, but whatever the truth of the matter, Chiesel was born. Although it was a shock at first, everyone now agrees that the world is a better place with the little guy in it! This sativa-dominant hybrid gets people happy and energetic but still leaves them very clear-headed. It inspires creativity, happiness and a pleasant mood.

XJ-13

This robotically monikered weed has a citrusy scent and provides an uplifting high that leaves the user clear of mind, happy and positive.

Jillybean

If you want to smoke during the day and be sure you will still be able to get stuff done, then Jillybean is the perfect strain for you! It has a light and pleasant effect on body and mind and calms both just enough to take the edge off while leaving the user more capable than ever of getting out into the world and getting important work done. A calm focus is the game that Jillybean is playin’. It’s the ideal strain for a depressed poker shark out on the make.

Kill Bill

A 50:50 balanced hybrid, this tasty strain will bring a peaceful equilibrium to your mood. You’ll be calm and relaxed yet eager to get to work. It has a THC range of 15 to 19 percent, so it’s not too psychoactive. A cerebral calm accompanied by an undeniable itch to be creative will descend upon you when this herb gets its crystal-cover claws into you.

Harlequin

Another balanced hybrid, Harlequin will alleviate depression symptoms while leaving the patient’s mind clear, fresh and focused. No matter what is on your agenda for the day, it will be easy when you have traces of sweet Harlequin flowing around with your blood.

Pineapple Express

This delightfully named sativa-dominant hybrid strain’s mom is Trainwreck and pop is Hawaiian. The THC range is 12 to 17 percent, and the effect is a happy, energetic high dancing through a clear and focused mind. The body is relaxed but ready for action, and the mind is euphoric but focused. It’s just lovely!

Your 420 card will feel proud that you used it to get a hold of these awesome MMJ strains.

California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes in 1996. Today, 24 states now have medical marijuana legislation. Nowadays, thanks to restrictions gradually diminishing and research stating that cannabis can help kill cancer cells, the stigma associated with cannabis has started to melt away.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably already aware that you need a CA cannabis card before you can legally enjoy this herb in California. There are many ailments that qualify for a California medical marijuana prescription, such as anxiety, chronic pain, depression and arthritis. In fact, it’s surprisingly easy to obtain a cannabis card. Simply sign up online, have a video chat with a medical board-licensed doctor, and get your recommendation and your medical marijuana on the same day!

Also worth noting is that you can renew your medical card online, too, which will be required each year if you continue to require the medication.

The most common way of taking medical marijuana is to smoke the dried buds or leaves. The smoker will feel the effects almost immediately. However, for children, this may not be suitable, so what other methods are out there, and which one is the best?

What Are Medical Marijuana Tinctures?

Medical marijuana tinctures are the most underrated cannabis product.

Medical marijuana tinctures lie at the opposite end of the spectrum to smoking. It is probably the least controversial way to consume cannabis. Tinctures are the most underrated of all the cannabis products because there are not as many fun and potentially punishable practices linked with this form of use. Arguably underused in comparison to raw flowers, dabs and edibles, tinctures were actually the main method of ingesting marijuana until it was banned in 1937.

Perhaps marijuana tinctures are a new term to you because an eyedropper full of medicine just doesn’t conjure up the same image that smoking and eating edibles do. There is no need for a crème brûlée blowtorch to take marijuana as a tincture, which is probably why they don’t carry any derogatory media tags. Also, you’re much less likely to overdose on a marijuana tincture than you are with a marijuana edible.

Tinctures have been known as the moonshine of marijuana because of how they are made. Furthermore, making most cannabis tinctures takes up much less space, and, in comparison to traditional moonshine, chances of an explosion that will destroy your whole home are nonexistent. Simply put: Making cannabis tinctures are much safer, and therefore less controversial, than making cannabis concentrates with butane, for instance.

How Do Tinctures Work?

With tinctures, the medicine is absorbed into the body’s blood supply.

How does taking cannabis tincture actually work? Drops of the solution are squeezed out through an eyedropper under your tongue. The primary advantage of this application method is that the medicine is absorbed into the body’s blood supply. The euphoric effects of a tincture will start to sink in slightly slower than they would if you were smoking but significantly quicker than they would from an edible of the same strain of cannabis. In short, you’ll experience the effects of two to three drops under your tongue within around 15 minutes.

Cannabis smoke is not in any way conclusively associated with any kind of cancer; however, sublingual ingestion of medical marijuana tinctures is preferable for anybody who might be worried about the perceived health risks of inhaling any kind of smoke into the lungs. Tinctures may also be ideal for anyone who may be too sick, too young or too old to properly smoke or vaporize marijuana.

Most patients choose to take cannabis by a rolled joint, pipe or vaporizer because these dosage methods are convenient, fast acting and deliver instant relief. It is also inexpensive and fairly easy to regulate the dosage. However, short-term side effects include respiratory tract irritation, so it is not the best option for anyone with pulmonary damage, lung cancer, emphysema or asthma.

Current research shows that the long-term side effects of smoking cannabis are insignificant; however, regular and heavy smoking of marijuana may cause the production of phlegm, chronic coughing and bronchitis. Additionally, cannabis smoke is known to contain substances that may result in cancer called carcinogens. However, when researched at a molecular and cellular level, the cannabinoids in cannabis are shown to decrease the effect of the smoke’s carcinogens, and no confirmed incidents of lung cancer or other lung diseases have been discovered in marijuana smokers.

In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to both taking medical marijuana tinctures and smoking MMJ. Which method is best is dependent on the individual. The best way to decide which application suits you most is to probably to try both. Just remember to obtain a medical marijuana card online first!

If you have a medical marijuana card California, making cannabis oil at home is easy-peasy!

Cannabis oil is a potent substance that can be eaten, inhaled, or rubbed on topically. It is the foundation to many tasty edible marijuana recipes. The THC content in the oil brings on an enjoyable psychoactive effect when ingested, so it’s a great base for chocolate brownies!

Cannabis oil is also a potent medicine containing large amounts of healthy cannabinoids. The two cannabinoids with the strongest medicinal value are THC and CBD. Both are present in a well made cannabis oil. The oil can be used to treat a whole host of physiological and psychological conditions, including headache, insomnia, muscle pain, inflammation, arthritis, glaucoma, anxiety and depression. Cannabis oil can even have anti-cancer effects. Studies are suggesting that cannabinoids can inhibit tumor growth by disrupting the formation of new blood vessels that the tumors need to grow. Cannabinoids even seem to attack cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells intact. Go cannabinoids!

Using cannabis oil is a very effective way to get a high dose of health-promoting cannabinoids, because the refining process removes all of the plant material and leaves only pure oil behind. This oil contains high levels of THC and CBD, so it’s possible to consume higher doses of the healthy cannabinoids than if you smoke your medical cannabis.

It is definitely advisable to choose a high-quality strain of medical marijuana to make your cannabis oil with. If you have a cannabis card you can ask at your local dispensary which strain they recommend for making a nice and pure oil, or you can grow your own weed at home and use that. It is good to use an organic strain because otherwise the unpleasant chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are used in the growing process in some 420 card states will end up in your oil in concentrated levels. The purer the strain, the better.

