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

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

Medical marijuana, along with other cannabis products, is growing in popularity across the country. As a result, people are becoming more and more curious about the natural compounds found in marijuana and how it may be able to help them. Here’s what you need to know about CBD and medical marijuana, including how they are used and what each may be able to do for you.

What Is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a chemical compound derived from the marijuana or hemp plant. It’s a natural substance that people use to help treat chronic pain and other medical conditions, since it can help to create feelings of calmness and relaxation in the user and treat other symptoms. CBD either does not contain THC or has only trace amounts, which means it doesn’t have the psychoactive properties many people associate with marijuana – making it legal in states where medical marijuana is not yet available. In these states, you do not need a prescription for CBD.

The Health Benefits Of CBD

Many studies have been done on CBD, uncovering a slew of health benefits associated with its use. These include:

• Pain relief. CBD has been found to help reduce pain associated with certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, especially in combination with THC.
• May reduce depression and anxiety. In both human and animal studies, CBD has been found to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Alleviation of cancer-related symptoms. Some of the side effects of cancer treatment, such as pain, vomiting, and nausea, have been found to be reduced with use of CBD.

Image by Enecta Cannabis extracts on Unsplash: CBD and medical marijuana: It pays to know the pros and cons of each so you can harness their power in your life!

What Is Medical Marijuana?

Medical marijuana is marijuana cultivated specifically for use in the treatment of medical conditions or diseases. The marijuana plant contains a chemical called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC has a psychoactive effect on the brain, inducing the feelings of euphoria that many people associate with the plant.

Uses Of Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana has been used to treat a variety of conditions, such as:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• Eating disorders
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Nausea
• Pain
• Muscle spasms
• PTSD
• Multiple sclerosis

If you live in a state that has approved the use of medical marijuana, you can get an MMJ card that entitles you to buy, grow, and possess certain amounts of medical marijuana.

What Are The Differences Between CBD And Medical Marijuana?

CBD and medical marijuana have different side effects for different people. CBD has been found to be tolerated in very large doses, and the side effects that are possible usually occur due to drug interactions between the CBD and any medications you may be taking.

Medical marijuana and the THC it contains, on the other hand, is associated with several side effects. These may include:

• Dry mouth
• Slow reaction time
• Increased heart rate
• Red eyes
• Coordination issues
• Memory loss

These side effects are due to the psychoactive effects of the THC – something you don’t find with CBD, simply because it contains much less THC. Rest assured that neither compound is fatal, but high THC use can have lasting effects, especially in adolescents who use large amounts of THC.

Image by Esteban Lopez on Unsplash: Should you use CBD or medical marijuana? Talk to your health care provider to find out more.

How to Get an MMJ Letter

The state you live in has its own procedures for obtaining an MMJ card. In most states, you need an MMJ letter from a doctor in order to qualify. This is something MMJRecs can help you with! All you need to do is get a medical evaluation online by filling out a form and uploading any required documents. Then you’re free to use the letter to apply for an MMJ card in your state.

The Final Word

If you’re still wondering “Should I use CBD or medical marijuana?”, the answer comes down to your personal circumstances. THC and CBD both have medical benefits and both are safe to use, but it’s important to consider how they may impact you, especially if you take other medications. Talk to your health care practitioner to find out which option is best for you, and put the power of CBD and medical marijuana to use in your life today!

Featured image by CBD Infos on Unsplash

There are currently more than 240,000 people living with lupus in the US today. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissues and internal organs (including the brain, heart, and lungs). The inflammation caused by lupus results in patients experiencing chronic pain, tissue swelling and damage, and extreme fatigue. There is currently no cure for lupus, but some of the symptoms are treated with prescription medications, including corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. For people who don’t want to rely on medications that often come with significantly unpleasant side effects, or for whom medication is not effective, they’ve found they can treat Lupus symptoms with MMJ (medical marijuana). So, is it true that lupus patients and medical marijuana are a good match? Keep reading for more info about how cannabis can help treat lupus.

Can medical cannabis help lupus patients?

Lupus is often marked with periods of remission where symptoms are not as noticeable. But patients can experience what are called flare-ups, where their symptoms can be felt significantly (and which can lead to potentially debilitating physical issues). During these flare-ups, patients are often looking for any type of relief from the pain and discomfort they’re experiencing. To help combat these symptoms, doctors are always searching for what can be potentially helpful to lupus patients.

In recent years, researchers have found that cannabis helps in fighting inflammation that is present for lupus patients. It can decrease inflammation in the body by suppressing specific parts of the immune system. Cannabis actually lowers levels of interleukin-2 and raises interleukin-19 (an anti-inflammatory protein). Marijuana also has the added benefit of being able to alleviate pain, which is why so many patients with chronic pain are proponents of cannabis usage. Patients can ingest it in a number of different ways, and they often experiment to discover which strains and which forms help to give them the most relief from their lupus symptoms. These can range from edibles (like gummies) to tinctures or vaped liquids.

Does CBD produce the same effects?

CBD (cannabinoid) products are basically a component of marijuana that doesn’t have THC, which is the ingredient that makes you feel high. CBD has swept the country in recent years – you can find it in everything from oils and edibles to beauty products and caffeine drinks. Without the psychoactive effects, CBD can be used for a huge variety of reasons (including anxiety, nausea, insomnia, and chronic pain) without a person feeling high or unable to function.

Image by CBD-Infos-com on Pixabay: Hemp extract or CBD oil can be helpful in treating symptoms of lupus.

Researchers have begun to study the effects of CBD on lupus patients who are using it to reduce inflammation and decrease pain levels related to the condition. Although more research needs to be conducted, initial results seem to indicate that high levels of oral CBD can help alleviate some lupus symptoms in patients with the disease. Some researchers think that CBD products are the most effective when they’re used in combination with other marijuana compounds. This is known as the “entourage effect,” and many scientists note that taking an isolated chemical in pill form might be less effective than if a patient uses these products altogether. So, along with CBD products, the answer to “Can MMJ help lupus patients?” is yes!

Why is it useful to have an MMJ card?

If individuals want to try out CBD products, they don’t need any official documentation or intervention from a doctor. In fact, these products can be found in a ton of stores or online. However, if a person wants to obtain MMJ products, they’ll need an MMJ card, which can be obtained through MMJRecs. There are tons of benefits to owning a card (even if the person lives in a state where recreational marijuana is legal). For example, MMJ cardholders can:

• Grow their own MMJ products at home
• Possess more product at one time
• Get tax benefits (like no sales tax in some states)
• Have access to more licensed dispensaries

With an MMJ card, people are entitled to grow and possess more product so they can effectively treat their medical condition without having to worry about running out of the MMJ products they need.

Image by Roberto Valdivia on Unsplash: Having an MMJ card means a person can grow their own cannabis plants.

How do I get an MMJ card?

A patient simply needs to have a qualifying medical condition in order to be eligible for an MMJ card. There are a large number of conditions that will qualify, ranging from eating disorders and cancer to glaucoma and chronic pain. To get started, MMJRecs can help by providing a complete doctor’s recommendation and an official MMJ card that can be shown at dispensaries or to law enforcement. It’s a super convenient way to obtain a card (without having to go through any government red tape) – and the entire process can be conducted online!

It’s important to remember that you should check with your doctor before starting to use any marijuana or CBD products, but if you’re wondering, “How can medical marijuana help lupus patients?”, you can always try this avenue of treatment to find out if you’ll be helped by MMJ or CBD products.

Featured image by Zohre Nemati on Unsplash

The laws surrounding marijuana, both for medicinal and recreational use, are constantly changing and differ from state to state. However, there are still some very straightforward advantages to having a medical marijuana (MMJ) card. One of the biggest benefits is that typically, MMJ patients can possess more marijuana than those who are using it recreationally. That means that an MMJ card increases legal possession of marijuana in states where recreational marijuana is now legal (such as in the state of California).

Medical marijuana recommendation and possession

There are currently 11 states that have legalized recreational marijuana in the US:

• Washington
• Alaska
• California
• Oregon
• Colorado
• Nevada
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Vermont
• Maine
• Massachusetts

These states have also legalized medical cannabis possession with a recommendation from a physician. In these states, even though recreational marijuana use is legal, there’s still a benefit to owning an MMJ card, because it means you’re allowed to possess more cannabis product than the general public. For example, in California, recreational users are only permitted to carry one ounce of flower or eight grams of cannabis concentrates at one time. Edibles are restricted to only 10mg of individual doses being carried at a time. However, with an MMJ card, patients are able to buy and carry up to eight ounces of flower and no limit on concentrates. Medical marijuana users also don’t have to pay sales tax on their MMJ purchases. Some of these regulations can differ from state to state, so it’s crucial that an individual interested in becoming an MMJ card holder looks into these laws before buying or possessing cannabis products.

Image by Get Budding on Unsplash: MMJ patients can possess more marijuana product than recreational users.

In the remaining states that still have a ban on recreational marijuana use, MMJ patients have the benefit of having access to and growing their own cannabis products legally. In Oklahoma, MMJ possession with a card is legal, and people are permitted to possess up to three ounces of marijuana, six mature plants, six seedling plants, one ounce of concentrated marijuana, 72 ounces of edible marijuana, and up to eight ounces of marijuana in their residence. Individuals without an MMJ card are prohibited from possessing any marijuana.

Why MMJ patients can possess more marijuana

There are many reasons why MMJ patients are afforded more benefits by having an MMJ card. Here are some examples of why MMJ card holders need to have access to more marijuana products than other recreational users.

1. For travel purposes

Because MMJ users consume marijuana products for help with specific medical conditions, they need to be able to take their MMJ products with them if they’re going to be gone for an extended period of time. Thus, they often need to stock up and possess larger quantities of marijuana to pack for their trip. It’s crucial that they have enough product to help with their medical symptoms while they’re traveling.

2. In case they can’t get to a dispensary

Folks struggling with physical illnesses often find it difficult to make it in-person to a dispensary. They also might have issues with mobility because of their medical condition or don’t have proper transportation that can get them to a dispensary. Dispensaries might also be far in distance, have inconvenient hours, or are just generally inaccessible. For these reasons, MMJ cardholders can benefit from purchasing larger quantities of product than a recreational user would need. That way they can stock up on the products they need without having to worry about when they can get back to a dispensary in person.

3. Need to try multiple strains

MMJ patients often need to try several different strains to figure out which is the most effective in alleviating their symptoms. They might need to sample more than one strain before they arrive at the right one for the treatment of their particular ailments. Having larger quantities of product makes it much easier for them to sample different strains at one time without having to keep going back to a dispensary for other strain options.

Image by Shane Rounce on Unsplash: Individuals may need to try different MMJ strains to determine which one is right for them.

4. Need to try different forms

There’s also a trial-and-error process for patients to determine which form of MMJ product (tincture, vaping, edibles, etc.) is the best for their specific needs. MMJ cardholders often need to experiment with different forms of MMJ and being allowed to possess larger quantities of cannabis lets them do this without any legal repercussions.

If individuals have a medical condition that could qualify them for an MMJ card, they can head to MMJRecs to get evaluated by a doctor. The team can do the whole assessment virtually, so the patient doesn’t have to worry about the inconvenience of leaving the house. If the patient does qualify, MMJRecs can provide an official medical marijuana recommendation, ID card, and grower’s permit all for one flat rate. With a valid MMJ card, patients can have access to all of the many benefits of being a card holder, including the right to possess more marijuana than the general public. This can make things easier for all of the reasons listed above. Even in states with legal recreational marijuana use, having an MMJ card can be a huge lifesaver!

Featured image by Ndispensable on Unsplash

Since Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in 2018, it’s been a boon to the economy as well as a boost to the health of the people who benefit from it. But there’s one big question that surrounds the medical marijuana industry in Oklahoma: how do banks and the cannabis industry come together for their mutual benefit? Marijuana is still illegal on a federal level, making it difficult for those in the cannabis industry to use the federal banking system safely. The answer for many people is cannabis banking, and Oklahoma is paving the way for other states where medical marijuana is legal. Here’s all you need to know about the future of cannabis banking in Oklahoma.

What is Cannabis Banking in Oklahoma?

The laws under which medical marijuana businesses must operate in the state of Oklahoma require them to track every single transaction that occurs electronically. This is often referred to as the “seed-to-sale” tracking system that helps record the entire life cycle of a cannabis product.

Complying with this law is made difficult by the fact that any bank that operates under federal guidelines is taking a huge risk when they do business with medical marijuana dispensaries, because marijuana is still not legal on a federal level. Oklahoma’s medical marijuana business must comply with Oklahoma’s laws and the banks must comply with federal laws, which has created an environment where banks simply aren’t providing services to cannabis businesses – resulting in many businesses operating only with cash.

Congress is currently reviewing something called the SAFE Banking Act. If signed into law, it would allow banks to do business with medical marijuana providers in states where it’s legal without facing consequences from the federal government for doing so. It was recently passed in the House of Representatives and is waiting for review by the United States Senate. But there is hope that something is going to be done soon on a federal level to address the issues that have arisen from the legalization of medical marijuana in Oklahoma and many other states.

Image by Lelia Milaya on Reshot: In Oklahoma, medical care includes marijuana. Now it’s time for the cannabis banking industry to catch up!

Oklahoma Cannabis Banking: The Pros and Cons

Without access to traditional banking to help run their business, medical marijuana businesses in Oklahoma face some tough questions. The biggest are how to track their money, how to pay taxes when you operate on a cash-only basis (since the IRS charges more for taxes paid in cash), and how to find the time to count the literal stacks of cash you have on hand. This doesn’t even address the danger of having so much cash stored in one place, opening businesses up to be victims of robberies or other violent crimes. Consumers also pay a price because they have to deal only in cash when purchasing their Oklahoma medical marijuana.

Oklahoma Bankers Association members can work with cannabis businesses in Oklahoma now, but have to weigh up whether or not it’s worth being alienated by other financial institutions and vendors by doing so. They also have to think about the risk it puts their banking institution under on a federal level, since their obligatory daily reporting essentially incriminates them.

Of course, banks must consider that working with medical marijuana businesses in Oklahoma is incredibly lucrative. It brings in a lot of cash that can improve their assets and liquidity. All of these issues can be remedied by enacting cannabis banking in Oklahoma and in other medical marijuana states as well.

What About You?

In Oklahoma, you must always ensure you have a current and legal medical marijuana card on hand if you want to enjoy the benefits of the program in the Sooner State. Work with your doctor or a telemedicine site like MMJ Recs to secure your medical marijuana card by having your state-issued identification, U.S. photo ID, or Passport, Tribal ID card, or Oklahoma ID card at the ready to prove your residency and age to get your evaluation started. Once you have the card, you must have it renewed every two years.

Image by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash: No matter what is happening with Oklahoma cannabis banking, the only thing you need to worry about is keeping your medical marijuana card up to date!

Medical marijuana is a growing industry. As it gains acceptance across the United States, issues such as those with Oklahoma cannabis banking will be addressed. Until then, patients need to keep doing what is right for them, and businesses must figure out how to walk the grey area between legality in Oklahoma and illegality on a federal level.

