California medical marijuana use became legal in 1990 after the Compassionate Use Act (also known as Proposition 215) was passed. This act allows citizens the right to access medical marijuana as a form of treatment for a variety of debilitating conditions as well as gives doctors the opportunity to prescribe an alternative treatment regime for their patients. Since this act has passed, more and more people are seeking out medical marijuana as a form of treatment for a variety of ailments including AIDS, depression, anxiety, anorexia, migraines, cancer, glaucoma, insomnia and chronic pain. Below are just some of the reasons why people are turning to California medical marijuana as a means of treatment for their medical conditions.
More Research and a Better Understanding of MMJ
Doctors and research facilities are now able to assess the efficacy of the drug properly through in-depth investigations, randomized trials and the collation of different data sets from public records. From this research, they’re constantly uncovering innovative ways to harness the positive effects of MMJ to help better treat patients.
This has opened up many doors for people suffering from debilitating illnesses and reduced much of the stigma attached to the controversial medicine. California medical marijuana usage and dosage can now be finely tuned to suit an individual’s needs with tailor-made treatment programs that will ensure the best level of care for afflicted patients.
With backing from the medical community, society’s trust and acceptance of the drug is growing rapidly and is becoming seen as a sensible treatment option for a variety of ailments that would otherwise leave patients taking too many prescriptions and experiencing the unpleasant side-effects of traditional medicines.
Finely Tuned Medical Marijuana Strains to Suit Specific Needs
Different strains of California medical marijuana can be cultivated to manipulate the levels of the compound THC, which is the main cannabinoid responsible for the many positive psychoactive effects felt by consuming MMJ. In this same way, growers can also alter the potency of the medical marijuana and the different effects that dosing with it may have. Sativa, for example, is a strain of marijuana that’s known to be more upbeat than indica, which is better known for its sedative effects. Being able to manipulate the genetics of the raw material in this way means that patients can be very selective in the kind of effects they wish they receive from their MMJ, which means they can avoid many of the “negative” side-effects they might associate with the drug.
Different, Inconspicuous Dosing Techniques
More information on dosing techniques is another major contributor in leading many to consider using medical marijuana as a means of medication. For many, the idea of smoking isn’t all that appealing. Although social acceptance of the drug has definitely grown over the past few decades, lighting up in public can make many patients feel uncomfortable. Thankfully, there are a variety of ways you can consume your California medical marijuana.
Tinctures
Tinctures are a concentrated, alcohol-based cannabis extract that you dose with by placing one or two drops of the extract underneath your tongue. This form of consumption was actually the most common in the U.S. during the 1920s before Prohibition outlawed the drug completely.
Topical Lotions
Topical lotions are made by decarboxylating (a process that activates the cannabinoids present through heat) your California medical marijuana and extracting the active cannabinoids to create a concentrated cannabis oil. This oil can then be mixed in with regular body lotions or butters and applied directly to the skin for topical pain relief.
Edibles
The world of edibles has moved on a great deal from the stereotypical weed brownies that repopularized the drug in the 1960s and ’70s. Edibles also rely on decarboxylation of the medical marijuana. This can be done simply in the oven with baked goods, or more commonly, a cannabis oil is created and added to recipes to create anything from cakes and cookies to savory sauces and soups. This form of consumption makes dosing in public seem completely inconspicuous and helps put patients at ease.
Easier to Access California Medical Marijuana
If you believe that you have an illness or condition that would be eased by the use of MMJ, then access to your drug of choice could not be easier. After the passing of the Compassionate Use Act, dedicated medical marijuana sites such as MMJ Recs created a quick and easy platform in which to apply for your 420 card. They even provide access to specialized medical marijuana physicians who help to guide you through your new treatment regime and approve your access to the drug.