It is important that you choose the right location to make your oil. You will need to find a well-ventilated and open space with windows and a gas or electric stove.

Step 1: Assemble the ingredients and tools you will need

You will be using are 1 ounce of medical marijuana, available with a California medical marijuana card, and 1 gallon of high proof alcohol, such as Everclear. Be certain to use alcohol that is intended for human consumption, do not use rubbing alcohol.

The tools you will need are 1 medium glass or ceramic mixing bowl, a wooden spoon, a straining device such as a muslin bag, cheesecloth or coffee filter paired with a mesh strainer, a container to catch liquid, a silicon spatula, a double boiler, a plastic syringe, and glass jars.

At various stages in the process you will need to wear a respirator mask, non-latex gloves, safety glasses and oven mitts.

Step 2: Extract the cannabinoids from the cannabis

Soak the cannabis buds in the alcohol by putting the MMJ into the ceramic bowl and submerging it in the pure alcohol. Stir and mash the mixture with the wooden spoon for about 3 minutes. Strain the mixture, letting the dark green cannabis infused alcohol pour into the second container while trapping the solid mash in the strainer.

Step 3: Do a second strain

Put the mashed up contents of the strainer back into the first bowl, submerge in fresh alcohol and mix and mash for another 3 minutes. Then strain the new mixture and add the remaining green liquid to the green liquid from the first strain.

Why not invite your friends round to help you make the cannabis oil?

Step 4: Boil off the alcohol from the green liquid in a double boiler

Fill the bottom half of the double boiler with water, and pour the dark green liquid into the top section. Put the double boiler on the stove and bring the water in the bottom section to the boil. Once the water is boiling it will begin to heat the green liquid. Once the green liquid is bubbling the alcohol will begin to evaporate. Let the contents bubble away at a low heat, occasionally scraping the sides and bottom of the top section with your spatula. When the liquid stops bubbling and becomes a thick, dark green syrup, all the alcohol has evaporated and your cannabis oil is ready! Remove the top section of the double boiler and allow the oil to cool.

Step 4: Fill glass jars or syringes with cannabis oil

Draw the cannabis oil into the plastic syringe by pulling on the plunger. Transfer the oil from the syringe into a clean glass jar with an airtight lid.

Step 5: Store in a cool, dark place

Keep the oil in the airtight glass jars in a cool, dark cabinet. The oil gets hard in cool temperatures, so gently warm the oil to turn it back into liquid before use.

Enjoy!

In today’s world of constant stimulation from social media, email, text messages and phone calls, rising job insecurity, and both national and international tension, stress is at an all-time high. Feelings of stress or anxiety release cortisol – the stress hormone. Cortisol plays a significant role helping us deal with stress by shutting down unnecessary functions, like reproduction and the immune system, so that the body may direct all focus toward dealing with the stress. The functions of cortisol are beneficial in their natural state, believe it or not, but they are supposed to be temporary, lasting just long enough to narrow your focus on dealing with the stressor by fighting or fleeing. However, modern-day stressors are complicated and often resolution cannot be found with fight nor flight. So we live out lives on a constant supply of cortisol which leads to high blood pressure, less sleep, sickness and disease, loss of muscle and bone density, loss of hair, and neurodegeneration. It’s obvious then, that we should avoid stress as much as possible, but in those situations where it is inescapable, how do we go about reducing stress, how do we ensure we have down time, how do we ensure we relax? Well, one of the best ways we know of is to use medical marijuana.

But with an almost endless supply of strains, each producing its own unique set of effects inside the body, it can be a slow and arduous process of elimination trying to find the elixir of relaxation. That’s why we’ve written this article to help you find the best of the best medical marijuana strain for relaxing so you can get right to the smoking, eating, or drinking the potent plant. 

Fancy a calm blue ocean in your mind? Get the right medical marijuana strain and you just might find it.

Don’t Strain For a Strain!

In deciding on a strain, a knowledge of THC and CBD and the difference between the two is the most important thing, so that’s what we’ll go into first.

The strands available – indica, sativa, and hybrids – all contain a whole host of cannabinoids. In fact, there are at least 113 different cannabinoids isolated from cannabis, each responsible for distinct effects in the body. A cannabinoid is a class of chemical compounds that acts on cannabinoid receptors (involved in a variety of physiological processes including appetite, pain, mood, and memory) in cells that alter neurotransmitter release in the brain. THC is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid of cannabis – responsible for the high as well as being anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antiemetic. However, those suffering from anxiety, paranoia or those with a propensity toward mental illness are likely to react poorly to the psychoactive THC. In fact, unless your particular ailment calls for it, we recommend finding a strain lower in THC and higher in CBD.    

Cannabidiol (CBD) is another major component of the plant and the one accountable for many of the medicinal properties. Scientists say that CBD modulates electrical and chemical activity thereby quieting the excessive activity in the brain that causes seizures. Users of strains high in CBD describe a cerebral high and studies have shown that it is an anti-psychotic likely to help with stress, anxiety, mental illness, and behavioral issues.     

As we just mentioned, there are two main species of marijuana: sativa and indica, as well as also hybrids of the two. Both come with a unique smell, taste, and strength profile. Sativa has a fruity, sweet aroma while indica tends to have an acrid, stinky odor. But the most important distinction between the plants is the amounts of THC and CBD in them. Plants with high levels of THC are typically considered indica; while plants with high levels of CBD are typically considered sativa.

Sativa increases creativity, energy, and serotonin (a neurotransmitter that is responsible for the maintenance of mood balance and plays a huge role in the prevention of depression) with its high concentration of CBD.

Make sure that you purchase the correct medical marijuana strain to help you live a stressless life.

Note: Asking your local dispensary about specific strains for relaxation will help pinpoint your ideal strain, but nothing beats a bit of experimenting: each of us has a different composition and, as such, will react uniquely to each strain in ways that may differ from expectations garnered from the norm.  But below are our two favorite strains for relieving anxiety.

White Widow (Hybrid)

A cross between a South American Sativa and an Indian indica, this strain creates a sense of euphoria and positivity making it ideal for those who suffer from generalized anxiety, PTSD, and depression.

OG Kush (Hybrid)

Possibly the most popular hybrid is OG Kush. It creates a gentle elation ideal for users with extreme anxiety and PTSD. Not so relaxing you are left bed-ridden: this is high-functioning stuff.

So now you know how to find yourself the ideal medical marijuana strain to leave you relaxed and happy. Make sure you have your medical marijuana card so you can start to benefit from the drug’s long list of health benefits.

Despite the fact that a raft of new states voted to legalize medical marijuana, and many voted to legalize even recreational use of the drug, there is still a lot of controversy surrounding cannabis use in the United States. The herb is still illegal at a federal level, and simply crossing a state line with your medical marijuana can turn you from a law abiding citizen into a felon with the potential to do some actual jail time.