Featured image by Tatiana Maramygina on Reshot

If you’re thinking about using medical marijuana, you might be anxious as to how you can make it fit in with your daily life. MMJ has a difficult reputation, but thanks to a rise in use, further legalization, and increased research in the area, more and more people are turning to it in order to treat the symptoms of illnesses that can be difficult and debilitating. The good news is that it’s an incredibly flexible medication and you just need some specialist advice in order to integrate it into your life.

The first step is to log onto the internet and seek a medical marijuana specialist. While seeing a doctor online might seem a bit odd, the internet is one of the best places to seek advice on medical marijuana. As many traditional doctors have outdated ideas on what MMJ is and how it can treat patients, many specialist websites have been established online to provide patients with advice on how best to treat their conditions.

The next step is to make an appointment and then log on to speak to your doctor online. They will ask about your condition and talk to you about the best medical marijuana treatment plan for you. Medical cannabis can treat a variety of symptoms of conditions including, but not limited to, cancer, HIV/AIDS, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. There are different forms and strains of medical marijuana that can have different effects on the body.

Joints are just one of the ways you can take MMJ.

Once you have your medical advice, you need to ascertain how MMJ is going to affect you and if you need to make special accommodations in your life in order to integrate your new treatment. Some strains of medical marijuana can have side effects such as drowsiness, which are not ideal when you’re working full-time or have an active social life. If this is the case for you, you’ll need to work out a treatment schedule that allows you to take your medication without interfering with your daily routine.

After picking the strain that’ll best treat your condition, you then need to decide which form of medical marijuana you’re going to take. The possibilities are endless and you are definitely not limited to smoking joints. Vaping, edibles, topical treatments, oils, and tinctures are just the tip of the iceberg and depending on your daily routine, there’s a perfect solution for you. If you’re unsure as to the best form of MMJ for you, the best thing to do is to go to a reputable dispensary for advice on what would work best for you. Not all strains will be available in all forms, but a dispensary employee will be able to give you advice on what works best.

When you have your medical cannabis, you’ll have to decide how best to take it. If you’re a busy professional, a discreet form of MMJ, such as a tincture or oil, would probably be best. Edibles are also a good way to take medical marijuana as long as you ensure that no one else mistakes them for normal candies or cookies and mistakenly eats one. You don’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s marijuana journey! If you have a more relaxed or flexible lifestyle, you can make the choice for yourself. It’s just important to make sure that you take your treatment with supervision if drowsiness or similar side effects are in play.

Medical cannabis is easy to incorporate into your daily life to treat the symptoms of your illness.

It is also important to remember the legality of medical marijuana while you’re traveling. While marijuana is legal for recreational reasons in some states and for medical reasons in others, it is still illegal on a federal level. This means that you cannot bring medical cannabis on planes and you could be arrested for bringing it into states where it is still completely illegal. This is obviously incredibly frustrating for people who rely on medical marijuana to go about their day to day business, but you do not want to risk getting on the wrong side of the law. It is often worth consulting a legal professional on this subject, especially if you’re traveling out of your state on a long-term assignment and genuinely can’t do without your MMJ.

Like any new medication, you will need to adjust your life slightly to your new medical regime. However, the payoff will always be worth it. Whether you’re using medical marijuana to improve your appetite, to reduce your nausea, or to control your seizures, you will feel a new lease of life in adding medical cannabis to your life. As well as physical symptoms, you may be able to use MMJ to help your mental health, so why not get some information and give it a try? It’s likely that you’ll never look back.

Medical marijuana is something that suffers from a lot of stigma. While it offers real treatment to many patients who suffer from a variety of conditions, it is the victim of misinformation from people who believe it to be nothing more than a legitimized street drug. The truth is that medical marijuana helps people who need it most and the most common myths can be easily dispelled by common sense and evidence.

1. Patients are Addicts

This myth is often spread by people who have little experience in the conditions that can be helped by medical marijuana. Many people use medical marijuana, including people suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, depression, anxiety, and a range of other conditions. These people are not addicted to their treatment but need it to keep them well so they are not debilitated by the symptoms of their conditions, some of which can be overwhelming. We don’t say that patients being treated by mainstream pharmaceuticals are addicts, so why should we do it to MMJ users?

2. MMJ Encourages Teens to Use Marijuana

Medical marijuana is only prescribed to children and teenagers when they really need it, such as when they are suffering from debilitating seizures or nausea. Doctors who advise patients to take medical marijuana do so when they know that it will vastly improve the quality of their lives. Medical marijuana is not a dangerous and recreational drug, but a legitimate treatment that allows all patients, including teenagers, to be able to better manage their symptoms. It is simply untrue to say that medical marijuana is pushing teenagers into drug use when it is allowing them to live better lives.

Image by Michael Moriarty from Pixabay: There has been so much stigma surrounding medical marijuana that it can be hard to distinguish truth from myth.

3. Medical Marijuana is a “Gateway Drug”

This is another myth that treats medical cannabis differently to other drugs and treatments. Due to marijuana being illegal in the past, many people do not believe in its ability to treat symptoms of various conditions and assume that people who use medical marijuana will be encouraged to use hard and illegal drugs such as heroin or cocaine. People who use medical cannabis are not seeking a high, so are not likely to move onto hard drugs in order to chase that high. Patients are not taking medical marijuana for fun, so linking it to hard and illegal drugs is completely invalid.

4. Patients Must Smoke MMJ to Experience Positive Side Effects

There are so many ways to ingest medical marijuana and most people who take it do not smoke it. When you go to a dispensary, they will be able to advise you on a range of different forms of medical marijuana. You can eat MMJ in the form of edibles such as candies, cookies, and brownies, and you can use lotions and other topical products to absorb it through your skin. You can also use tinctures and oils to ingest it orally, as these forms are only the tip of the iceberg. You have so many options when it comes to taking MMJ that you’ll soon realize how ridiculous this myth is.

Image by Stay Regular from Pixabay: As MMJ becomes more widely used, more people are realizing that the stigmas surrounding it are untrue.

5. Patients Use MMJ to Get “High”

Just like how people who take prescription painkillers in a legitimate and medical environment are not looking to get high, medical cannabis patients are not seeking recreational effects from their treatment. Patients seek all kinds of treatments for their conditions, but the end goal is always the same. They just want to feel better and to live the best life they can alongside the conditions that they have to live with. Conflating recreational drug use and medical treatment is not helpful and discourages patients from seeking help.

6. There Are No Proven Medical Benefits of MMJ

Medical marijuana has been shown to help patients who suffer from a range of conditions. It helps people with depression, anxiety, and other mental conditions to feel calmer. It helps cancer patients and those suffering from HIV/AIDS to fight their debilitating nausea. It also helps people with tremors and seizures to manage their symptoms so they don’t have to be constantly aware and suffering their symptoms. People with wasting illnesses can also have their appetites improved by medical cannabis. In short, there are many ways in which MMJ has been shown to help people, and research is constantly continuing and evolving.

If you need help finding out more about medical marijuana, it’s easy to gain access to an MMJ letter from a doctor who is expert in the area. Then you will be able to visit a dispensary and gain access to the treatment that you need in the form that works best for you. Medical marijuana can’t cure your condition, but it can help you manage the symptoms so you can live a happier life.

Featured Image by angie3888 from Pixabay 

As Americans, we like to think that our country is the most forward-thinking nation out there. We like the idea of allowing our citizens to have more freedoms than they might be awarded in other countries. But is the U.S. the most progressive country when it comes to the usage of medical marijuana?

As more states in the U.S. are legalizing recreational marijuana, the whole country is looking to see how the regulations of cannabis (both medicinal or not) are being enforced and utilized. Because the U.S. is at the forefront of this, many outside countries are paying close attention to see how the laws are implemented. The use of MMJ cards was first established in California in 1996. Several states followed suit, including Hawaii and Colorado. Currently, the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is legal in 29 states (as well as the U.S. territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C.). Although medical marijuana use is legal in many states, the actual regulations can vary greatly from state to state.

So, how does the U.S. compare to other countries? Here’s some info on medical marijuana policies around the world.

How does the U.S. compare with other countries when it comes to recreational and medical marijuana laws?

Colombia

Colombia has legalized MMJ usage, and citizens are permitted to possess up to 22 grams at a time. They also have a very relaxed law that states that one person can grow up to 20 marijuana plants if it’s for personal consumption. This number is a lot higher than most countries, like the U.S., which only permits six plants to be grown at one time for recreational use.

The Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is fairly new to the MMJ game with legislation only being passed in 2013. There have been regulations instated to decriminalize marijuana usage, with Czech citizens being allowed to grow up to five plants at a time. Also, individuals can possess up to 15 grams of marijuana and up to five grams of hashish. The nation even hosts a big festival named Cannafest, which celebrates marijuana.

Italy

Medical marijuana has been permitted in Italy for quite some time, and the country has progressed to become one of the most unrestricted marijuana areas in the world. Italians voted for the decriminalization of possession of drugs (so individuals with small quantities of five grams or less are no longer subject to criminal charges). Citizens are also permitted to grow a reasonable amount of marijuana plants, as long as they are not used for trafficking purposes.

Jamaica

Although medical marijuana is legal in Jamaica, recreational use is still against the law. However, the country has recently relaxed its laws on possession and has decriminalized it for medical use and for the purpose of Rastafarian religious ceremonies (where cannabis or “ganja” is used as a sacred herb that allows the soul to rise).

The Netherlands

The Netherlands (especially Amsterdam) has gotten the reputation of being a major marijuana-friendly region. There are even “coffee shops” that allow consumers to take part in marijuana sales. In 2017, the Dutch government even legalized the production of cannabis. Additionally, MMJ products can be purchased without a prescription.

Portugal

Portugal has decriminalized marijuana since 2001, when they decided that the possession of any drug found in small quantities would not be considered illegal. Portugal is very progressive in the fact that they believe drug use should be deemed a health issue, not a criminal one. Instead of arresting their citizens for drug possession, those found with drugs are sent to medical panels (with a psychologist, social worker, and legal adviser) who all work to come up with an appropriate treatment plan for that individual.

Spain

Spain actually has relatively relaxed laws since medical marijuana can be purchased without a prescription. Consumption by adults in private locations is legal, which means citizens can grow marijuana plants for personal consumption (as long as they’re kept hidden from public view). However, the selling and trading of cannabis products is still illegal.

Uruguay

In 2013, Uruguay made history by becoming the first (and only) country in the world to fully legalize marijuana (including the possession, selling, transportation, and growing of cannabis). The marijuana market is still strictly regulated since citizens are only allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants at their residence, and each individual can only buy a maximum of 10 grams per week. However, the main upside is that prices of marijuana products are cheaper than in other countries. Plus, MMJ products can be purchased without a prescription.

MMJ laws differ greatly between countries, but luckily the U.S. can still be considered among the most progressive.

Once you learn about how other countries are controlling the usage of marijuana products, you’ll find that the U.S. is right up there in terms of being forward-thinking. Although different states have a variety of laws regarding consumption of recreational marijuana, those with MMJ cards in the U.S. face less restrictions with your cannabis. Although recreational users are limited to one ounce of flower (or eight grams of cannabis concentrates) at one time, MMJ cardholders can purchase and possess as much cannabis as the treatment of their medical condition requires. These limitations also apply to edibles; recreational consumers can have a maximum of 10mg doses at a time, while those with a medical marijuana card don’t have this restriction.

So, while there are many countries working towards positive changes with both recreational and medical marijuana, America is one of the most progressive countries out there – striving for laws that permit MMJ users to purchase and possess the cannabis products that will be the most obtainable and effective for them. And maybe the U.S. can take some ideas of what has worked in other progressive countries to help move us even further along.

The medical marijuana revolution is well and truly upon America. It started with a trickle, and little by little grew into a full-on flood; in 2017, 29 states are MMJ legal, and many more look set to follow over the coming months and years. The medical marijuana cause is bolstered by the increased acceptance of recreational marijuana in certain parts of the country. It stands to reason that if people are being allowed personal use, patients in need of its therapeutic benefits become impossible to deny. Although they are two separate strands of the same essential argument, MMJ stands to gain the most ground as the debate continues across America.

So where did MMJ start? Well, basically, medical marijuana has been around for a long time, and it wasn’t always considered an illegal substance. American medical journals dating all the way back from the late 18th century recommend using hemp seeds and roots for medicinal practices. 1914 was the first time the substance was criminalized, and any gains made in the subsequent decades were derailed by the Reagan in the 1970s, when he came down hard on drugs. Since that time, however, the trend has shifted towards relaxation. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana, and by 2009, twelve more states had followed its lead. Fast forward to 2017, and 29 states have gone green for medical cannabis, as well as the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. West Virginia is the latest state to join the revolution, with the remaining 21 still to follow.

Will medical cannabis be made legal in all 50 states?

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, though. 1996 to 2017 is 21 years, which is a long time to cover just over half the country. Judging by those statistics, we can estimate that all 50 states will be MMJ legal by 2038, which seems a crazy amount of time to wait for what is tried and tested medical care. Also, while California pioneered the medicine with little resistance, and had some of the most liberal MMJ law in the country, the same rules don’t apply in every state.

A surprising battle was fought in the traditionally liberal stronghold of New York, for instance. The Governor there, Andrew Cuomo, has long held a conservative stance on medical cannabis, and was hesitant to bring in a blanket MMJ law such as California’s without curtailing it with some limiting caveats. The debate took up most of 2014, and although the MMJ law eventually passed, it was not without some seriously restrictive measures. One of the biggest issues is that New York does not allow patients to smoke medical marijuana, which is proven to be the most effective method of administering the medicine. There is also a heavy restriction on the amount of dispensaries that can sell MMJ, which limits the amount of patients that can be served at any one time.

Upon its legalization, there were also very few qualifying conditions in the New York bill. Qualifying conditions are important, because the more specific they are, the more doctors are limited (by law) in who they can administer the medicine to. At the advent of the bill in NY, only severe conditions such as cancer, Parkinson’s, and ALS were approved to be treated by MMJ. This is problematic because one of the conditions that most benefits from the drug is ‘chronic pain’, which can occur separate from any named disease. This also lets doctors be much freer about who they can prescribe too. After much campaigning, ‘chronic pain’ was added to the list of New York MMJ qualifying conditions, but the MMJ cause in the East Coast state is still on very thin ice, with some maintaining that it has been designed to fail from the start.

MMJ laws differ significantly from state to state.

New York is just one example of a state where MMJ law has had (and continues to have) birthing problems. Unfortunately, not every state agrees with the core tenets of MMJ practice, and so there are wildly varying caveats to each state’s bill. The federal government can’t  make one definitive ruling on MMJ law, so until then, we’re stuck with going on a state-by-state basis, with all the red tape and bureaucratic back-and-forth that entails.

Another debilitating factor is that many of the hardline conservative states such as Alabama are proving to be a very tough sell indeed when it comes to MMJ. ‘Legalizing drugs’ in even the vaguest sense (even if it benefited sick people) would seemingly represent a major corruption of values. Though marijuana possession has been gradually decriminalized in Alabama, those in the know suggest that it will likely be one of the last states to make medical cannabis legal. Ultimately, it’s a matter of time and waiting, however frustrating that may be. The MMJ revolution will eventually spread to all 50 states of the U.S.A.; but how long it takes to do that is currently anyone’s guess.

An unfortunate side effect of some strains of medical marijuana is laziness and a lack of productivity. These effects hit some cannabis card users more than others. While some people swear that they are far more productive whilst under the influence of medical cannabis, for many other people marijuana-induced ‘couch lock’ and inaction can be a real problem.

Most marijuana card users need their medicine regularly (many are daily users) and so in order for them to move forward in their lives and achieve what they want to achieve, it is crucial for them to discover ways to avoid laziness and a lack of productivity. MMJ patients need to be sure they can enjoy the medicinal benefits of medical marijuana while staying on top of their lives and being energetic, vibrant, and self-actualizing.

So with that in mind, here is our list of six ways you can avoid laziness and lack of productivity when using MMJ.

Clarify Your Goals Making clear and compelling goals is a crucial step towards ensuring that you stay productive. Humans need to be inspired to be focused and industrious. If you are not excited about your projects and life direction, it is all too tempting to be slovenly and laze on the couch wasting time. To avoid this, make a list of your goals and ask yourself why you want to achieve them. Make your “why”s compelling and exciting. Get thrilled about what you could achieve if you put your mind to it. Create vivid pictures in your mind of how good it will feel when you achieve your desires and hit your targets. And when you are tempted to stay on the couch and watch “just one more” episode of the Netflix series du jour (even though you have work to do), remind yourself of why you need to work… and inspire yourself to get to it!

Set Yourself Rules It is important to have clear rules about when, what, and how much you smoke. For example, if you are more productive without MMJ in your system (and your medical condition allows you to get away with having weed-free periods), then schedule the bulk of your productive work for before you smoke. Set yourself the rule that you must get all of your work done before, say, 5pm, and that you cannot smoke until 5.01pm. Make rules that work for you and allow you to avoid laziness and stay productive. Stick to them. Hold yourself accountable. Regularly breaking your rules will be stressful and guilt-provoking… And it should be! Discipline equals freedom!

It’s easy to stay productive while using MMJ if you set yourself a few simple rules.

Make Daily Schedules A great way to make sure that you stay on-track in life and get everything important that you need to do done, is to make intelligent daily schedules. Trying to balance the list of all of your important daily tasks in your memory is stressful. Instead, make a list, stick it to the wall, and then it’s “set and forget”! Having a formalized and clearly visible list of the important daily tasks that make your life better is reassuring and majorly stress-reducing. Ticking tasks off your smart daily schedule once they are done is very satisfying. And the first hit of MMJ after you’ve completed your entire daily schedule is the sweetest hit imaginable!

Choose MMJ Strains That Increase Energy and Motivation A very practical way to avoid laziness and lack of productivity (especially if you need to use MMJ while you work) is to choose strains that energize you. Typically, this will be relatively high-THC and low-CBD strains. A strain such as Lemon Power Haze, which has high THC and very little CBD, will tend to motivate, energize, and provoke high levels of productivity.

Kill Perfectionism A mindset that tends to lead to inactivity and a huge lack of productivity is the dreaded “perfectionist” mindset. Seeing as absolute perfection does not exist in the known universe and is merely a mental abstraction (everything can be improved in some way if you look hard enough!), people who demand perfection of themselves are burdening themselves with a debilitating and discouraging demand that they do the impossible. Instead of being a perfectionist, try to adopt the mindset that “good enough is good enough” and remind yourself again and again (and again if needs be!) that perfectionism is the sworn enemy of productivity, and one of the most lethal dream-killers in the known universe!

Staying fit and healthy goes hand-in-hand with staying active and productive.

Stay Physically Healthy Finally, in order to be productive and energetic, it is crucial to maintain good energy levels and health. Do this by getting regular physical exercise, eating healthy food (even when you have the munchies!), and sleeping well.

Adopting some or all of these strategies should make sure that you avoid laziness and lack of productivity when using MMJ. Now, up and at ’em, you industrious busy bees!

Like most things in life, medical cannabis use comes with some pros and some cons. As the old saying goes: “There is no such thing as a free lunch,” and this is certainly the case when it comes to medical marijuana use.

Many of the pros are so life-enhancing that, for many people, they make the cons easily handleable and well worth it.

If you are going to use a California medical marijuana card it is best to know exactly what you are getting yourself in for – the good, the bad and the ugly! So here is a list of some of the most common pros and cons associated with medical cannabis use.

The Pros of Medical Marijuana Use

It is now proven beyond any reasonable doubt that medical marijuana provides effective pain relief. It’s pain-relieving effects are on a par with (and often better than) the leading prescription painkiller pills on the market today. But cannabis card use comes without many of the unpleasant side-effects that pills have, such as addiction and loss of libido.

California weed card use causes an increased appetite. This is very helpful for patients who, due to the specifics of their illness or their mental state, find that they have little or no appetite, and so struggle to get the requisite nutrients and calories into their bodies.

The cancer-fighting properties of medical herb are now becoming more and more apparent. Research is now suggesting that cannabinoids can help to inhibit and (even completely stop) tumor growth. While chemotherapy tends to kill healthy cells as well as cancerous cells, cannabinoids appear to attack cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells alone.

Many PTSD sufferers report considerable reduction of their symptoms when they use a California medical card, and there is solid evidence to back up these anecdotal reports. A study at the University of Haifa showed that rats who were exposed to trauma and then given cannabinoids did not develop PTSD, while rats that were exposed to trauma but received no cannabinoids did develop PTSD (poor rats).

Dr. George R. Greer MD in Santa Fe, New Mexico says that according to his research, PTSD patients report, on average, a reduction of 75% in their symptoms when they use MMJ.

Medical cannabis, in its raw form, is mega dense in nutrients. As a dark and leafy green plant it is rich in iron, calcium and fiber. The cannabinoids and fatty acids found in the cannabis plant reduce inflammation, improve cellular function and reduce damage from free-radicals. Juicing medical marijuana is very healthy.

Many patients report a marked reduction of anxiety symptoms when they are under the influence of medical cannabis. The CBD has a strong calming effect on the body, relaxing any tensions that may be present. The THC can induce feelings of calmness, well-being and even euphoria – and it’s difficult to be calm, euphoric and anxious all at once!

There is solid scientific and anecdotal evidence that MMJ calms muscle spasms. This makes life a great deal easier for people who suffer from seizures, various symptoms of multiple sclerosis, physical injuries and cramps.

MMJ has been found to help those patients with glaucoma feel less pressure in their eyes.

MMJ eases the pain of glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged by a buildup of intraocular pressure. The THC found in medical cannabis has been proven to reduce intraocular pressure by approximately 30% for up to four hours.

For people who suffer from insomnia, a good, strong CBD-heavy medical cannabis can promote sleep and win them some much-needed rest, recuperation and rejuvenation.

The Cons of MMJ Use

Much anecdotal evidence points to medical marijuana-use promoting laziness and a lack of productivity. Regular cannabis-use can make a person so relaxed and listless that they have little motivation to do anything apart from laze on the sofa watching TV and eating candy.

Despite the fact that CBD-heavy strains of marijuana often cause a patient to fall to sleep, it is often a poor quality sleep. Many heavy cannabis user report waking up feeling tired, drowsy, foggy and heavy-eyed, almost as if they are experiencing an alcohol-induced hangover.

As we mentioned earlier, California marijuana card use is good for stimulating appetite. However, the other side of this coin is that excessive weight gain and even obesity are a risk with heavy weed use, and specifically the longing for food that can come with it.

Using medical marijuana can cause people to eat more and gain weight.

Heavy MMJ use can bring on feelings of sadness and depression. This may be linked to a general existential angst brought on by guilt and worry about being lazy and unproductive (due to MMJ use), and/or to a consistent lack of high-quality sleep, or it could be to do with chemical imbalances in the brain brought on by too much exposure to the psychoactive THC in MMJ. Either way, weed seems to cause depression in some people.

Chronic medical marijuana use has been reported by many people to increase general anxiety levels. As we mentioned earlier, many forms of acute anxiety can be reduced and eased in the moment with MMJ use. However, over the long-term, general anxiety levels can often be raised by (relatively heavy) cannabis use.

So, now you know the main pros and cons and you can make your own educated decision. Good luck!

For better or worse, drugs have always been synonymous with the music industry. Some of the biggest acts in the world have confessed to being ‘inspired’ by various narcotics; The Beatles were on them, Pink Floyd were on them, Keith Richards is still on them. Out of all the drugs out there however, marijuana reigns supreme; it features all over the musical spectrum, from rap to psychedelic prog rock, and most musicians aren’t shy about professing their love for it. Some go the extra step, and become full on advocates for legalization; a select few are heavy proponents of medical marijuana, and have been furthering the MMJ cause in the public eye.

This kind of mainstream support for medical marijuana has certainly helped the cause, with some performers relentlessly campaigning for the drug over many years. The recent spate of MMJ legalization (29 states to date have legalized the medicine) is certainly a victory for advocates, and the trend looks set to continue over the coming months and years. Some musicians are advocates of marijuana in general – some specifically MMJ – and some even view the popularity of the drug as a premium business opportunity, lending their name to dispensaries and stains.

With all this celebrity endorsement in mind, we’re taking a look at three prominent musicians who’ve publicly endorsed or supported MMJ in the past, some of whom remain heavily involved in marijuana advocacy across the U.S. in 2017.

Melissa Etheridge

American rock star Melissa Etheridge has been a fan of medical marijuana since she claims it helped her recover from breast cancer.

Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge is one of the most outspoken proponents of MMJ, especially after she underwent a traumatic experience with breast cancer. Diagnosed in 2004, Etheridge managed to beat the disease and is now completely cancer-free; she ascribes her recovery to her use of medical marijuana. She has since claimed that she believes everyone who uses marijuana ‘is doing so medicinally, whether they consider it so or not’.

Last year, Etheridge put her money where her mouth is and set up her own company, Etheridge Farms, which will soon be providing patients in California with her own homegrown product. Etheridge was also highly vocal about New York’s lackluster efforts to legalize MMJ, and called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to pass the Compassionate Care Act for patients across the state, which he finally did in 2014.

Despite the bill going through, New York legalized an extremely conservative MMJ program, which has undergone heavy criticism since its introduction three years ago. So it looks like Melissa still has a bit more work to do on the east coast; hopefully she might turn her advocacy attention back there sometime soon!

The Game

The rapper known as The Game is a proponent of MMJ; he created his own strain earlier in 2016 for use in traditional cigarettes and drinks.

A recent newcomer to the MMJ scene is rapper The Game, who sees the legalization and recent acceptance of the medicine as a business investment. While he’s not the first star to involve himself in the marijuana business, he’s doing it in an innovative way; in August last year he became an official partner in The Reserve, an MMJ dispensary which operates out of Santa Ana, California. The Reserve is a legally licensed dispensary, which makes The Game the first celebrity to partner with an outlet of this kind.

He stated that he ‘finally has a platform to legally cultivate and sell a plant that saves lives and is changing our world in a positive way’. The rapper also created his own strain earlier in 2016 for use in traditional cigarettes and drinks, and is planning on creating a few more strains for his new partnership with The Reserve.

The Game isn’t the only hip hop star to dabble in marijuana creation; fellow rappers Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa have both invested in marijuana and developed their own unique brand of the herb, which is used medicinally and recreationally in legalized states.

Sting

English rocker Sting has been an avid fan of medical cannabis use, especially because he believes it helps those with qualifying illnesses and conditions that need it for their health.

English rocker Sting has been a vocal proponent of ending America’s ‘War on Drugs’ for many years. In 2010, he came out with a strongly-worded article in the Huffington Post where he allied himself with the Drug Policy Alliance, an organization which champions the smart legalization of some drugs and condemns the failures and titanic costs of the ‘War on Drugs’. In the article, Sting explicitly mentions medical marijuana, and pointed out that those who are suffering from a variety of illnesses that could be effectively treated or eased by marijuana do not have access to it.

Obviously a lot has changed in the seven years since Sting wrote the article, and many across America can now legally access MMJ, but his point still stands; if it is an effective treatment for specific conditions, shouldn’t everyone who’s suffering be able to avail of it if they choose?

So it’s clear to see that music and marijuana remain steadfastly aligned in 2017. Hopefully we will see more and more musicians supporting the cause of MMJ as the medicine is embraced in states across the country.

As the medical marijuana card revolution spreads across the United States, MMJ-using parents are now facing the tough question of whether or not they should consume the plant around their kids. Although MMJ isn’t as mind altering as other legalized substances like alcohol, there are still risks associated with consuming medical cannabis around children.

While other safe consumption methods may be up for debate, we can categorically tell you that smoking medical marijuana around your children is bad for them. Like cigarettes, when you smoke cannabis around children, you’re compromising their air quality through your own selfish decisions.

There is no amount of secondhand smoke that is not harmful to children, and breathing it in can lead to them developing a number of serious health issues like asthma, respiratory issues, ear infections and even sudden infant death syndrome.

Study on Children and Secondhand MMJ

Just like smoking tobacco is harmful to children, so is the secondhand smoke from medical cannabis.

According to Dr. Karen Wilson, a pediatrician and author of a study on the effects of secondhand marijuana consumption in children, parents and guardians need to take serious precautions to make sure kids aren’t left susceptible to ingesting or inhaling MMJ.

During her study, Dr. Wilson found that “there is a strong association between those who said there was someone in the home who used marijuana or a caretaker who used marijuana and the child having detectable marijuana levels”.

The children in the study had their urine samples sent to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which tested it for traces of marijuana. In children who had been expose to marijuana use, 75% had traces of marijuana in their urine.

Vaping Around Children

As vaping is a relatively new phenomenon, researchers are still unsure about whether or not children are at risk of being exposed to medical marijuana consumed via vaporizer. While there is no cloud of harmful smoke produced through vaporizing, a plume of mist does take its place, so it is reasonable to assume that this exhaled vapor may contain traces of MMJ.

As vaporizers need nothing except a firm pull to be ignited, if left unattended, you could find an eager child trying to copy you by sucking on the mouth piece. To avoid this, always make sure your vaporizer – and all your other MMJ equipment – is well out of the the reach of little, curious hands.

Medical Cannabis Edibles and Children

Initial research for MMJ edibles suggests that even low levels of THC exposure can have a negative effect on children.

Nothing is more tempting to a child than a tasty treat lying just within their reach. While an MMJ packed brownie might be just the thing that you need to ease the symptoms of your ailment, if it falls into the wrong hands, you could be making an unplanned trip to the Emergency Room.

If you’re consuming MMJ edibles around kids, make sure to keep them out of their reach. To avoid any arguments, you’re better off to consume them out of their line of vision too. Any refusals to share your delicious treat will be met with a volcanic temper tantrum, so do your best to avoid this situation.

Research into whether or not exposure to smokeless medical marijuana is bad for children is still relatively inconclusive, as there hasn’t been enough studies on the topic yet. Although there is still uncertainty, initial research would suggest that even low levels of THC exposure can have a negative effect on children, particularly affecting their development. These negative effects have been observed in every age bracket, from babies to teenagers.