The nation is now a patchwork of legal and illegal states. Many forward-looking jurisdictions have opened their eyes to the medicinal benefits of this ancient plant and are issuing suitable patients with an mm card. Unfortunately, many other jurisdictions are still convinced that pot is the devil’s pubic hair – poisonous, maddening, and deeply evil.

So why the controversy? Why do different states, and even different people, look at marijuana in such a different way?

Physicians of the 19th century had a great deal less complicated, synthetic, expensive (and massively profitable) pharmaceutical drugs at their disposal. But one treatment they relied heavily on, to treat labor pains, asthma, nervous disorders, sexual dysfunction, and even colicky babies, was a fluid extract of “Indian hemp extractums”, also known as Cannabis Indica. In the late 1800s marijuana was considered a “superstar” drug in America and Europe, with over 100 scientific studies published in the 19th century verifying its effectiveness.

MMJ was the most popular medicinal drug for much of the 19th century in America, only being overtaken slightly by morphine and aspirin towards the end of the century.

There are a lot of half-truths and myths surrounding medical marijuana use.

All was well. But then dark forces stepped in…

In 1937 the Marijuana Tax Act was introduced. This made possession, sale or transfer of cannabis within the United States illegal, apart from a few industrial exemptions which were massively taxed. This was a sad day in American legal history because the bill was passed based on extremely shaky evidence that dubiously suggested marijuana was addictive and lead to antisocial behavior. Preston Peet, in his book ‘Under the Influence: The Disinformation Guide to Drugs’ suggests that the real purpose of the prohibition on cannabis was to destroy the hemp industry, making synthetic fiber more valuable and enriching the fat cats who owned the synthetic fiber patents. Was it an early taste of how brutally, nation-destroyingly effective Washington lobbyists would become?

This new prohibition on marijuana really muddied the waters and confused a nation about the possible effects, good or bad, of marijuana. It lead to generations of people assuredly, proudly, fearfully, but ignorantly, exclaiming that weed ‘sent people crazy!’ and was a harmful ‘gateway drug’ that made people violent, destitute, and demented. Misinformation was peddled at a national level and millions of people were successfully brainwashed.

Thankfully we are now managing to claw our way, as a nation (some states quicker than others), out from underneath that particular rock. The light is bright, too bright for some, but we are slowly getting used to it.

A Renaissance is taking place. Rafts of genuine studies are being done, and the truth about marijuana and the medicinal benefits of using a California medical marijuana card are becoming irrefutably clear.

In the last few decades a host of studies have been done that show medical marijuana to have massive potential in treating a myriad of ailments and diseases. Conditions as diverse as nausea, anxiety disorder, vomiting, premenstrual syndrome, insomnia, migraines, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, spinal cord injuries, alcohol abuse, arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, bipolar disorder, depression, Huntington’s disease, sickle-cell disease, Parkinson’s disease, sleep apnea, Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma, PTSD, and anorexia nervosa have all been successfully treated with the use of a 420 card.

Excitingly, it is looking promising that cannabinoids may also be a useful weapon in the battle against cancer, both its prevention and its treatment. Many studies on laboratory animals have now shown that cannabinoids can inhibit tumor growth. They appear to kill tumor cells without harming the surrounding healthy cells, mainly by inhibiting the process of angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need in order to grow. This gives cannabinoids an advantage over chemotherapy, because the latter tends to destroy healthy cells as well as cancerous cells.

Studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids can be effective in killing cells from many types of cancers, including lung, thyroid, leukemia, skin, uterus, breast, colorectal, stomach, pancreatic, prostate, as well as a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma.

This is all very positive news and is adding to medical marijuana’s new, positive image.

Many doctors and physicians in medical cannabis-friendly states are now more willing than ever to learn about the benefits of MMJ, and are more open minded to prescribing their patients cannabis cards, than at any time since the late 19th century.

After almost 80 years of controversy, ignorance, and misinformation, this versatile and useful plant is coming in from the cold and taking its rightful, and uncontroversial, place at the top table of modern medicine.

Modern medicine is slowly but surely waking up to the huge health and healing benefits of medical marijuana. MMJ is now being used to treat and manage a whole host of physiological and psychological diseases.

However, despite a slew of studies showing its effectiveness, and mountains of anecdotal evidence from cannabis card patients who have benefited from its use, there is still controversy surrounding medical marijuana. In many circles, marijuana is viewed as a harmful and deviant drug. Rigid thinking in this area means that many people refuse to see cannabis as anything but the dangerous and degrading substance they have been brainwashed into believing it is.

Marijuana’s bad reputation comes from decades of baselessly awful press, and a large amount of deliberate misinformation that’s been peddled by malevolent and cynical forces with sinister agendas.

For much of the 19th century, physicians happily, and to great effect, prescribed Cannabis Indica for a wide range of ailments including nervous disorders, labor pains, nausea, asthma, sexual dysfunction, and headache. Well over 100 studies published in the 19th century validated its effectiveness. Marijuana was well and truly a ‘superstar’ of 1800s medicine. Cannabis was to the 19th century apothecary, what Conor McGregor is to the 2017 UFC.

Medical marijuana and modern medicine: a match made in heaven?

But in 1937 things changed. The Marijuana Tax Act became law and the use of marijuana for medical purposes or otherwise became illegal. Propaganda was disseminated that said cannabis was of no medicinal benefit and that it was, in fact, sinister and harmful. Stories of people going crazy and committing acts of wild violence and sexual depravity while under the influence of the evil herb marijuana were circulated and the notion that weed was a satanic and horrendous poison seeped into the national consciousness. These wild stories were thoroughly false and baseless, yet a naive populace believed them anyway.

According to author Preston Peet, in his excellent book ‘Under the Influence: The Disinformation Guide to Drugs’, the underlying purpose of criminalizing and vilifying cannabis was to kill the hemp industry, and make the big business interests who ran the synthetic fiber industry even more filthy rich. It seems possible that the alcohol industry, which had just exploded after the end of prohibition in 1933, also stood to benefit from a total ban on marijuana.

Marijuana stayed strictly ‘off the menu’ for doctors and patients (on an official basis at least) for the next several decades, until eventually the mood began to change in more enlightened parts of the nation during the 1990s. California passed Proposition 215 in 1996 which allowed the use of medical cannabis in the state for people with a California medical marijuana card. Gradually other states opened their eyes to the undeniable benefits of issuing medical 420 cards and followed suit, legalizing marijuana for medical use. By the beginning of 2017, 28 US states had legalized medical marijuana.

MMJ is now firmly a part of modern medicine with physicians prescribing a California medical card for physiological conditions such as vomiting, migraines, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, nausea, sickle-cell disease, Parkinson’s disease, sleep apnea, spinal cord injuries, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, muscle spasms, and asthma, as well as psychological conditions like anxiety disorder, insomnia, bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD.

The benefits of cannabis cards for modern medicine are now being thoroughly explored and studies are bringing a whole host of new and unexpected benefits to light. Studies on laboratory animals are showing that the cannabinoids found in MMJ can inhibit tumor growth, and even kill tumors by inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need in order to grow. This is an excellent development in the fight against cancer. Cannabinoids even seem to have an advantage over chemotherapy because, while chemo tends to annihilate healthy cells as well as cancerous cells, cannabinoids seem to kill cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells intact.