Better Safe Than Sorry

To avoid exposing your little ones to the harmful effects of medical marijuana, it’s advised that MMJ card holders opt to consume the plant through ‘less exposable’ methods. These methods would include the use of tinctures, patches and MMJ infused drinks and edibles (once kept out of the reach of little hands). These methods, once administered correctly, won’t expose anyone but yourself to the effects of your medical marijuana.

Always set your MMJ doses out early and never have more on you than you’ll need if you know you’re going to be around children.

Although there are perfectly safe ways to consume medical marijuana around children, it’s prudent to remember not to consume too much. If you consume too much MMJ, you’re jeopardizing your ability to properly look after children, thusly potentially putting them in serious danger.

Though most MMJ card holders are fully aware of safe dosage levels, it can be easier than you think to consume too much, especially if your mind is distracted by looking after little ones. If you’re around kids and are worried about accidentally consuming too much MMJ, make sure to set your doses out early and to never have more MMJ on you than you’ll need in that day.

Consuming medical marijuana around children is no problem, once it’s carried out under the right circumstances. In any situation, the safety of the children should be paramount and where possible, should take precedence over your need to consume. If you’re still unsure on this topic, or if you’d like to know more about getting a medical marijuana card, get in touch with us and we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

Thank goodness for the continuing, relentless and seemingly unstoppable liberalization of medical marijuana laws that are sweeping across the United States (and to a lesser extent, the globe) at this moment in history. This period in time will forever be remembered as a genuine renaissance in which medical cannabis reestablished itself in its rightful place at the epicenter of human medicine.

There are a huge wealth of benefits to MMJ use. The magical herb relieves pain, stimulates appetite, stabilizes mood, calms muscle spasms, eases glaucoma, promotes relaxation and sleep, alleviates psychological and physiological tension, remedies nausea, and is even showing great potential to do damage to cancerous cells.

As more and more people are availing of the myriad of benefits that their California medical marijuana card brings, it is important to also create an awareness of the potential negative side effects of MMJ use. Like with everything (including water, exercise and even sex) too much of something, even something very good, can be bad.

The following is our list of six potential pitfalls to be aware of if you are a regular user of medical marijuana.

Constant ‘Munchies’ May Lead to Weight Gain

Using medical cannabis can cause you to get high on life, but it can also get you high numbers on the weight scale.

One of MMJs great benefits is that it stimulates appetite. A good appetite is invaluable for optimal health. But the other side to this coin is that weed can also promote overeating.

The ‘munchies’ are a very real thing. Food and drink tastes especially good when you are under the influence of medical cannabis, and when you couple that with a generally stimulated appetite (and perhaps a somewhat reduced capacity to be disciplined), gorging is always a distinct possibility.

Overeating can be combated by shopping wisely before you ingest any MMJ – buying only healthy foods. You may regret this when you are high, but you will thank yourself the next time you weigh yourself!

If You Smoke Medical Cannabis, You’ll Be Susceptible to Smoking-Related Health Problems

Smoking cannabis, especially if you roll your joints with some tobacco, is not good for your lungs. It can lead to shortness of breath, emphysema and even lung cancer. A good start to combating this threat is to roll joints using only pure cannabis, which means you will smoke less and get a more potent hit of medical marijuana.

An even better way to avoid smoking-related illnesses is to not smoke at all – vaping and edibles are both great ways to ingest MMJ without breathing in any harmful smoke.

Being Under the Influence of MMJ May Cause You to Appreciate (and Even Become a Big Fan of) Music You Would Otherwise Hate

Marijuana induces an altered state of consciousness, and in this altered state, things that are not all that interesting to the ‘sober you’ can seem altogether fascinating. Music that you would otherwise have no interest in, if heard when you are in this altered state, can sound amazing.

This can lead to ‘imprinting’ – which is when you essentially form an irrational attachment, or ‘fetish’, for a song and have a compulsion to listen to it all the time, even when sober. This can lead to a feeling of helplessness and also to embarrassment in social situations. There is no known cure for this. Prevention is your only hope.

Edibles Take Longer to Kick In and Can Be Very Strong, So Beware

It is a common mistake if you are a rookie (or even a seasoned MMJ user who is new to edibles) to eat some weed, in the form of a brownie for instance, and then to sit there twiddling your thumbs for an hour feeling zero effect. Then you eat some more and… BOOM, you get obscenely higher than you’ve ever been in your life five minutes later, as both doses erupt inside you at the same time.

Watch out for this. Edibles are often very strong indeed, and they usually take anything between 30 minutes to an hour to kick in. Be patient.

Medical Marijuana Can Disrupt Your Sleep Patterns

Marijuana use, especially if the strain is high in CBD, can induce sleep. If this happens early in the day and you pass out on the sofa for a few hours, it can be difficult to sleep at your proper bedtime in the evening. It’s a form of weed-induced jet lag. Also, particularly strong MMJ can lead to a very heavy, dead, dreamless type of sleep that can leave you feeling slightly dazed the next day.

A good way around this is to only use very high CBD strains if you have a condition which makes it hard for you to sleep. Otherwise, use strains with more reasonable levels of CBD.

Using Medical Cannabis Can Make You Lazy and Unproductive

Not everyone can be as productive and creative as The Beatles while using MMJ, so be cautious about when and where you take it.

Apparently, The Beatles worked busily on their best albums while baked on marijuana. That must have been some weak weed! All joking aside, some people can be productive and busy while under the influence of medical cannabis, but many people can not.

The very relaxed state that (particularly a high-CBD strain) of weed will bring on is not conducive to productivity. The highly altered state of consciousness and heady high brought on by a THC-rich strain can make you feel energetic and creative, although the art you create when high unfortunately does not always cut the mustard when you take a look at it sober the next day.

A good way to avoid this pitfall is to only smoke later in the day, after you’ve done your important work, or if you need MMJ all day, then try to smoke a lighter strain. Also, try to stay moving so you can avoid getting trapped on the couch watching Judge Judy with a packet of Oreos and a block of cheese.

Chronic pain is one of the toughest conditions to live with. There is no standard test for it, it can take many forms, and it often varies wildly from person to person. Most patients are understandably reluctant to rely upon traditional prescription painkillers, many of which are addictive. But what is the alternative to living in constant pain?

Many studies have suggested that medical marijuana can assist in the treatment of chronic pain, and this could offer a lifeline to many people who are suffering daily.

What is Chronic Pain?

Anyone can experience chronic pain in any part of the body, and it can have a harmful effect on your everyday life.

How is chronic pain defined? Simply put, it can be defined as a pain that will not go away and cannot be easily attributed to any one cause. It can occur at any site on the body, be it head, neck, back, limbs or any other area, and can defined as either nociceptive (which means that its root is damaged tissue) or neuropathic (which means that the pain is coming from a malfunctioning nervous system).

As there is no strict test for pain, and because it varies from person to person and medical professionals rely on the testimony of their suffering patients, it is often very hard to find causes and treatments for pain.

Why Use Medical Marijuana as an Alternative Therapy?

Patients have long turned to alternative therapies for pain management, including acupuncture, reiki, diet and other methods. Due to the addictive nature of opioid painkillers, many patients do not want to get into a cycle of carefully killing their pain while running the risk of becoming addicted, having to detox, and then being left without a way of managing their crippling pain.

Medical marijuana is a logical step for anyone attempting to manage chronic pain. It is a natural therapy that comes in many forms, so there really is an option for everyone.

Although smoking medical cannabis is the most popular form of therapy for pain, there are many delicious edible recipes out there.

Smoking is clearly the most popular option when it comes to medical marijuana, but did you know that you can also get edible medical marijuana, vape pens and even body rubs? These are just some of the many options offered to patients who need help with chronic pain management. Body rubs, roll-ons and creams containing THC or CBD have also proved incredibly helpful for those suffering from chronic pain, as the ingredients attack the pain at the site.

However, if you’d rather focus on smoking medical marijuana, there are definitely some strains out there that will help you in chronic pain management. Edibles are also an excellent option, as they feel like a real treat in the form of yummy cakes, lollipops or chocolate bars. Vapes are really convenient and easily transportable, whereas traditional joints for smoking are best kept for use in the privacy of your home due to their distinctive smell. The smell of medical marijuana actually can be linked to its power in fighting pain, so in this case, the smellier, the better!

Types of MMJ Used for Pain

White Widow, Super Bud and Master Kush are a few types of medical cannabis used to treat pain.

Jack Herer and Super Bud are two strains that are known for assisting in nerve pain, which is a very common form of pain and one of the hardest to treat. White Widow and Northern Lights are best for muscle pain, as they are linked to relaxation (which can help for body parts that are ravaged with tension). Master Kush and Afghan Kush are great all-round pain relievers, and may prove helpful for anyone who isn’t really sure where to start when treating pain with medical marijuana.

Medical Cannabis Advice from Experts

Your local dispensary can be an invaluable source in talking to an expert. They will have dealt with many patients with varying levels and conditions of pain, and will be able to advise you on what works and doesn’t work in relation to the management of chronic pain through medical marijuana.

It may also be helpful to talk to your doctor or a medical professional in relation to managing your pain, especially if you are reluctant to go down the route of traditional opioid painkillers. You will need to speak to a medical professional to gain a MMJ card if you do not already have one, and depending on your state’s laws, you’ll have to meet strict criteria that fits a definition of chronic pain.

It is important to visit a liberal medical professional who takes medical marijuana seriously and views it as a legitimate treatment, as not all medical professionals believe this to be the case.

Although studies have proven that MMJ can effectively treat pain, it’s ultimately up to you if you want to try it.

Studies exist that strongly support evidence that medical marijuana can assist in the treatment of chronic pain without the addictive quality of traditional painkillers. The key is to try different strains, as well as different forms of medical marijuana. Get advice from medical dispensaries and medical professionals, but the choice is yours.

There is a strain that works for everyone, and it’s about finding the correct treatment for you so that you can live the best life possible without your chronic pain holding you back.

We all know that medical marijuana is a wonderfully brilliant miracle treatment, but did you know that thanks to its effectiveness, it’s now seriously rivaling the popularity of modern day medicine in MMJ card states? While this doesn’t come as much of a surprise to medical marijuana card holders who have long been reaping the benefits of this super-plant, others are shocked at this news, and all because of their indoctrination into the allopathic school of thought.

Medical marijuana has recently gone through a renaissance, thanks to the advent of the medical marijuana card. Before this, MMJ had been subjected to a decade’s-long character assassination created by the proliferation of lies and misinformation during the ‘War on Drugs’. Before this dark period in MMJ history, marijuana had been used to treat all manner of ailments for hundreds of years.

Now that people are more open to the use of medical marijuana, they’re noticing the stark contrasts between using it and using more traditional modern medicines. If you were to do up a pros and cons list for each form of treatment, you’d soon see that the con list for using pharmaceutical treatments far outweighs that of using medical marijuana.

MMJ Reduces Side Effects and Health Complications

Unlike modern day medicines, which are known to cause serious side effects and complications, medical cannabis is not known to do either.

It’s no secret that some prescription painkillers come with nasty, life-restricting side effects. These side effects can be anything from chronic pain and depression to decreased libido. On the other hand, medical marijuana comes with no known severe side effects. A study conducted by Canadian scientists found that 215 MMJ card holders suffering from chronic pain “had no greater risk than non-users to experience serious adverse effects” after using the drug for one year. Most long-term MMJ card holders report no side effects following years of consumption.

Medical marijuana is not known to cause any serious health complications. Unfortunately, this is not the case for some modern medicines. Prescription medicines – especially opioid-based ones – can do serious damage to patients after prolonged use. A 2008 study based on life-threatening pharmaceutical side effects stated that opioid-based prescription drugs could cause “delayed gastric emptying, hyperalgesia, immunologic and hormonal dysfunction, muscle rigidity, and myoclonus”.

Not only are these side effects dangerous in their own right, but if they’re experienced for prolonged periods of time, they could facilitate the growth of tumors in the affected parts of the body. In particular, Pharma painkillers prescribed to relieve chronic pain in cancer patients have been observed to stimulate further tumor growth. In contrast, MMJ card holders who have been prescribed medical marijuana for cancer-associated pain have in some instances seen a reduction in the size of their tumors.

Medical Marijuana is Not as Addictive

As a lot of prescription painkillers are derived from the same source as heroin, they can be incredibly addictive. America consumes a staggering 75% of the world’s prescription drugs, and at least half of this number can be put down to addiction. Some doctors will freely prescribe these highly-addictive drugs to line their own pockets with money from Big Pharma so when people are prescribed these pills, it may not be within their own best interests.

Addiction to modern medications is exacerbated by the fact that your body starts to build up tolerance to them, meaning that you need to take more and more to get the same effect. Thankfully, the number of prescription medicine-related deaths have significantly reduced in the past number of years, with some people signaling that this is due to the introduction of medical cannabis cards.

By and large, medical marijuana is a non-addictive substance. While there are some cases of marijuana addiction, these are nearly entirely found within the recreational community. MMJ card carriers are aware of safe dosage levels, and even if they were to consume a little too much by accident, they’d be at risk of no more than feeling a little woozy for a couple of hours.

Since medical professionals have started issuing MMJ cards, the number of prescription medicine-related deaths have significantly reduced.

Of course, there are benefits to substituting modern medicine for medical marijuana altogether, but don’t put the idea of taking them concurrently off the table. For MMJ card holders on vital medication for a life-threatening illness, sometimes it simply isn’t an option for them to come off their prescription. In these cases, medical marijuana is often used as an additional form of treatment, to be taken alongside the original prescribed medication. Medical marijuana is taken by these patients in order to further lessen the symptoms of their ailment, or to lessen the harsh side effects that can come with taking some modern medications.

Pills taken to combat diseases like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Crohn’s disease can come with a whole host of nasty side effects that can leave patients incapacitated or in constant severe pain. Medical marijuana tackles these issues, thanks to its exceptional pain-relieving powers, as well as its ability to tackle other subsidiary symptoms like muscle spasms and lethargy. As medical marijuana comes with no side effects of its own, it’s perfectly safe to take it alongside traditional medicines.

We shouldn’t think of medical marijuana and modern medicine as a rivalry at all. MMJ is fast becoming an integral part of modern medicine, with doctors across the country prescribing it to medical cannabis holders for a whole range of medical conditions. When we start to look at MMJ as an addition to medicine, rather than a rival to it, we’re giving ourselves more options to choose from and thus, we expand our treatment horizons.

Some treatments don’t work for everybody, and that’s to be expected, but if we have as wide a range of treatment options as possible, more people will find the perfect treatment plan for them, easing their discomfort and enabling them to live better lives. If you want to explore your MMJ card options, get in touch with us today and we’ll see what’s available to you.

Now that the medical marijuana card revolution has spread to New York, it can be easy to compare and contrast its laws to those in other states. While it’s not fair to compare MMJ card states with marijuana gold standard states – we’re looking at you, Colorado – comparing MMJ-friendly states against each other gives us a better picture of which state is best to live in if you’re a cannabis card holder.

California was a trailblazer in the legalization of medical marijuana with the introduction of Proposition 215 all the way back in 1996. For this reason, MMJ laws in the Sunshine State are some of the best in the country, leaving other MMJ states in its shadow.