Not only is MMJ easing the pain and suffering of patients with a raft of different diseases, and showing potential to kill tumors, but it is also, according to research from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, showing great potential to improve neurological functioning after a stroke, and a study from the National Cancer Institute is even suggesting that it could have a protective effect against the development of certain tumors! Hurray for cannabis!

So the real story of medical marijuana and modern medicine is a beautiful love story. There was a passionate honeymoon full of laughter, lust and wild nights. Then came a tumultuous middle period in which mistrust, wild accusations and hurt feelings lead to an acrimonious break-up. But that break-up was ultimately character building, and it let the lovers realize just how much then really meant to each other, and they finally got back together in a wonderful reunion, and a renewed, more mature, and deeper love flourished, and looks set to continue to flourish forever more! Warms your heart, right?

What are the effects of using medical cannabis in conjunction with other medication? Does your marijuana interfere with other medication? It is important to understand how any combination of drugs you are taking will work together and the effects that mixing them will have on your body and mind.

In order to avoid any unwanted effects from drug interactions inside your body, it is crucial that you keep your doctor informed and listen carefully to his or her advice.

If you are taking traditional medical and medical cannabis, we advise asking your doctor what the effects coud be.

Although there is not a wealth of peer-reviewed studies on interactions between medical marijuana and commonly-used medications, there certainly are potential side effects that can occur when MMJ is taken alongside other drugs. Many widely taken prescription and nonprescription drugs, when taken in combination, will react chemically inside the body. These reactions can be good, bad, or benign. Cannabis card patients and their doctors should consider the potential reactions that both prescribed and ‘over the counter’ medications will have with the cannabis they use, because sometimes those reactions are not inconsequential.

Marijuana can have an additive effect when taken in conjunction with certain pain medications. This additive effect, when one drug amplifies the effect of another, is called ‘potentiation’. The effect can be unpredictably strong. Cannabis is often prescribed alongside NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for the relief of pain symptoms from arthritis. The combination is very effective for reducing pain. Patients using their California medical card alongside painkillers need to be careful because the potentiation of these drugs can lead to drowsiness or depression of the central nervous system which controls heart rate and respiration.

Medical cannabis is a wonderful herb but it’s best to learn about its effects on your body before consuming.

Medications that are dedicated central nervous system (CNS) depressants or sedatives can bring on a feeling of drowsiness. Certain strains of MMJ (usually indica-dominant hybrids) that have a similar effect can greatly enhance the effects of these drugs. Some medications prescribed for insomnia, anxiety, depression and, as previously mentioned, pain relief fall into this category. So be aware that taking sedative drugs and using medical cannabis may knock you out more than expected.

Antihistamines, which are used in the treatment of allergy symptoms associated with hay fever, have a depressing effect on the CNS. Antihistamines can cause drowsiness, so when used in combination with a California weed card can have a potentiated effect.

Antihypertensives are commonly used by people with hypertension to lower their blood pressure. Some strains of medical cannabis, especially sativa-dominant strains, can temporarily increase blood pressure, so if you are taking drugs to lower blood pressure be aware that certain strains of weed may counteract their effects.

Hormone medications can be effected by medical cannabis use. Marijuana can make the oestrogen used in birth control or as hormone replacement therapy less effective. This means the intended effects of these drugs may be compromised. What’s that we hear in the distance?? Oh it’s the the pitter-patter of tiny feet. How exciting!!! Or not. Seriously though, the effects of medical cannabis on birth control pills is often negligible, but it’s always best to be extra-safe and talk to your physician.

Marijuana can slow blood clotting, so when it is mixed with prescription medicines such as warfarin that slow blood clotting, or with nonprescription drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin that have the side effect on slowing clotting, this may result an increased risk of bleeding and/or bruising.

The effect of medications that metabolize within the liver may be strongly impacted by the presence of medical marijuana in the system. Cannabis has been known to slow down, or speed up, certain processes the liver uses to break down medication. This can result in medications being at a higher blood concentration or lasting longer than would normally be the case, or alternatively, being processed more rapidly and losing their effect more quickly. Therefore, the dose or frequency of these medications may need to be adjusted when they are being taken in conjunction with medical marijuana.

It has sometimes been noted that certain medications that may be used to treat patients with cancer, HIV, and people who have had an organ transplant may sometimes interact with medical marijuana. Since many people with these conditions use medical cannabis to manage their symptoms, it is important to check with a doctor to be sure that the particular drugs you are taking are appropriate to take alongside MMJ.

Cannabis has been shown to decrease the effectiveness of metformin (known by the brand name Glucophage) which is used as an aid in controlling the blood sugar levels of diabetes patients, as the effect of lowering blood sugar is opposed by cannabinoids.

Also, marijuana can cross the placenta and be excreted in breast milk, so it’s best for breastfeeding mothers to discuss the potential risks of breastfeeding while using their MM card with their doctor.

So these are some of the more common potential side effects of mixing medical cannabis with other drugs. There can be many advantages to using your 420 card along with other useful drugs, but it is always wise to be conscious and aware of what you are putting into your body, and how those substances will react with each other.

You may be thinking that marijuana is marijuana regardless of how it gets into your system, but you’d be sorely mistaken. Smoking, eating, and drinking medical marijuana creates different strength profiles and each process has hugely varying half-lives. And therefore, the type of ailments that each form of ingestion is best suited to treating differs greatly. The two most common forms of marijuana consumption are smoking and eating. Knowing exactly how each form works in the body allows you to make an informed decision as to which is most appropriate to your needs. This article is going to give you the ability to make that informed decision. The only other thing you need to stock up on MMJ is a medical marijuana, card which can be purchased online. Without further ado, let’s get into the differences between smoking and eating marijuana!

Whether you’re more suited to smoking or eating MMJ will depend on your tolerance, preference and ailments.

The Science

There are two places where THC can be processed: in the brain and in the liver. Where THC is processed is dependant on how it enters the system. Eaten cannabis gets metabolized by the liver. Smoked or vaporized cannabis is instead absorbed by the lungs and moves to the THC receptors in the brain.

Getting from edible cannabis to cannabinoids being released through the blood is a slow process – taking between 60 and 120 minutes. The metabolizing of these cannabinoids in the liver happens below the surface with no effects presenting themselves until the cannabinoids are released into the blood plasma. Once released, the effects can last anywhere from four to six hours.

The delayed onset of edible marijuana can mean that inexperienced users may consume too high of a dosage as they confuse the delayed onset with low potency. This can lead to folk to have extremely poor experiences that take many hours to subside. Due to the difficulty in titration with edibles, we recommend the lowest dose possible to achieve therapeutic effects. And from there you can work toward your sweet spot. Patience is key here.