Unfortunately for New York MMJ card carriers, the liberal bastion of the eastern seaboard just hasn’t caught up to California’s super lax laws. In fairness to them, they only legalized the use of medical marijuana in 2014, so we can’t exactly hold them to California’s standard, which has been over 20 years in the making.

Qualifying Ailments for MMJ

The biggest area where Californian cannabis laws outshine New York’s is by their classification of qualifying ailments. In California, there is a broad lists of qualifying conditions that allow you to apply for a medical marijuana card. This includes anything from menstrual cramps and anxiety, to cancer and everything in between. Thanks to this, anyone in need of the ameliorative effects of cannabis can access it.

New York’s list of qualifying conditions is significantly smaller, and comes with specific stipulations. To get a medical marijuana card in New York, you must suffer from a life-threatening illness. According to the medical marijuana program, this is limited to cancer, HIV, AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal damage, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, Huntington’s disease and chronic pain.

In addition to these limitations, your condition must present you with life-limiting symptoms in order to qualify for an MMJ card. A doctor can not, and will not, prescribe you medical cannabis outside of these conditions due to the intense pressure put on them by the New York Medical Marijuana Program.

Cannabis Cultivation Laws in New York and California

One downside for MMJ card holders in New York: it’s strictly banned in the state to grow cannabis at home.

Home cultivation is strictly banned in New York, with the state’s needs for cultivation limited to production by ten companies. This presents problems for cannabis card holders who prefer to home grow due to mobility issues.

California, by contrast, allows MMJ card carriers to grow six mature plants or 12 immature plants at home once they have the required growers license. Unfortunately for New Yorkers, there doesn’t seem to be any plans on the horizon to ease home growing laws.

Consumption Laws for Medical Marijuana

Noticeably, you won’t see any medical marijuana card holders smoking MMJ in New York, as smoking the plant is strictly illegal. Governor Cuomo never gave a real explanation as to why this is, with many people speculating that he wanted to distance his MMJ program from methods of consumption that would typically be associated with recreational use. While this isn’t a major problem for most cannabis card carriers – a lot of them would steer clear from smoking due to the obvious health effects. This can be a nuisance for the small few who prefer to smoke their MMJ.

Similarly, the consumption of medical marijuana edibles is banned in New York. Unlike smoking, a significant amount of MMJ card holders would consume this way. Using edibles has a whole host of benefits – and is tasty, to boot – so some patients were very disappointed with this law. Being the bastion of MMJ goodness that it is, Californian medical marijuana law allows both smoking and the consumption of edibles once you’re suitably discreet about it.

Getting a Cannabis Card in California and New York

Acquiring a cannabis card in California is a much easier process than it is in New York. In Cali, all you need to do is complete a short, noninvasive online consultation with a licensed mental health professional and voilà, you got yourself a California medical marijuana card! In New York, it takes a little bit longer to do.

Just like sitting in New York traffic can be a painfully long process, so can acquiring a New York MMJ card.

First, you must go to a doctor and tell them about your illness and your need for a medical marijuana card. It’s important to note that the doctor you go to must be registered with the Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program – if they’re not, they won’t be able to prescribe you MMJ, and you’ll be left feeling disappointed. If you have a qualifying ailment and they think you’re suitable for it, they’ll recommend you for medical marijuana certification.

Following this, you’ll have to register for your Registry ID Card. You do this by applying via the Department of Health’s Online Patient Registration System. Once your application is rigorously reviewed, you’ll be sent out your ID in the mail. You’ll need to bring this with you when you visit the MMJ dispensary in New York.

New York’s medical cannabis laws are only in their infancy, so it’s pretty understandable for them to be so far behind their western cousins on the MMJ front. Thankfully, further relaxations of New York’s MMJ laws are on the horizon, with the possibility of total legalization looking likely within the next five years – not bad for a state who only decriminalized MMJ three years ago!

Until then, New York can continue to look to California for inspiration on how to make their state more MMJ-friendly.

More than 70 percent of Floridians voted in favor of Amendment 2. The new amendment will be a game changer for Florida medical marijuana patients, caregivers and health care professionals. It will revamp the state’s alternative health care laws and massively modernize the very conservative and limiting Florida medical cannabis laws that have been in existence since 2014.

Despite the landslide majority vote in favor of more liberal Florida MMJ laws and the impending deadline for implementation, there is still heated debate happening around medical marijuana.

Amendment 2 will ensure much better protection for industry workers, patients, caregivers and physicians. It will also make medical marijuana a realistic and safe treatment option for many people in the state of Florida who, up until now, would not have been eligible for treatment with a cannabis card. Once the new rules are in place, there will be a much wider variety of medical cannabis products, as well as a larger spectrum of strains and strengths, from which to choose. This is all wonderful news for Florida and its inhabitants.

The state is legally required to adopt new medical marijuana laws by July 3, 2017. There will then be a bedding-in period of a few months before the state is obliged to have the new system fully up and running by September 2017.

Despite the landslide majority vote in favor of more liberal Florida MMJ laws and the impending deadline for implementation, there is still heated debate happening within the corridors of power, not to mention homes, cafes and public meeting spaces throughout the state, about the exact nature of the new MMJ laws and the specific details of what the new rules should look like. Many details of the new Florida medical marijuana program have yet to be finalized.

The debate is so heated in Florida because there are conservative in positions of power in the state who are not happy about the adoption of what they regard as laxer drug laws. It is due to these competing factions that much has yet to be decided.

How Much Medical Marijuana Can Patients Get?

Although it is fairly clear that patients will qualify for marijuana treatment with a variety of illnesses such as glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder, cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis and muscle spasms — similar to other legal MMJ states — it is still not clear what size of prescriptions the law will allow for various conditions. It has yet to be decided how much medical marijuana a patient will be allowed to acquire each day. Will it be left up to the discretion of the patient? Or will there be limits on the amount of herb a person can buy depending on what condition they are suffering from? It is hoped that the Department of Health will decide to allow a flexible amount of medical cannabis to be available and for the patient to decide what they require.

Which Medical Marijuana Products Will Be Available?

The only thing known is there will be no cap on the amount of THC medical cannabis products sold in the state can contain.

What medical marijuana products will be available has also not yet been finalized. It is hoped and expected that a wide range of products — from edibles to oils to aerosols and ointments to fresh and dried bud — will be available from dispensaries. But the exact details of what will be available are still unclear. What is known is that there will be no cap on the amount of THC medical cannabis products sold in the state can contain. 

What Are the Zoning Laws?

One particular point of contention that is proving particularly difficult to sort out is the exact details of zoning laws for dispensaries. There will be a large increase in a number of dispensaries opening in the state, and not every citizen or city is happy about having a dispensary in their locality. Many cities and districts, including Miami Beach, have put a temporary freeze on new dispensaries opening in their jurisdictions while they attempt to iron out the issues in a way that pleases as many local residents as possible. This is an issue that urgently needs to be sorted out.

What Qualifies a Person as a Caregiver?

It also remains to be decided exactly what circumstances and conditions will qualify a person to become a caregiver, how many people one person can be a caregiver for, and what exactly being a caregiver will allow a person to do on behalf of the patients they are caring for.

What Will It Cost to Join the Registry?

Another detail that remains undecided is the cost of applying to join the Florida Patient Registry. Joining the registry will be mandatory, but the costs involved remain unclear.

Can You Grow at Home?

Unfortunately, under the new amendment home growing will remain illegal. This puts the Florida medical marijuana program well behind other legal MMJ states such as California and Colorado on this issue. Allowing patients to grow their own herb, just as they like it, would have been a huge step in the right direction. Sadly, this is a step Florida did not take on this occasion. Hopefully, in the near future, there will be a rethink on this particular detail of the state’s medical cannabis program.

What About State vs Federal MMJ Laws?

One last gray area (and this applies to all legal medical marijuana states) is the contradiction between state MMJ laws and federal cannabis law. There is nothing the state itself can do about this issue, but surely, as more and more states vote to legalize medical cannabis, it will become unrealistic and silly for the federal government not to look into changing federal MMJ laws concerning medical weed.

It is an exciting time for Florida. They are joining the medical marijuana party in earnest. Amendment 2 will not be a silver bullet — it will have shortcomings, not allowing home cultivation being an obvious example — but it is a big leap in the right direction. There are a number of steps that still need to be taken and decisions that need to be made before full implementation is possible. Time is running out. Get your skates on Florida!

Medical marijuana has been legal in the U.S. since 1996 — if you live in California that is. For other states, it’s been an uphill battle to legalize medical cannabis, and for some, the battle rages on. As of May 2017, medical marijuana is legal in 29 states, and several others allow the use of marijuana in its oil form, with limitations on THC content (i.e., the psychoactive component of the drug).

Even where medical cannabis is legalized, the medical marijuana laws regarding its use vary wildly from state to state. The legalization of marijuana for recreational use is also shifting rapidly across the U.S., muddying the waters on medical marijuana laws and marijuana usage as a whole.

Although California is leading the charge on both fronts, especially when it comes to medical marijuana, over on the East Coast, the traditionally liberal and progressive New York has put in place a surprisingly restrictive and limited medical cannabis program. The state became the 23rd in the U.S. to embrace medical marijuana when it was made legal in mid-2014 under an act known as the Compassionate Care Act, signed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

At the beginning of his tenure, Cuomo announced plans to introduce medical marijuana legally to the state but was also noted and criticized for his long-held anti-marijuana position. Although Cuomo stated he was receptive to change on the medical marijuana front and approached the subject with an open mind, many feared that his medical marijuana laws would be too strict.

Medical Marijuana Laws in New York

The state became the 23rd in the U.S. to embrace medical marijuana when it was made legal in mid-2014 under an act known as the Compassionate Care Act, signed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

These fears turned out to be well-founded upon the introduction of the CCA, which contained a critical clause that allows the New York Department of health to pull the plug on the medical marijuana program any time it chooses.

The list of qualifying conditions is also fairly short compared to other states, with only severe illnesses entitling patients to medical cannabis. On top of this, doctors can be punished under federal law for suppling marijuana to a patient who doesn’t fit the required conditions.

The narrow qualifying conditions include cancer, ALS and other motor neuron diseases, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS. This means that only around 10 percent of patients who could benefit from marijuana can actually legally avail of it, which is seen by many as far too restrictive.

The number of dispensaries allowed statewide is also pretty narrow, with only up to 20 dispensaries being grated licenses and only five manufacturers being granted the permission to grow marijuana. For as state composed of just under 20 million people, this seems relatively minuscule to medical marijuana advocates.

No Smoking Medical Cannabis in New York

Another measure that is seen as overly harsh, particularly when compared to other states, is the decision to forbid the smoking of medical marijuana, the most traditional method of taking the medicine. This is regarded as another attempt to appear anti-marijuana by the overly conservative Cuomo.

But it considerably limits patients’ methods and ease with which to avail of their medicine. As it stands, patients are only allowed to consume medical marijuana through vaporization, oils, foods and pills, which is, unfortunately, not the cheapest ways to consume the drug — or the most effective.

In New York, you can’t legally smoke medical marijuana.

Smoking marijuana has traditionally been held as the quickest way to avail of the drug’s effects. When it comes to chronic and severe pain relief, most patients will want their medicine to work as quick as possible, forcing them to illegally smoke it or purchase a vaporizer, costing them hundreds of dollars on top of the amount they’ve already paid for the medicine. Cuomo and his supporters argued that smoking is not in the interest of public health, but this particular decree is seen by many as yet another attempt by Cuomo to straddle the line.

Just before the bill’s introduction in 2014, the governor spoke about the upcoming legislation.

“We’re going to be sending up a bill shortly that we believes strikes the right balance,” he said.

It was the result of near-constant pressure from medical marijuana advocates, lead by Sen. Diane Savino, the Senate sponsor of the bill, and Assembly sponsor Richard Gottfried. Assemblyman Gottfried admitted the bill was a compromise and also expressed concerns about the projected 18-month implication, concerns which turned out to be largely unfounded as the program got up and running on schedule.

It was a thorny path to medical marijuana legalization in New York, but now that it’s here, hopefully, things can continue to improve. There are certainly signs of it, with advocates campaigning for new conditions to be added to the list of qualifiers. Just recently post-traumatic stress disorder was accepted on the list, expanding some horizons in that sense. At the end of last year, the state Department of Health announced that it will be lifting and revising growth limits due to increased pressure from advocates and patients alike. All in all, things look good for the future of medical marijuana in New York.

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.

The legality of medical marijuana in the states has come a long way and has overcome many obstacles since 1906 when heavy restrictions were placed on marijuana. At one point, it was even classified as a poison. Today, however, marijuana for medical purposes is legal in 29 states, including New York. Since 2014, thanks to the Compassionate Care Act, patients are now allowed to use marijuana for medicinal purposes to treat illnesses such as cancer, HIV and AIDs. There has been evidence that medical marijuana can help with problems from glaucoma to epileptic seizures. People have also reported that medical cannabis has helped with inflammation and pain and with coping with the side effects of chemotherapy.

Medical Marijuana Laws in New York

New York holds much stricter medical marijuana laws, especially with regards to the qualifying diseases and the form of medicine allowed.

In comparison to other states such as California, however, New York holds much stricter medical marijuana laws, especially with regards to the qualifying diseases and the form of medicine allowed.

First, only a handful of illnesses is considered qualifying conditions if you want to try medical cannabis. Cancer, Parkinson’s disease, AIDs and multiple sclerosis are just a few of the ailments. However, recent medical marijuana laws have loosened to allow chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder to be classified as a qualifying illness that could allow for the treatment using medical marijuana. This means that if you have severe pain for three months or more that has not responded well to other treatment, then you can apply for a certification from a medical practitioner.

How to Apply for Medical Cannabis in New York

There are a few stages when it comes to applying for medical marijuana. It is not simply a case of going to your doctor and asking for a prescription, which is actually illegal. The first step is to see if your condition comes under the list of qualifying ailments.

The next step is to ensure that your medical practitioner is registered with the New York Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program. Only then can they give you a certification for medical cannabis.

Once you have received your certification, you need to register for the Medical Marijuana Program through the department’s online patient registration system.

The last step is waiting to receive a registry identification card, which you will have to show when you go to the dispensary facility.

Where to Buy Medical Marijuana in New York

There are currently less than 1,000 qualified doctors in the city who can prescribe medical marijuana.

Out of around 2,000 dispensaries in the United States, there are only a few dispensaries available in New York. Moreover, there are currently less than 1,000 qualified doctors in the city who can prescribe medical marijuana.

Why is this number so low? It is likely to do with the fact that marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug and is considered illegal by the federal government. A possible reason for the strict medical marijuana laws could be that lawmakers are highly suspicious of marijuana being used for recreational purposes. Despite the positive stories people have reported from using medical cannabis to treat their illnesses, the state still believes that this alternative medicine can pose risks.

The Prospect of Recreational Marijuana Use in New York

On the other hand, exciting news has emerged recently hinting that marijuana could also possibly be legalized for recreational use in the Big Apple. If this goes ahead, then, naturally, the expansion of medical marijuana will likely increase, which would hopefully allow more people to have easier access to this natural alternative.