As well as producing a longer-lasting high, eating marijuana produces a much stronger high. This means consumption rates and dosage amounts can be reduced. Many people become interested in edibles because they don’t enjoy the harsh experience of smoking or are worried about the long-term health effects associated with it – this is particularly true of those with lung conditions. Let’s not forget that every drug that has positive effects on the body, also comes with a slew of negative effects – some of which may seem non-existent because they are undetectable. Medical marijuana is no different. So for those requiring frequent marijuana consumption in order to temporarily reduce the effects of chronic pain, or to help with epilepsy etc, having a method to reduce daily dosage while increasing the length and potency of the drug is hugely helpful: meaning they are able to tap into the benefits with much less risk.

Due to the way cannabinoids are metabolised in the liver, in order to have the release of the psychoactive effects of cannabis when eating it, marijuana needs to be heated in some way with a form of fat. You won’t feel a high if you eat it straight without preparation as the digestive system is unable to process THC directly. THC is fat soluble. So cooking with fat – olive oil, coconut oil, butter –  will release the THC from the cannabis and allow it to bind with the fat. Once bound to fat, THC becomes processable by the liver. On top of this, it becomes palatable (don’t try eating raw cannabis unless you are seeking tastebud misery).

Brownies aren’t the only form of edible MMJ…but they might be the tastiest!

Though edible marijuana is often associated with brownies, or a similar assortment of divine, sugary deserts, almost anything you can think of can be infused with cannabis. It has a strong taste, however, so ensure it doesn’t overpower the other ingredients being experimenting with dosage and dishes.     

On the other hand, the effects of smoked marijuana can be felt within seconds. Smoking marijuana gets THC into the blood much faster and at higher concentrations, but it dissipates far sooner too. This allows even the greenest of users to stop before the point of no return. For this reason, we prepose starting with smoking and moving onto edibles if it suits your ailment or your preferences.

And there you have it, the difference between smoking and eating medical marijuana! Pick whichever suits you and your ailment or settle for a combination of the two. But whatever you do, make sure you have your medical marijuana card before you attempt to purchase. The easiest and quickest way to get your medical marijuana card is online. Happy smoking/eating!

For any medical marijuana card holder who’s just as interested in the science behind medical marijuana as they are the effects, delving into the genetic makeup of the plant begins with cannabinoids. The number of diverse cannabinoids contained within cannabis is vast; with scientists recently upping their discovered cannabinoid count from 104 to 111.

Cannabinoids come in all shapes and sizes, with some having much more of an impact on the body than others. For a long time, the solely discussed cannabinoid was tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC was first discovered back in 1964, and is the primary ingredient which provides the feeling of euphoria. THC, along with cannabidiol (CBD), are the key compounds for medicinal purposes.

An increasing number of Americans each year are turning towards medical marijuana for its ability to alleviate pain, insomnia, and anxiety, and also treatment for those suffering from cancer and HIV/AIDS. The medical benefits received from marijuana are due to a combination of cannabinoids, and how they interact with the human body. But how exactly do cannabinoids work?

Cannabinoids are sets of chemical compounds that bind themselves to receptors in the body that make up what is referred to as the endocannabinoid system. Many of our bodily cells possess specific binding sites containing cannabinoid receptors. Not only does our body naturally produce endocannabinoids which influence our appetite, mood, and memory, but as we consume medical marijuana, cannabinoids such as THC and CBD also bind to these receptors.

Medical marijuana – so much more than just a plant!

Cannabinoids we inhale or ingest work by imitating the compounds already found within our bodies, increasing the potency of the chemical’s effect. THC and CBD are by far the most commonly cited cannabinoids found within medical marijuana. While THC has a strong affinity for the CB-1 receptors found in the brain, CBD prefers CB-2 receptors, which are found throughout the body.

For a current or potential cannabis card holder, knowing the difference between THC and CBD is vital, as they provide remarkably different effects and benefits. As THC is a strongly psychoactive cannabinoid, consuming THC-rich marijuana can help with pain relief and nausea. While CBD is effective at relieving insomnia, stress, and anxiety; THC should be avoided in these instances due to its potential causation.

For the longest time scientists believed that the CBD cannabinoid had little-to-no effect on the CB1 receptor site, however new data now shows that this isn’t the case. While THC has a more direct impact on the CB1 site, CBD has now been shown to influence how the receptor responds to THC stimulation – meaning that depending on the particular ailment, a mix of both THC and CBD may be advantageous.

The cannabis plant itself contains more than 500 natural compounds – with cannabinoids making up a significant percentage. As the wide range of cannabinoid compounds interact with our body’s receptors within the central nervous system and immune system, for example, our body is affected in a litany of varying ways: from loss of short-term memory, to a slowing down of reaction times.

While both THC and CBD have been shown to assist with the treatment of a number of conditions, they aren’t the only important cannabinoids found within medical marijuana.

Cannabinol (CBN) is formed through oxidization when THC is exposed to the air. CBN can provide a less potent but similar psychoactive effect to THC, yet when the two are combined together it can make you feel drowsy – assisting with those suffering from insomnia. Both cannabinoids are also the only ones that have been found to fight pain through the use of endorphins and relaxing blood vessels.

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, similar to CBD, and is in-fact the building block for both THC and CBD. While more commonly found in hemp than in varieties of cannabis, it has been shown to reduce intraocular pressure – ideal for patients with glaucoma, as well as a significant pain reliever.

The third most common cannabinoid in the marijuana plant is Cannabichromene (CBC). While CBD often gets all the fame, in some strains CBC can actually take dominance. Research carried out in 2010 found that when coupled with THC, CBC becomes an effective anti-inflammatory, and has shown promise in fighting breast cancer.

With nearly half the states in the U.S. having legalized medical marijuana, it’s no wonder great strides are being made in extracting healing from its chemical compounds. Through latching onto receptors in the body, cannabinoids are able to greatly improve the standard of living for a variety of patients.

While a great source of alternative medicine, if you’ve recently acquired or are thinking about obtaining a medical marijuana card, it’s important to have the science in mind. As cannabis widens the blood vessels and increases heart rate, use is not advised for anyone with a heart condition, for example. But above all, between THC, CBD, and the many other compounds, know which strain is right for you.

For those not comprehensively versed on the medical marijuana landscape, you may be surprised about the amount of ways marijuana is able to be consumed, and how alternative methods work in radically different ways. Many often assume that smoking or baking cannabis is the only means of consumption, but while that may once have been true, today the options are plentiful.

Tinctures and topicals are an excellent alternative way to consume medical marijuana.

If you’re one of the many cannabis card holders in California, or are thinking about obtaining one, then learning about the medical marijuana that’s right for you is essential. Not only are there several strains, each with a range of chemical compounds that affect the body in different ways, but the method of consumption is equally as important of a factor when considering side-effects and lifestyle.

Of all the varying ways in which people are consuming medical marijuana, tinctures and topicals are two of the most recent developments. If you’re a cannabis card holder who focuses on a healthy lifestyle, and are concerned about the effects inhaling smoke may have on your body, or even the calories gained from eating baked goods, then tinctures and topicals are ideal alternatives.