How You Can Consume Medical Marijuana in New York

In terms of the form of medical marijuana allowed in New York, only tinctures and oils are legal, and these can be inhaled, vaporized or taken orally in capsules. Smoking is strictly prohibited.

Furthermore, the amount that you have in possession also has a limit. There is a 30-day supply max at any one time. There are different classes of felonies for just being in possession of cannabis; therefore, it is important to ensure that you always have your registry identification card with you.

On top of these restrictions, the cost is also a big factor that explains why a limited number of people have access to medical marijuana. In comparison to other states such as California and Colorado where cannabis will cost you roughly $15 to $25 a day, in New York, you would have to pay around $180. This is a major problem for people who may qualify for medical marijuana but cannot afford it.

In conclusion, New York possesses much tighter medical marijuana laws with regards to the qualification, form and process of obtaining medical cannabis, especially compared to other states such as California. The number of doctors willing to prescribe medical cannabis and the cost appears to be limiting the number of potential patients.

Things are gradually becoming more lenient though for instance in terms of the types of ailments accepted, and there is hope that the legalization will be less restrictive. But overall, it seems that New York still has some catching up to do compared to other states when it comes to making medical marijuana more easily accessible and affordable for people.

Medical marijuana became legal in the state of New York in mid-2014, though it took another 18 months for it to become available to patients. Many were surprised with the restrictions and the seemingly harsh limitations of the Compassionate Care Act. The conservative Gov. Andrew Cuomo sought to please advocates and opponents of medical cannabis by making an accessible yet restrictive law.

One of the major contentions was the non-smoking aspect, which means medical marijuana in New York can only be consumed via vaporization, ingestion or in capsule form. Another limiting factor of the Compassionate Care Act was the number of places legalized to dispense the drug, which totals no more than 20 statewide.

Currently, there are 19 medical marijuana dispensaries operating in New York, with recent changes to the Compassionate Care Act suggesting that this number will increase over the coming years. In order to sustain more medical marijuana dispensaries, however, Cuomo will also need to implement some relaxations on qualifying conditions. But that’s a discussion for another time.

If you’re a New York patient in need of medical cannabis right now, then here’s a handy rundown of the top four places to pick up your medical marijuana prescription.

Etain Health

Etain Health operates four medical marijuana dispensaries in New York

Etain Health is one of only five licensed manufacturers of medical marijuana in New York and continues its family-run ethic throughout its statewide medical marijuana dispensaries. Owned and operated by the woman-led Peckham family, Etain Health was founded after the Peckham matriarch was diagnosed with ALS, leading the family on the path to compassionate care. Etain Health operates four medical marijuana dispensaries — one in Albany, one in Kingston, one in Syracuse and one in Yonkers — and is committed to improving the quality of life for patients across New York with high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade marijuana.

Columbia Care New York

Another big hitter in the dispensary field, Columbia Care New York operates four medical marijuana dispensaries statewide. They can be found in New York City, Riverhead, Plattsburgh and Rochester. In April, after wading through a strenuous and prolonged permission process, Columbia Care became the first dispensary in the state to start running a delivery service for their patients. It is committed to making its patients’ lives easier and more comfortable and will no doubt be a key component of the future of medical marijuana in New York.

NYC Marijuana Dr.

NYC Marijuana Dr. is led by Dr. George Moskowitz, a board-certified family physician with more than 30 years experience under his belt. He is a registered practitioner with the Department of Health and can certify a potential patient into the compulsory New York Medical Marijuana Program. The steps include an initial visit with Moskowitz to determine patient viability, and then, if successful, a follow-up visit where the patient will receive their MMJ certificate. Moskowitz is located in New York City, with a Manhattan branch opening up soon.

Vireo Health

Latin for “I am green; I am vigourous,” Vireo Health is a collection of scientists and physicians who have dedicated themselves to the cause of high-quality, highly effective cannabis-based medication. Unlike the previous three medical marijuana dispensaries, Vireo is funded and run by a broad investor base of health care professionals, allowing it to focus on the people who matter most — their patients. Having already established outlets in Maryland and Minnesota, it recently opened a branch in New York. Its mission is simple: produce and distribute pharmaceutical-grade cannabis to patients in need.

As the fight to legalize medical cannabis for every patient who needs it rages on in New York, more medical marijuana dispensaries should indeed come to the fore.

Those are the top four in New York.

As a little bonus, here’s a popular dispensary from the state’s closest neighbor!

Garden State Dispensary

Not technically located in New York, Garden State is a dispensary in New Jersey, just across the George Washington Bridge. New Jersey’s medical cannabis laws are laxer more lax compared to its neighbor’s strict decrees: Patients in New Jersey can smoke the medicine, as opposed to patients in New York who can only vaporize or consume medical marijuana in oil or edible form. So, if you happen to live across the bridge, you’re in a far better position to consume your medical marijuana than New York residents. Garden State Dispensary is a cool port of call for those looking to pick up their medicine, styling itself almost like an upmarket cocktail bar. They also grow their own medical marijuana, so you can count on their produce being fresh and leafy.

As it stands, because of the harsh laws, options for medical marijuana in New York are pretty scarce. But then again, so are the patients. New York’s list of applicable diseases and afflictions are so narrow and restrictive that there simply aren’t enough patients to render medical marijuana dispensaries profitable and worthwhile.

As the fight to legalize medical cannabis for every patient who needs it rages on in New York, more medical marijuana dispensaries should indeed come to the fore, providing more options and consuming methods for patients across the state.

Medical marijuana is gaining more popularity as an alternative to conventional medicine and a more natural option to treat various diseases and illnesses. Although there is still a lot more research to be conducted, many miraculous stories have surfaced, and this alternative medicine seems promising.

It may also come as a surprise to know that using cannabis as medicine is not new. In 2737 B.C. China, Emperor Shen Neng prescribed marijuana to treat various illnesses malaria, gout and memory problems.

Today, medical cannabis is legal in 29 U.S. states, including New York. Each state has varying laws regarding the form and amount of medical marijuana allowed. Furthermore, only certain health conditions may qualify for a medical cannabis prescription. There are different ways to take medical cannabis, such as tinctures, smoking or edibles; however, the only legal way to consume medical marijuana in New York is orally.

Health Conditions that Qualify for Medical Marijuana in New York

You will need to discuss with your doctor whether medical marijuana would be appropriate for you.

If you are living in New York and are interested in trying medical cannabis, the first thing you would need to consider is whether your health condition qualifies. The health issues that qualify by law include cancer, HIV or AIDs, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis. You will need to discuss with your doctor whether medical marijuana would be appropriate for you. Furthermore, your doctor will need to be registered with the New York Department of Health for them to issue you with a certification for the medicine.

Requirements for Physicians to be in the Medical Cannabis Program

If your doctor is not registered in the medical marijuana program, they must meet a list of criteria to be accepted. First, they must complete a four-hour course approved by the commissioner, and they must be qualified to treat patients with serious conditions such as cancer, epilepsy and inflammatory bowel disease. Moreover, they must be licensed, in good standing as a physician, practicing medicine and registered with the New York Department of Health.

Registering for the Medical Marijuana in New York

Once you have received your certification from your medical practitioner, you can then register for the medical cannabis program through the Department of Health’s online patient registration. There is a fee of $50 to apply. Proof of identity as well as residence must be provided, and the Department of Health will then send a registry identification card. Patients then simply must take their certification and identification card to a dispensing facility to obtain the medical marijuana they need.

Buying Medical Marijuana in New York

The price of medical marijuana in New York can vary; however, the Department of Health works with consultants to make sure that pricing is comparable between all dispensaries.

In New York, there are 20 dispensaries; almost 900 medical practitioners who are registered to prescribe medical cannabis; and 14,400 patients who are certified to buy the medicine. The possession limit in New York is limited to a 30-day supply, and you can purchase tinctures, vaporizers and medical cannabis concentrates.

The price of medical marijuana in New York can vary; however, the Department of Health works with consultants to make sure that pricing is comparable between all dispensaries. To get an idea, medical marijuana in New York will cost you roughly $30 per gram, but depending on how much you require, this means that it could cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars per month.

Fortunately, one of New York’s medical cannabis producers, Etain Health, has recently created a discount program for customers. The idea is to make medical marijuana more affordable, and they do this by ensuring that for every $100 spent, there is a $5 discount until $400 is spent. Then the discount increases to $10 per $100 spent. If you end up spending $1,000 or more, then you will receive a $15 discount for every $100 spent.

How Medical Marijuana in New York Compares

Overall, New York seems to have a stricter program compared to the other legal states when it comes to being qualified for medical marijuana. Only several serious illnesses and diseases are considered for this form of medication. Chronic pain that causes health and function degradation has also been accepted as an ailment that will qualify for medical cannabis. Moreover, nurse practitioners and physician assistants will be allowed to certify people for the medicine, and the state is even considering home deliveries.

As medical marijuana laws in New York start loosening the restrictions and regulations, an increase in patients is expected. Hopefully, more will be able to benefit from this alternative form of medication.

Medical marijuana has been making waves on the West Coast since it was first introduced in California in 1996. Since then, especially within the past five years or so, other states have introduced medical cannabis to patients across America. New York became the 23rd state to introduce the drug when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the measure into law in July 2014. But for a state with a liberal reputation and voting history, New York’s medical marijuana laws are notorious for being some of the most restrictive and complicated. It can be tough for patients across the U.S. to keep track of medical marijuana laws as it applies to their home state, so for the medical cannabis users of New York, we’re here to make it easy!

Medical Marijuana in New York

Although the conditions that permit medical cannabis use in California are wide, varied and loose, New York is, unfortunately, a lot more restrictive — or at least it has been for the past two years. Officially, you must suffer from a specific, severe, debilitating or life-threatening affliction such as cancer, AIDS, Parkinson’s, ALS or neuropathy problems. On top of that, you must be suffering from “associated or complicating conditions” for your particular disease, specifically wasting syndrome, chronic pain, seizures or persistent muscle spasms. This rigid and largely severe conditioning is undoubtedly what gives New York its harsh reputation in the medical marijuana arena, though there are recent signs that these laws are being relaxed.

New York became the 23rd state to introduce medical cannabis when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the measure into law in July 2014.

A bipartisan bill that would introduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition was passed by the Senate Health Committee and now awaits the final hurdle of approval.

There is also heavy campaigning by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal to add menstrual cramps to the list of qualifying conditions, a motion that has seen celebrity support from Whoopi Goldberg and is currently being pushed forward.

So, although the initially restrictive measures for medical marijuana in New York might be disheartening to potential patients, there does seem to be some light at the end of the tunnel, a light that can only grow stronger as more and more states around the U.S. begin to adopt medical marijuana laws.

How to Obtain Medical Marijuana in New York

The first step to obtaining medical marijuana in New York is to present to your physician with a condition you suspect might entitle you to medical cannabis treatment. The physician will make an assessment, and if he or she is registered with the New York Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program, they may make a recommendation for medical cannabis and issue you with a certificate.

The next step in a pretty convoluted process is to register with the Medical Marijuana Program through the Department of Health’s online Patient Registration System. After your registration is thoroughly processed, you will receive a Registry Identification Card, which is the all-important document to legally get you inside the dispensaries and start availing of medical cannabis.

Medical Marijuana Rules in New York

So now you’re through the dispensary door, you should know a thing or two about how much medical cannabis you can carry around with you and how exactly you can avail of it. Unlike California, New York has made the bizarre decision to forbid all smoking of medical marijuana. The only approved forms of taking the medicine are liquid and oil, for vaporization or inhalation, or capsules that can be administered orally. Exactly why the Department of Health has banned the smoking of medical cannabis remains a mystery. We can only guess that they wanted to draw a firm and decisive line between medical use and recreational use. Although this may change in the future, as it stands currently, smoking is a no-go for the medical cannabis patients in New York.

The first step to obtaining medical marijuana in New York is to present to your physician with a condition you suspect might entitle you to medical cannabis treatment.

All the details about how you can take your medical cannabis must be written on your certification form by your physician. This means you can’t deviate from the methods of administration you enter initially. The form will also contain information about the authorized brand or use. Again, this is in sharp contrast to states like California, who are much more liberal with the methods of procurement and administration. As marijuana has now been legalized for recreational use in Cali as well, we can hope that the situation will not remain so rigid for NY; though it may take some years to catch up.

Again, this is in sharp contrast to states such as California, which is much more liberal with the methods of procurement and administration. As marijuana has now been legalized for recreational use in California as well, we can hope that the situation will not remain so rigid for New York, though it may take some years to catch up.

When you arrive at the dispensary, it is also important to note that they can only hand out a 30-day supply or less, and unfortunately, it is illegal to grow your own medical marijuana at home. State-registered dispensaries are the only way to obtain the medicine, and even then, there are many hoops to jump through.

While the medical marijuana in New York is undoubtedly restrictive and strict relative to other states, the good news is that it can only get better. It might seem like an uphill battle to avail of medical cannabis at this point in time, but there are people working behind the scenes to make sure everyone in New York gets a fair shot at availing of the many benefits of medical marijuana.

On Nov. 8, 2016, with 71 percent of the vote, Florida residents overwhelmingly voted to legalize medical marijuana. Florida joins 28 other states and Washington, D.C., in legalizing the drug since California got the ball rolling back in 1996. But why did it take the Sunshine State so long to reach a ruling on medical marijuana that the Golden State reached 20 years ago?

Even though medical marijuana has been used to treat a vast number of ailments dating back to China in 2737 B.C., the American outlook on the drug has fluctuated numerous times throughout the United States’ history.

Throughout the 18th and 19th century, marijuana was used in the U.S. for medicinal purposes only be outlawed in the year 1914. Since then, politicians and U.S. citizens alike have been in constant battle regarding marijuana rights. The swinging ’60s were just that. A relaxed attitude on marijuana continued long into the 1970s. It wasn’t until the infamous war on drugs initiated by President Ronald Reagan at the start of the 1980s that attitudes toward marijuana soured and the incarceration rate rose exponentially.

For a number of years following California’s legalization of medical marijuana, Alaska was the only red state to legalize the drug for medical use. In the early 2000s, an increasing number of both Democrat and Republican states started to pay attention to the reported medicinal benefits of marijuana and voted to legalize the drug accordingly.

Upon the passing of Florida’s Amendment 2, many expressed surprise that it took such a long time to come to fruition — with Florida lawmakers trying and failing to do something similar two years previous. Back in 2014, an identically named Amendment 2 found itself on Florida ballots on voting day. If passed, it would have allowed the cultivation, purchase and possession of medical marijuana.

The History of Amendment 2

Medical marijuana has faced an uphill battle in Florida.

The 2014 amendment failed to pass, gathering just 57.6 percent of the vote (with a 60 percent supermajority required for constitutional amendments). This ballot entry had been a long time coming but faced tough opposition from both more conservative members of the public along with several organizations, such as Drug Free Florida, as well as multiple noteworthy politicians.