Tinctures are typically made by first removing any unwanted part of the marijuana plant, and then taking the herbs and placing them within a glass jar. The jar is then filled with alcohol, tightly sealed, and left to sit for weeks (during this process topping up the alcohol may be necessary). Once a few weeks have passed, the planet material is strained out and you’re left with your tincture to bottle up.

Commonly, tinctures are used orally; placing a drop or two under the tongue, but it can be applied to the skin also. Tinctures are often used to help those suffering from sleep disorders, migraines, menstrual cramps, or even the common cold. Finding the correct dosage comes down to a case-by-case basis – if 1ml isn’t enough, try 2ml the next day, and so forth until you find the right amount.

You can get medical marijuana-infused balms and lotions to treat localized areas of your body.

For obvious reasons, none of the health concerns which go hand-in-hand with smoking are prevalent with tinctures. For relatively little cost, tinctures are simple to produce and easy to regulate – being able to put a drop or two within any homemade meal with minimal added calories. Furthermore, if stored in a cool, dark location, they will last for many years, allowing convenient repeat use.

On the opposite side of the same cannabis card holder’s coin, you’ll find topicals. These cannabis-infused lotions, balms and oils are absorbed through the skin to relieve localized pain, soreness and inflammation. Unlike many other methods of consuming medical marijuana, topicals do not provide the euphoria associated with the herb, so are best suiting for purely medicinal purposes.

When applied to the skin, topicals work by binding to the CB2 receptors of the body. CB2 receptors are triggered by the body’s naturally-occurring endocannabinoids, or by cannabis compound such a cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC – the ingredient which often leads to that high sensation). However, even if a topical contains THC, it still won’t induce the high gained from smoking.

The lack of a high is due to the fact that topicals cannot breach the bloodstream. Instead, they are the ideal choice for more surface issues: headaches, skin conditions such as eczema, or even arthritis can all be treated through the use of topicals. When THC is left in its acid form and combined with CBD, they work together to relieve inflammation, while also containing muscle and joint relief components.

As with tinctures, topicals are relatively simple to make at home: melting waxes and other preferable ingredients and mixing them with the cannabis-infused oils. The beauty of topicals comes from the fact that you can customize them to nth degree. Once you have found the combination of ingredients which fit your taste, your product is not only easy to apply, but will last far longer than more traditional means.

Anyone who has purchased cannabis with their medical marijuana card will know that it isn’t as simple as it seems. Different combinations of ingredients instruct each strain and their effectiveness for any given ailment. As with purchasing the herb itself, tinctures and topicals come in an assortment of shapes and sizes, each with their individual benefits for various conditions.

If electing to sample the more modest marijuana methods, experimentation can work wonders. With no adverse effects on the body, and a myriad of ingredient combinations and processing methods, transdermal products such as tinctures and topicals are best experimented with until your find ones that work for you.

Fortunately for any cannabis card holder, more and more options for topical remedies are revealing themselves as time goes on. So if you’re suffering from pain or inflammation, these new modes of marijuana consumption are well worth exploring.

There’s a reason why your medical cannabis card has a nickname of a ‘420 card’; for those not in the know, ‘420’ is a euphemism for smoking marijuana. Although there are several fallacious conspiracy theories as to its etymology – including a hilariously skewed Bob Dylan reference – the term actually originates from San Rafael High School in California. Five students used to meet by the school’s statue of Louis Pasteur after completing their after-school sports to smoke weed. Guess what time they used to meet? Yep, 16:20. The phrase became slang for getting high on marijuana and has since evolved into a national day amongst marijuana enthusiasts. On April 20th (4/20) every year, people all around the world roll up a joint and unite in a shared appreciation of the herb. But does this mean that 16:20 is the best time to smoke medical cannabis? (more…)

There are a plethora of medical marijuana facts out there. Some hype the benefits of the drug. Others spin weed in such a negative light you’d think one puff of a joint was similar to shooting black tar heroin in a back alley. Neither spin is completely correct.

Before you get your medical marijuana card online, here are seven fascinating facts:

• Medical Marijuana Mania: According to recent statistics, there are well over one million individuals in the state of California who have obtained their medical marijuana card. These individuals have led to over $2.7 billion in annual sales at medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.
• So Many States: California was the first state in the USA to legalize medical marijuana. As of 2016, there are 18 states that have legalized medical marijuana. Certain states have also legalized recreational use. More states will join both folds this fall, as voting occurs. California may legalize recreational use for the first time this November.
• Dwindling Opposition: In the 1990’s, medical marijuana wasn’t nearly as favorable as it is today. This medical marijuana fact is especially true in less liberal states (aka not California or Colorado). These days most are in favor of medical marijuana. Around 83% of Americans are in favor of allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana for medical conditions.
• Always Arrested: Even though the majority of Americans aren’t too opposed to medical marijuana and many support recreational use, there are still 750,000 weed-related arrests every single year in the United States. Most of these arrests are simply for possession of weed.
• Proven Effective: Medical marijuana has “medical” in its name for a reason. The drug has been shown to be effective in treating and healing a variety of health related conditions. While some use phony ailments to get their medical marijuana card online, many do use the drug for treatment.
• No Evidence: There has been no evidence presented showing medical marijuana laws and legalization has increased the consumption of weed in adolescents. Some have found youth smoke weed less when you remove the “bad boy” image of smoking pot in high school.
• Marijuana and Driving: Many have speculated that driving after consuming marijuana is similar to drinking and driving. However, statistics show that’s simply not true. While marijuana does seem to subtly affect driving abilities, there needs to be further studies done to determine a legal amount (similar to blood alcohol levels when drinking).

Get Your Medical Marijuana Card Online

If you’re looking to get a medical marijuana card online, look no further. At MMJRecs, we make it easy to get your weed card in under ten minutes. Wait no longer and contact us today! If you’re in California, it’s time to get your cannabis card.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, otherwise known as HIV, is a virus which affects the immune system and can lead to AIDS if not treated. Once a person is diagnosed with HIV, they will have the virus for the rest of their life, since the human body cannot completely get rid of it.

While there is no effective cure for HIV, it can be treated and cared for enough to be controlled. HIV will generally attack the gut-associated lymphoid tissue during the early stages. The amount of damage done at this stage usually determines how much the virus will progress. While HIV can be a deadly virus, you can actually live as long as a completely healthy person with the proper daily treatment and care.

Symptoms and Treatments for HIV

Many times people don’t even know they have HIV until they get blood work done. As long as HIV hasn’t been present in the body for a long time, then there’s a good chance treatment will be effective. The main side effects of HIV include wasting syndrome and intractable pain.

Doctors will provide antiretroviral drugs to prolong and prevent the onset of AIDS, but the side effects of those drugs can be harsh. That’s why many doctors are turning to get a medical marijuana card online for their patients. Believe it or not, medical cannabis is becoming widely recognized as an effective treatment for HIV.

In fact, a 2005 study showed that greater than 60% of patients suffering from HIV have used medical cannabis as a treatment method. And even more recently, a 2014 study showed that THC, the common known chemical in marijuana, lessened the damage to the gut-associated lymphoid tissue. The positive results from these studies are making people lean more toward getting medical marijuana online to help treat their symptoms.