For the 2014 amendment to make its way onto the ballot, a minimum of 683,149 valid signatures was required by the February 1, 2014, deadline. In August 2013, signatures had already reached 110,000, triggering a ruling by the Supreme Court of Florida. It was later approved for ballot Jan. 27, 2014. The inevitable rocky road for medical marijuana proved too much for the ballot, yet an earlier poll conducted by Quinnipiac University found that 88 percent of Florida’s voters supported legalization.

With significant contention from politicians, such as Florida Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Jeb Bush — who prior to the 2014 vote stated in regards to Florida’s family-friendly reputation, “allowing large-scale marijuana operations to take root across Florida, under the guise of using it for medicinal purposes, runs counter to all of these efforts” — and the ultimate failing of the bill, medical marijuana faced another uphill battle.

Amendment 2, Round 2

An indisputable shift in outlooks toward medical marijuana was a key component to the 2016 passing of Amendment 2 in Florida.

Following the 2014 disappointment, a further initiative by the same name was established and, once again, was sponsored by the United for Care organization for the 2016 ballot. In the weeks leading up the general election, election officials of Florida’s Broward County omitted Amendment 2 from some of the mail-in ballots, which led to a lawsuit from the pro-marijuana legalization firm NORML but was eventually dismissed.

Nevertheless, the amendment passed Nov. 8, 2016, with 71.3 percent of the vote, thwarting efforts to kill the amendment by a number of organizations and individuals. An indisputable shift in outlooks toward medical marijuana was a key component to the result, but success was also found due to four significant differences from the 2014 amendment:

• Parental consent is required for doctors to treat minors.
• There is an improved definition of the chronic illnesses that allow patients to receive treatment.
• The bill does not repeal any preexisting laws involving negligence or malpractice.
• Clauses were inserted to more effectively close the “drug-dealer” loophole.

With researchers estimating that Florida’s medical marijuana industry will be worth upwards of $1.5 billion by 2020, medical marijuana is quite literally having its moment in the sun.

“With this historic vote, we can expect similar programs acknowledging the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis begin to take hold in the southeastern region of the United States,” stated NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano.

Although many are reveling in the 2016 result, there are several hurdles yet to conquer. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been one of the principle opponents of marijuana throughout his career, and many are concerned about how his attitudes may affect state laws.

Florida, specifically, now faces severe cost concerns, too. In February 2017, medical marijuana in its purified form cost a staggering $240 per gram, forcing users to continue to buy off the black market for as little as $15 per gram.

It’s been a long and arduous journey for medical marijuana in Florida. Although further obstacles are certain to occur, the passing of Amendment 2 indicates a brighter future for those seeking medical marijuana as an alternative form of medicine.

We’re going to assume you know almost nothing about medical marijuana and focus on the real basics of the drug, what it does and how a California medical marijuana card might benefit you. Medical marijuana isn’t for everyone, so before using it, you should know what you’re using and how to use it.

What Is Marijuana?

Medical marijuana is nothing more than a plant

This may seem simple, and on a basic level, everyone knows what marijuana is. However, on a factual level, far fewer people know exactly what it is. This commonly leads to the drug being demonized even though countless studies have shown that there are health benefits of using the MMJ in moderation. Marijuana is, by far, the most used recreational drug in the United States.

First things first, medical marijuana is nothing more than a plant. The drug is made of the shredded leaves and sometimes flowers of the cannabis sativa plant. Whatever strain or whatever form of cannabis someone uses, they are all psychoactive, which means they are mind-altering. The plant is made up of hundreds of chemicals, but the most powerful one is called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). When consuming marijuana, THC has the biggest impact on your brain.

How Do You Use Medical Marijuana?

For the majority of users, marijuana is consumed through rolling loose leaves into a medical marijuana cigarette called a joint. Joints are sometimes mixed with tobacco to cut the intensity of the weed. Others prefer to use a bong, which is a large water pipe that heats the drug into smoke, which is then inhaled. Vaporizers are another common form of medical marijuana consumption that works as mini bongs. With the legalization of medical marijuana and your CA weed card, there have been numerous forms of consumption methods introduced, including edibles, oils, drinks and more.  

What Is the Common Medical Marijuana Lingo?

There are numerous terms that you might hear people use to describe medical marijuana, and the list is ever growing. Here’s a short list of the most common terms and exactly what they mean.

• Joint: A rolled cigarette-like way to consume medical marijuana
• Bong: A water pipe that allows you to inhale weed
• Blunt: A hollowed-out cigar where the tobacco is removed and replaced with marijuana
• Hash: Medical marijuana mixed with tobacco

The most common nicknames for marijuana include weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, Mary Jane, ganja, herb, chronic, boom and skunk.

What Is Being High Really Like?

At its height, medical marijuana will give you a feeling of introspective dreaminess.*

If you’ve never experienced a medical marijuana high, you might associate it with films and TV shows that depict the effects of marijuana. When you consume medical marijuana in moderation, the most common effects are a heightened sense of well-being and euphoria. You’ll find yourself talking a lot more and, inevitably, laughing a lot more as well. At its height, the high will give you a feeling of introspective dreaminess, which will eventually tail off into sleepiness and then, most likely, sleep. You’ll also experience feelings of exaggerated emotional and physical sensitivity and strong feelings of camaraderie if you are in a group setting.

The drug will also have a direct impact on your speech patterns, which will be slower. Your ability to carry out a conversation will be impaired as a result of this. Weed also affects your short-term memory. The typical high from marijuana lasts for around two hours but can last for as long as 12 hours if you overindulge.

*You will probably not hallucinate animals driving cars!

Is Using Medical Marijuana Safe?

This question is a lot more complicated than you might think. To put it in the most understandable terms possible, it is scientifically proven that marijuana is safer for you than either nicotine or alcohol. In the case of alcohol, marijuana is actually more than 100 times safer for you, but this, of course, does not mean that it is 100 percent safe. Marijuana is slowly becoming legalized across the United States because of the health benefits it offers those who use it. The most common medical use for marijuana is for people suffering from some form of slight mental illness including anxiety, depression or stress, but there are physical benefits to the drug as well. Marijuana can be used to help treat and even prevent cancer and glaucoma, and it is an excellent form of medication for those suffering from intense or debilitating pain. As the drug becomes more popular and is slowly legalized across the U.S., new health benefits are being discovered almost every day.

Of course, like all good things, there are drawbacks to marijuana as well. Although there is no research that indicates occasional marijuana use leads to any health issues, there are issues with long-term and heavy marijuana consumption. Issues include memory capacity and, in the most severe of cases, schizophrenia.

With moderation, marijuana is safe, but if you’re deciding to take that step to get your California weed card, make sure to talk to your health professional about how much you should use, when you should use it and how often. With that advice, you’ll be good to go.

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!

Attitudes toward marijuana within the United States have been dramatically changing throughout recent years. As each voting cycle passes, an increasing number of states have legalized marijuana: 28 states and Washington, D.C., permit the use of medical marijuana, and eight of those states also allowing recreational consumption.

In 2016, a Gallup survey found that 60 percent of American citizens support complete decriminalization of marijuana for any purpose and a larger percentage support marijuana exclusively for medicinal use.

Although the public at large now has favorable views on the drug, what about those within the fields of traditional medicine?

WebMD, a popular site used by health professionals, conducted a survey in 2014 asking 1,544 doctors across 48 states and 12 specialties if they support the legalization of medical marijuana. The survey found overwhelming support for legalization. Most doctors said the drug should be legal in their states or, at the very least, an option for suffering patients.

With this support for medical marijuana, why is there still a significant lack of scientific research being conducted? Unfortunately, marijuana is still outlawed by the federal government, designated a Schedule I substance with “no accepted medicinal use and a high potential for abuse.” Due to the strict federal oversight of medical research, making progress is easier said than done.

Many credentialed doctors have come forward to express their issues with the government standing in the way of important medical research in relation to marijuana.

“Millions of patients are using this plant, and we need to understand it,” says Sue Sisley, a doctor and researcher at the University of Arizona. “It is negligent for states to go selling cards to marijuana patients without actively conducting rigorous medical marijuana research that’s necessary.”

A Gallup survey found a majority of Americans support medical marijuana.

So why are experts in the field of traditional medicine finally coming around to medical marijuana?

Although research into the drug is far less extensive than it should be, a number of studies have shown findings that suggest marijuana holds the potential to treat a plethora of medical problems — and often more effectively than traditional medicine. The list of ailments that can be treated with the use of marijuana is wide-ranging. Below we examine some of the most promising of treatments.

Nausea and a Loss of Appetite

According to the Institute of Medicine, medical marijuana can greatly assist with nausea and a loss of appetite. Evidence supporting this is obtained through studying those going through treatment for cancer, such as chemotherapy. Common side effects of cancer treatment are rapid weight loss, along with a loss of appetite. A study out of St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, found that through the use of medical marijuana, patients’ nausea and appetites improved by an average of 38%.

Parkinson’s Disease and General Pain Relief

Parkinson’s disease and general pain relief are often cited as the most common reason why patients choose to consume medical marijuana. A study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that the psychoactive properties of marijuana could be particularly helpful in treating Parkinson’s. A different study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that the pain experienced by patients with HIV dropped by 30 percent more than 50 percent of the time through the use of marijuana.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Medical marijuana is also used to support United States veterans. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects about 8 million adults each year. Findings out of the NYU Langone Medical Center concluded that the chemical properties of marijuana are particularly poised for addressing PTSD. “We know very well that people with PTSD who use marijuana often experience more relief than they do from antidepressants,” says the study’s lead researcher, Alexander Neumeister.

Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression affect an estimated 12 percent of Americans. These conditions do not always stem from a traumatic incident but can occur based on the time of year. A research team from Brazil conducted a study surrounding seasonal affective disorder and found that marijuana treatment, when used in moderation, demonstrates a significant decrease in both anxiety and depression. These findings were supported by a separate study out of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennesee.

The list of ailments that can be treated with the use of medical marijuana is wide-ranging.

Epilepsy and Seizures

Although scientific evidence remains limited to animal trials, various stories have circulated regarding those who suffer from epilepsy and seizures. Many of those affected claim that medical marijuana has helped their epilepsy. One woman went as far as to say, “Without medical marijuana, I wouldn’t be alive today.” Multiple families have even moved to Colorado to receive a special strain of marijuana to treat their children’s seizures.

Despite the evidence, marijuana remains a contentious issue in Washington, D.C. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is a vocal about keeping marijuana illegal at a federal level. “Good people don’t smoke marijuana,” he says. Sessions also recently stated that marijuana is “only slightly less awful” than heroin. Needless to say, with extreme opinions such as these at the peak of government, laws are unlikely to be changed for the better any time soon.

Traditional medicine has come around to medical marijuana, even if some politicians don’t agree. The Epilepsy Foundation calling on the Drug Enforcement Administration to relax its restrictions on marijuana so it can be properly studied is just one example of the countless groups of people offering their support. Let’s hope that in the years to come, organizations, members of the public, and politicians alike can find a common ground.

Although insomnia is not one of the qualifying conditions for obtaining medical cannabis in California, it is often a symptom of many of the qualifying conditions that allow you to apply for an online cannabis card. Most people have difficulty sleeping or have periods of wakefulness at some point or other in their life, but true, long-lasting and severe insomnia is something that is very difficult to live with. You’re in pain, and if you could only get to sleep, the pain would go. But you can’t get to sleep because of the pain! First, we’ll take a look at how MMJ can help some people sleep.

Why MMJ Helps People Sleep

Taking MMJ at night could relieve some of your symptoms and help you fall asleep.

It’s well-known and well-documented that medical marijuana helps reduce stress and aids relaxation. Given this, cannabis can help you fall asleep more quickly. If you are in possession of or qualify for a medical marijuana card in California, then it’s likely that you suffer from a debilitating disease such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, post-traumatic stress disorder or arthritis. All of these conditions — and much more — make it difficult to fall asleep due to pain and other troubling symptoms. So taking some medical marijuana at night could certainly relieve some of these symptoms and help you fall asleep — and hopefully stay asleep — more quickly.

It’s worth pointing out that inhaling medical marijuana will work more quickly than consuming it in an edible, but the effects of the latter last for several hours and will help you stay asleep longer. If edibles are your preferred method of imbibing cannabis, then make sure you take it a couple of hours before bedtime.

It’s well-known that there are many strains of cannabis, so it’s worth getting some expert advice as to which would suit your condition best. You can do this with one of the doctors when you apply for your medical marijuana card online. If you want help going to sleep and staying asleep, then it’s important that you use not only the right strain but also the right amount. You want to calm that brain down a bit, not liven it up just as you’re trying to sleep!

Why MMJ Is Better than Prescription Drugs

Why use medical marijuana to aid sleep rather than prescription medicines? Let’s take a look at this. Of course, there are many prescription drugs available that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. You may have tried different ones. There’s no doubt that they can be effective for most people — but what about the side effects?

These can be many and varied. There’s no available drug that does not have any side effects. Some known side effects from prescription drugs include depression, amnesia, suicidal thoughts, headache, memory loss, trouble focusing and loss of appetite. They don’t sound good, huh?

Now, it may be a question of trial and error because everyone is different, so what might be hell for someone could be OK for you. But that could mean a lot of trials and a lot of errors!

Medical marijuana doesn’t have any nasty side effects — apart from a slight hangover the next day if you imbibe too much. (We’ve all been there!) Of course, due to the fact that there is very little research available on medical marijuana and its effectiveness, we don’t know for sure how it affects the brain or our ability to sleep. But it’s worth remembering that it is a natural, herbal medicine that’s been around forever. You have to weigh this against the fact that the side effects of prescription drugs are well-researched and documented.

Why Sometimes MMJ Doesn’t Help People Sleep

For some people, marijuana makes them hyper.

There could be several reasons for this. First, it could simply be that you’re using the wrong strain, so check with your medical adviser. Second, you could be using too much. It’s important to get the right balance so that you fall asleep easily, stay asleep and then don’t wake up feeling too groggy.

For some people, marijuana makes them hyper. So obviously, if you’re one of these people, it ain’t going to help you sleep at night! If you are in possession of a cannabis card, then you must be suffering from one of the qualifying conditions. It may be that the MMJ is not relieving your symptoms enough to reduce the pain at night and help you sleep, so again, it would be worth discussing this with your medical provider.

There are more 80 naturally occurring cannabinoids in marijuana, and each one of these will affect each person differently. So it’s clearly a very complex area in which there are no definitive answers. It’s a question of taking appropriate advice and finding what best suits you.

Dr. John Cline sums it up well: “Cannabis is an exceedingly complex drug preparation, and its effects depend on the variety of the plant, the composition of the chemicals in any given sample, the route of the administration, the setting in which is it used and the psychological state of the user.”

So whether you already have your California medical card or you’re considering applying for a medical marijuana card online, be sure to seek some good advice on your own particular condition in order to obtain the best strain and take the optimum amount that will suit you.

With three out of four Americans believing that the legalization of medical cannabis is inevitable, it’s no wonder that an increasing number of politicians share an identical line of thought. As more than half the states across the U.S. now offer medical marijuana as a form of treatment and eight states also permitting recreational use, it’s clear that attitudes towards the drug among those in power is shifting.