Using Medical Marijuana for HIV Treatment

If you want to buy medical marijuana online, you just have to have a qualifying condition recognized by the state you live in. As more studies are published highlighting the benefits of medical marijuana for HIV treatment, most states recognize it as a qualifying condition.

Of course, it’s important to note that studies are ongoing and it may be several years before medical cannabis is completely proven to be an effective treatment method for HIV. For now, it is known to help alleviate symptoms and help patients get on with their regular treatment as outlined by their doctors.

Getting a medical marijuana card online isn’t as difficult as you may think. But if you’re new to the process, be sure to contact us for assistance. We can help walk you through the steps and make sure you get exactly what you need to live a better lifestyle.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects more than 3 million Americans. It can produce defects in a person’s field of vision and lead to eventual blindness. People who suffer from glaucoma will experience a gradual loss of peripheral vision, eye pain, possible tunnel vision, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and other similar symptoms.

The leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide is glaucoma. Since the disease impacts the optic nerve, due to the increased intraocular pressure, atrophy and excavation, the lack of treatment could lead to eventual blindness. So the only way to treat glaucoma is to reduce the amount of pressure on the optic nerve.

Treatments for Glaucoma

Some of the treatments medical professionals will provide include eye drops to reduce the intraocular pressure, or surgery in more severe cases. However, there have been studies dating back to the 1970s that indicate medical marijuana could be an effective treatment method. But even with the multiple studies supporting it, people are understandably concerned about the risks associated with using medical marijuana.

The idea behind getting a medical cannabis card and smoking marijuana is to help reduce the intraocular pressure. Early studies have shown that medical marijuana actually provides temporary relief for people suffering from glaucoma. As a result of this relief, many states have approved the use of marijuana for treating the disease as long as you have a medical weed card.

Drawbacks for Using Medical Marijuana for Glaucoma

As mentioned, medical marijuana only provides temporary relief from the pain by reducing the intraocular pressure. Research has indicated about 3-4 hours of relief is all you get when smoking marijuana. This causes problems because glaucoma needs to be treated around the clock before the patient shows any signs of improvement.

Also, medical marijuana can lower blood pressure throughout the body, which in turn lowers the blood flow to the optic nerve. If that happens, then you will effectively be cancelling out the benefits of reducing the intraocular pressure.

People who solely use medical marijuana as their treatment method for glaucoma would have to smoke around eight times each day, which could make them impaired for driving or doing normal daily tasks. Studies continue to be conducted regarding the effectiveness of medical marijuana for glaucoma patients, but the initial studies and results have been mixed.

If you are in need of temporary relief from your glaucoma symptoms, and want to buy medical marijuana online, feel free to contact us for more information. We will ensure you get the treatment you want and can help you throughout the process every step of the way.

Causalgia is a painful and chronic condition that can cause swelling and skin changes as a result of damage to nerves and blood vessels. It is also commonly known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. In addition to swelling and skin changes, the most common symptoms and side effects include burning sensations and profuse sweating.

People usually get causalgia because of an overactive sympathetic nervous system, however, the initial cause of the condition is not currently known. Upper extremities are most commonly affected, but other parts of the body can suffer as well. While causalgia itself is not considered to be life threatening, the side effects can be psychologically damaging.

The types of treatment for causalgia include acupuncture, physical therapy, biofeedback, transcutaneous nerve stimulation and others. Causalgia can create a lot of stress and tension on the body, which can cause psychological issues. Medical marijuana has been an effective treatment for the condition since it can decrease those issues and other ones that arise.

How Medical Marijuana Can Help Treat Causalgia

Causalgia may begin as a discomfort in certain parts of the body. However, a recent survey has indicated around 35% of people who are diagnosed with causalgia indicated the pain spread to other parts of the body. So even if the pain isn’t unbearable right away, it would be a good idea to get treated immediately to prevent further damage and pain.

People are turning to getting medical marijuana online because it is generally cheaper than other medications and the side effects are less severe. Medical marijuana can help alleviate some of the pain and stress on the body as a result of causalgia, so it makes the condition much easier to cope with.

Getting Access to Medical Marijuana Online

If you want to get a medical marijuana card online, you have to have a qualifying condition that is verified by a physician. Causalgia is generally recognized as a qualifying condition throughout the United States, but every state has different rules and regulations as far as what they consider to be a qualifying condition, so you will want to confirm that you qualify.

We can help you get your California medical marijuana card quickly and easily so you will be on your road to recovery. Causalgia is not a condition that is comfortable to live with, so even temporary relief is better than nothing. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms mentioned, then contact us today to get the help you need immediately and to prevent further issues from occurring.

Parkinson’s disease is a widely known neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain. Dopamine, a chemical produced by brain cells, is responsible for delivering messages to the brain to control bodily movement. When those brain cells are damaged, people may begin showing signs of Parkinson’s disease.

Many times Parkinson’s disease is difficult to detect right away since its progression is slow. Since there currently isn’t a cure for the disease, treatments are targeted at helping the patient deal with the symptoms and be as comfortable as they can. Some medications can help increase the dopamine levels in the brain. Brain surgery is also an option.

Symptoms and Treatment Options for Parkinson’s Disease

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be tough to diagnose. Some symptoms aren’t any different than typical everyday aches and pains. Something as subtle as a tremor in one hand can be a sign of the disease developing and progressing. However, as people get older, their symptoms worsen and can turn into jerking movements, constant muscle pains and aches, monotone speech, low blood pressure, difficulty swallowing or blinking and even drooling.

Treatments to help patients deal with the symptoms generally include prescription medication, but those usually come with some pretty harsh side effects. Medical marijuana is a recommended alternative since it doesn’t have any adverse side effects, and can help treat both the physical and mental symptoms of the disease. As more research proves the effectiveness of medical marijuana, many people are becoming inclined to get a medical marijuana card online.

Getting Your Medical Marijuana Card

The negative symptoms and side effects of medication treatments can cause anxiety and depression in some patients. Since you can get medical marijuana online, it is easier than ever to have a safe and reliable treatment option available. It won’t cure the disease, but it will make it a lot easier to deal with. In addition, the anxiety and distress will eventually subside, which will create a more positive attitude in the patient.

If you or a loved one is suffering from Parkinson’s disease, now is the time to take action. You should seriously consider medical marijuana as a treatment option. Since it’s fairly simple to buy medical marijuana online, you won’t have to jump through any hoops to get it. In fact, many states recognize Parkinson’s disease as a qualifying condition, so it’s an effortless process in those states.

Be sure to contact us if you have any questions about the process of obtaining your medical marijuana card, or if you have any questions about the drug in general. We would be happy to give you all the options you need and provide you with enough information to help you make the best decision for yourself.

Spinal cord injuries occur when a person suffers a dislodged bone fragment, disc material or ligament damage that harms the spinal tissue, and ultimately causes trauma to the spine. While spinal cord injury generally isn’t very common, people who experience it can have some pretty devastating effects to their quality of life.

Spinal cord injury is different from a common back injury because it will affect your motor functions. Since the injury takes such a toll on a normal daily life, people usually look for any alternative to help them at least deal with the pain and try to feel as normal as possible.

Symptoms and Treatment Options for Spinal Cord Injury

People suffering from spinal cord injury could experience stiffness, insomnia, blood clots, severe pain, uncontrollable bowel and bladder, anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction. If someone is diagnosed with complete spinal cord injury, they will experience a total loss of function below the specific point of the injury. People with incomplete spinal cord injury can face different degrees of severity and will only have a partial loss of function.

Ever since the 1970s, experts have researched to show the positive effects of marijuana to help alleviate the pain for patients with spinal cord injury. Now that it’s getting easier to get a medical cannabis card, many people are turning to this solution to help with their pain levels.

At this point in time, researchers know cannabis works to help spinal cord injury, but they are still studying exactly why it works. The cannabinoids are the medical components in cannabis that offer the relief, and it works somewhat as a super painkiller since it can help just about every symptom of spinal cord injury. With such clear results from people who have used medical marijuana before, it’s no surprise that getting a weed card is one of the best options for patients.

How to Obtain Your Medical Marijuana Card

Since there is a ton of research backing the positive effects of medical marijuana, it’s now easier than ever to get your hands on some. However, you must still meet some qualifying conditions; otherwise, anyone and everyone would be trying to get their medical marijuana card for uses other than treatment.

Not all states recognize spinal cord injury as a qualifying condition, but many of the symptoms associated with the injury are. Anyone who has spinal cord injury will experience at least one of the symptoms, so all it will take is the recommendation from a physician and you’ll be able to get your medical marijuana card online, in most cases. If you have any questions about qualifying conditions or the steps you need to take, feel free to contact us and we will help you through every step of the process.

Neurofibromatosis is characterized as a genetic disorder that can cause tumors to form anywhere in the body’s nervous system. Most tumors are benign, but there is a possibility of some becoming malignant. People are generally diagnosed with neurofibromatosis early in life, even up to early adulthood.

Some of the main symptoms of neurofibromatosis are vision loss, hearing loss, blood vessel and heart complications, learning impairments and overall pain. Males and females alike can be diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, and the severity of the symptoms can vary greatly from person to person.

Types of Neurofibromatosis

It’s important to understand there are three different types of neurofibromatosis, which are explained below:

1. Neurofibromatosis Type I – This is the most common type and it generally develops early on in childhood. The initial signs and symptoms could be identified by means of small light brown spots and/or small bumps on the skin, bone deformities, learning disabilities and growths on the eyes.

2. Neurofibromatosis Type II – This is less common than Type I and can lead to a gradual loss of hearing, ringing in the ears and loss of balance.

3. Schwannomatosis – This is a very rare type, but also a very painful one, which causes tumors to form on the spinal, peripheral and cranial nerves.

Treatment Options for Neurofibromatosis

Surgery is often required for patients with neurofibromatosis. However, once a tumor is removed, there is a good chance another will form in the same place or in a different location. There is no known cure for neurofibromatosis, but studies show cannabis can be effective in reducing the growth of tumors. As a result, many people diagnosed with neurofibromatosis use medical marijuana to treat their disorder.

A 2015 study indicates that THC and CBD, found in cannabis, are beneficial for inhibiting tumor invasion, viability, growth and spreading. This proves the effectiveness of getting a weed card on a long-term scale, but it also has some immediate effects. Medical marijuana can significantly lower pain levels and cause people to relax more, which is not easy to do when experiencing neurofibromatosis symptoms.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, you owe it to yourself to at least look into your options for getting medical marijuana online. It has proven to be a safe and effective treatment and can help alleviate some pain now, while also helping prevent further issues down the road.

We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and even get the process going on getting you set up with a medical cannabis card. Feel free to contact us at any time and our experienced staff will go over all of your options in order to benefit you the most.

When seeking alternative medicine, many patients wonder if they are an appropriate candidate for medical marijuana. Initially, patients often turn to the internet. This can be extremely confusing and leave patients with more questions than answers. As medical marijuana is becoming more a business, it can be increasingly difficult to find legitimate research and recommendations about conditions appropriately treated with medical marijuana. Instead of research articles, the internet is filled with ads on medical marijuana cards and buying weed online. So, in this blog post, I would like to educate you on the official recommendations provided by the California medical association.

According to the most current recommendations by the California Medical Association, an attending physician must provide documentation that the patient has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition and that the medicinal use of cannabis is appropriate prior to any patient obtaining a medical marijuana card. A serious medical condition is defined to include:

1. AIDS
2. Anorexia
3. Arthritis
4. Cachexia
5. Cancer
6. Chronic Pain
7. Glaucoma
8. Migraine
9. Persistent muscle spasms, including, but not limited to spasms associated with multiple sclerosis
10. Seizures, including, but not limited to seizures associated with epilepsy
11. Severe nausea
12. Any other chronic or persistent medical symptom that either:
    1. Substantially limits the ability of the person to conduct one or more major life activities as defined in the Americans and Disabilities Act of 1990
    2. If not alleviated, may cause serious harm to the patients safety or physical or mental health.

While several conditions are clearly outlined, the final statement is often times confusing for medical marijuana patients and medical marijuana doctors. Essentially, these last two statements allow physicians to provide a medical marijuana card to any patient who has experienced relief in the past with medical marijuana or who has a condition that is negatively affects any aspect of their life. The most common of these ‘unnamed’ conditions for which patients seek a medical marijuana card are mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and/or bipolar. As stated by the California medical association, if one of these conditions causes harm to a patients mental health, they are a candidate for medical marijuana and are eligible for a medical marijuana card.

Looking closer at the research outlined in the California medical associations ‘Physician Recommendation of Medical Marijuana,’ medical marijuana has been shown to be beneficial in the ‘treatment of pain, nausea, anorexia, and other conditions.’ However, they also state that the literature on this subject is inadequate. Currently, the greatest research has been performed in the area of neuropathic pain, as existing pharmacological treatments for neuropathic pain are not optimal and medical marijuana has shown considerable benefit. While research into medical marijuana may be in its early stages, there has been calls from the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the National Institute of Health for further research to better delineate which conditions can be appropriately treated with medical marijuana.

The most current recommendations state that any serious medical condition qualifies a patient for a medical marijuana card. Until more research becomes available, any medical condition that causes a patient significant disability or harm, whether it be physical or mental, may warrant a trial with medical marijuana. As always, it is important to follow up with your medical marijuana doctor after you start treatment with medical marijuana to monitor its efficacy and side effects. Each medical marijuana patient is unique and should be treated as such. Medical marijuana will often times provide one patient with relief and another with the same condition no relief at all. This is very similar to traditional medications. For example, there are many different classes of blood pressure medication because they do not all work as effectively on every patient. When trying medical marijuana for the first time, make sure to monitor how effectively it is working for you and then discuss this effectiveness with your medical marijuana doctor so that you obtain maximum relief of your medical condition.