Great strides have certainly been accomplished in regards to the legalization of medical cannabis, but recent reports out of Washington, D.C., have indicated that the Trump administration may be planning to clamp down on the drug. Although any imminent action from the Department of Justice has been denied, this news has understandably troubled many citizens and politicians alike.

However, with the majority of Americans — including politicians — supporting the legalization of cannabis and the sheer number of states that currently permit cannabis use for medicinal reasons, it’s hard to imagine laws rolling back to outlaw said use. In fact, a bipartisan group of congressional leaders has recently announced the formation of a Congressional Cannabis Caucus, vowing to sponsor and pass federal laws that protect states’ right on issues related to medical cannabis.

Politicians often shy away from their stance on recreational cannabis, yet a substantial number have often voiced their support of its use for medicinal reasons, and there are some conservative surprises residing within the more typical left-leaning folk. Although the political spectrum is divided in a number of ways, the decriminalization of medical marijuana is an issue that frequently invites a common ground.

Let’s we take a look at some of the more vocal politicians who continually support medical cannabis use along with a few of those who may just surprise you.

Sen. Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders is in favor of medical cannabis.

No shock here: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, is a huge supporter of medical cannabis. Sanders has, on more than one occasion, gone on record as saying that he believes tobacco is more harmful to human health than cannabis. He also co-sponsored the State’s Rights to Medical Marijuana Act in 2001, which would have made the use of the drug for medicinal purposes acceptable at a federal level. Sanders also supports recreational cannabis.

Sen. John McCain

Arizona Sen. John McCain is notoriously uncompromising when it comes to policy. Arizona decriminalized medicinal marijuana back in 2010, but since then, McCain surprised everyone by advocating the use of recreational cannabis, cited as saying: “Maybe we should legalize. We’re certainly moving that way as far as marijuana is concerned. I respect the will of the people.” His daughter has also come out in support for full legalization, admitting she had smoked a joint (or two).

Rep. Allen Peake

Georgia Rep. Allen Peake also supports medical cannabis.

Rep. Allen Peake is far and away one of the most surprising political figures to support medical cannabis. Not only does he hail from the deeply conservative state of Georgia, but also he’s a Republican and a family man. Although the use of cannabis for either medical or recreational reasons remains outlawed in Georgia, Peake was instrumental in the passing of House Bill 1, which legalized the possession of cannabis oil for people in the state who suffer from a number of sicknesses.

Sen. Maggie Hassan

Although many supporters of medical cannabis also support the legalization of recreational use, Sen. Maggie Hassan is not one of them. Nevertheless, in 2013, the New Hampshire senator signed a bill into law authorizing the implementation of medical cannabis. Upon New Hampshire’s decision to legalize, Hassan stated, “Allowing doctors to provide relief to patients through the use of […] medical marijuana is the compassionate and right policy for the state of New Hampshire.”

Sen. Cory Booker

Sen. Cory Booker’s support of medical cannabis may not be overly surprising unless you take into account the negative attitudes toward the drug in much of New Jersey government. Even though medical cannabis has been legal in the state since 2010, Gov. Chris Christie has made it exceedingly challenging to acquire medical cannabis. Alternatively, Booker believes it to be important; he co-sponsored a federal amendment offering legal protection to patients who receive cannabis treatment.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s state of Massachusetts decriminalized recreational use of the drug in 2016.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is a firm supporter of medical cannabis. She has previously related the benefits of marijuana consumption to her own life experience: “I held my father’s hand while he died of cancer, and it’s really painful when you do something like that up close […] if there’s something a physician can prescribe that can help someone who’s suffering, I’m in favor of that.” Warren’s state also decriminalized recreational use of the drug in 2016.

As reports suggest, cannabis is a particularly contentious issue in Washington at the moment. Fortunately, there is no shortage of politicians who understand the benefits that come with medicinal use. Let’s hope those likeminded officials continue to represent the majority of the American people on the matter.

Marijuana laws in the United States have made great strides in recent years. Since California first made medical marijuana legal back in 1996, 28 other states and Washington, D.C., have followed suit. Although more states have also legalized medicinal marijuana use in certain respects, limitations are still in place that often restrict psychoactive strains and require a physician to prescribe the drug versus simply recommend it.

Nevertheless, the outlook on marijuana throughout the U.S. is clearly shifting in its favor. Not only is medical marijuana perfectly legal in more than half of the states, but also recreational use is permitted in eight of those states with California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada all electing to legalize recreational marijuana in November 2016. So how long until the rest of the country follows in their footsteps?

This is a question that isn’t easy to answer. Several key factors play a huge role in predicting which states will be next in casting a positive judgment on the use of medical marijuana. Given the results of the 2016 general election, along with the subsequent picks for certain positions within government, a wrench (or two) have certainly been thrown into the mix.

For example, although the general public has voted to legalize the use of marijuana on a state-by-state basis, cannabis use is still illegal under federal law. Despite there being a total of 44 states in which some form of cannabis law exists, the federal government regulates drugs through the Controlled Substances Act, which does not recognize a difference between medical and recreational use.

Medical marijuana laws have come a long way in recent years.

Under federal law, cannabis is treated no differently than other substances such as heroin and cocaine. Furthermore, Jeff Sessions, Alabama senator turned attorney general, is known to have a bitter disdain for any kind of marijuana use. Sessions once “joked” to an African-American colleague that he had no issue with the KKK, “until [he] found out they smoked pot,” and was quoted as saying, “Good people don’t smoke marijuana.”

So, perhaps it wouldn’t be wise to hold your breath for a change in federal law. However, as the federal government does not have the ability to direct state and local police, and with only 80,000 out of 1.2 million law enforcement agents operating at a federal level, tackling pre-existing marijuana laws would be rather difficult. Although states looking to legalize medical marijuana may face an uphill battle, it’s unlikely that they’ll stop trying.

So, which states are the most likely to legalize the use of medical marijuana next? Several states passed legislation in 2016 in the herb’s favor, and there were 13 more states that put forward legislation, including those outlined below. Although roadblocks may have been met, it’s clear that there are some states that will be pushing for medical marijuana in the coming years.

In fact, lawmakers in numerous states have already introduced medical marijuana bills in the 2017 session. Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas all have a reasonably good chance to legalize medicinal marijuana within 2017 or soon thereafter.

Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas all have a reasonably good chance to legalize medicinal marijuana within 2017 or soon thereafter.

Kentucky has already implemented a highly limited law regarding cannabidiol (CBD) strains of medical marijuana, allowing patients with intractable epilepsy and a written recommendation from their physician to obtain CBD oil. Gov. Matt Bevin has also acknowledged medical evidence associated with marijuana. Furthermore, a 2013 Kentucky health poll found that 78 percent of state residents support legalizing the drug for medicinal purposes.

Missouri put forward the New Approach Missouri Bill in the 2016 election. Although regrettably falling short by 23 signatures to make the ballot, this bill would have given voters the opportunity to decide upon the use of medical marijuana. On Jan 5, 2017, Republican Rep. Jim Neely introduced House Bill 437, which would allow terminally ill patients access to marijuana. Additional support is highlighted through a 2016 public poll, which found that 62 percent of Missouri voters support medical marijuana.

It may surprise you to find Texas making this discussion, too. The historically conservative state still currently holds some of the strictest marijuana laws in the country. But in 2015, lawmakers legalized low-THC cannabis oil for patients suffering from intractable epilepsy. State Sen. José Rodriguez has since proposed a constitutional amendment authorizing the possession and sale of marijuana for medicinal use. Polling also found 71 percent of Texans support expanding medical marijuana treatment.

Although not as likely as other states, the possibility for North Carolina’s medical marijuana laws to be reassessed is certainly viable. Several bills introduced by legislators have suggested new policies will come eventually, and a CBD-only bill was approved in 2014 for those suffering from intractable epilepsy. With a 74 percent approval rate, polling found an overwhelming majority of residents are in favor of legalizing medical marijuana.

As is apparent from numerous state laws regarding the use of medical marijuana, progress is happening. Although it is unlikely to be legalized at a federal level anytime soon, more states are becoming increasingly liberal in their outlook toward the drug. Further state legalizations or not, cannabis is assured to continue its immense growth across the U.S. going forward into 2017 and beyond.

Pain relief is the No. 1 reason why Californians obtain a medical marijuana card. With many people growing weary of prescription medications due to their numerous harmful side effects, MMJ is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways for cannabis card holders to alleviate pain without the use of narcotics. From cluster headaches to chronic back pain, certain medical marijuana strains have been proven time and time again to be an effective and safe treatment for pain.

Although pain works the same way throughout the body, different areas react to pain differently. As pain encompasses a broad and diverse spectrum of areas, types and reactions, you should be treating it as such. Don’t assume all medical marijuana strains are equipped to treat all pain equally.

Choosing the right strain of medical marijuana to treat a specific pain is an important decision to make for any MMJ card holder. Sure, some strains can be amazing at eliminating your post-surgery pain, but if they knock you out in the process, you need to opt for something else. Likewise, a certain strain could effectively target your lower back pain, but if it keeps you up at night, chances are it’s not worth it.

Humming and hawing over which is the right strain sound like a laborious process, but trust us, when you’re walking on air thanks to the perfect pain-combating medical marijuana strains, you’ll know it’s worth it. To help guide you in the right direction, here are some of the best pain-busting MMJ strains available to California medical marijuana holders right now.

Forget prescription pain relievers. These MMJ strains relieve pain without nasty side effects.

Mild Pain: White Widow

Probably one of the most famous medical marijuana strains worldwide, White Widow is a mixed sativa-indica strain first cultivated in the MMJ haven of the Netherlands. A soothing mix of Brazilian sativa and Indian indica, White Widow is a majorly potent strain that will effectively soothe your mild aches and pains while also providing you with a euphoric buzz. Not only does White Widow act as an ultra-effective pain reliever, but also it is a favorite of creatives the world over due to its unrivaled ability to stimulate their creative side.

Severe Pain: Blackberry Kush and Northern Lights

Although high-CBD medical marijuana strains are often thought of as the go-to painkiller for severe pain, due to their relative newness, they’re not very easy to acquire, especially outside of 420 card states. Instead, medical marijuana card holders who need a more potent painkiller should opt for Blackberry Kush. An indica strain that is super high in THC, Blackberry Kush is nearly guaranteed to obliterate any pain you have. The sensation received from this strain is a wholly numbing effect, alleviating pain and giving you a relaxing feeling that is guaranteed to take your mind off your ailment. However, it’s worth noting that due to the potency of Blackberry Kush, it’s recommended that you do not consume it before work, school or any other important commitment.

Another great alleviator of severe pain comes in the form of Northern Lights. This high-indica strain will numb your aches and pains, making your mind and body ultra-relaxed. However, like Blackberry Kush, it’s recommended to only be used when you have a day of relaxation ahead of you. This is not a work-friendly strain!

Inflammation: Harlequin

Harlequin is a sativa-heavy strain with a high CBD content. However, unlike a lot of CBD-heavy medical marijuana strains, it still produces a CBD to THC ratio of around 5:2, making it an excellent pain reliever, especially pain related to inflammation. Popular among arthritis sufferers, Harlequin gives you a euphoric high with the much-welcomed addition of making you super focused. The clearness of this strain means that it’s perfect to consume before work, school or any other activity that requires your full focus.

Migraines: Blueberry Headband

Blueberry Headband is one of the best medical marijuana strains to alleviate the drilling pain between your eyes.

The unmistakable aroma of Blueberry Headband is just one of the many things that stand out about this MMJ strain. Part of the Headband hybrid family, Blueberry Headband offers a cerebral effect that goes straight to the crown of your head. The targeting effect gives completely focused relief with a happy, relaxed buzz, which will soon make you forget about that drilling pain between your eyes.

Back Pain: Mazar-I-Sharif

For chronic, debilitating back pain, it’s best to go for a potent indica-heavy strain such as Mazar-I-Sharif. This Afghani plant is best known by its reputation as the ultimate relaxer. One puff of this stuff, and you’ll feel a wave of calm wash over you like you’ve never experienced before. Thanks to its high cannabinoid content, it’s no surprise that those suffering from persistent, stubborn back pain are such big fans of it. However, overindulgence in this strain can lead to potent immobilizing, narcotic effects that can be too much to handle for most people, so dosage supervision is vital.

With your medical marijuana card, a diverse world of pain relief is opened up to you. As more and more people flock to benefit from MMJ’s unrivaled pain-busting power, more pain targeting medical marijuana strains will become available, giving you even more options to choose from. As ever, it’s best to consult with your doctor before starting any form of MMJ treatment, but with the above list and your 420 card, you’ll be more than equipped to know the best place to start.

Smoking your medical cannabis is enjoyable and easy, and it certainly hits the spot. But sometimes it’s nice to put your California medical marijuana card to a more creative use and utilize your MMJ to make some sweet, psychoactive edible treats. In this article we will share 4 of our favorite recipes for medical marijuana edibles.

The base of all of these recipes, the ingredient that gives these treats their special allure, is cannabutter. So we will start off by describing how to make this vital ingredient.

Your cannabutter will only be as good as the medical marijuana that you make it with, so be sure to use your cannabis card to get a nice strain of herb. The stronger the weed, the stronger the butter.

Make sure that the weed you are using has been decarbed. If you use your California medical marijuana card to buy fresh leaf, you’ll need to decarb it yourself by putting the leaves on a baking tray and baking at 240 degrees, turning occasionally to ensure even heating, for about 40 minutes until the cannabis is dry and crumbly. Grind up the weed. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Use 4 sticks of butter for every ounce of medical cannabis. Once the butter has melted completely, add the dried and ground marijuana gently and gradually, stirring as you go.  Once the weed is in turn the heat right the way down so the mixture is barely simmering. Allow it to stew away for anything from 1 to 3 hours, stirring regularly. When the mixture turns glossy and thick it is ready. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a heatproof bowl or plastic food container. Allow the cannabutter to cool at room temperature for an hour, and then place it in the fridge. Your delicious cannabis infused butter is ready to use in your medical marijuana edibles!

Medical marijuana edibles are undoubtedly the tastiest way to consume MMJ.

Cheeky Grandma’s Peanut Butter and Brown Sugar Cookies

These days a great many grandmas are the proud owners of a California medical card, and so they like to bake their traditional grandma-style cookies with a bit of a ‘twist’. If you meet the right grandma and get invited in for tea you might get to try some of ‘Cheeky Grandma’s Peanut Butter and Brown Sugar Cookies’, or now that you have the recipe you could just bake these medical marijuana edibles yourself. They taste better when eaten with a grandma though.

This recipe makes 15 cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1 jar peanut butter
• 4 tablespoons cannabutter
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup flour
• 1 egg
• pinch of salt

Directions:

• 1. Heat the oven to 340 degrees.
• 2. Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl, and stir until smooth.
• 3. Divide the mixture into 15 equal portions, and flatten them out on a non-stick baking tray.
• 4. Bake the cookies until the edges have a touch of color. It should take 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. Find a grandma to munch the cookies with.

Delicious, nutritious and full of medicine!

Gluten-free Choc-Chip Mini Muffins

If you are anything like me and you become snotty, depressed, pimply and inflamed when you ingest wheat, these gluten-free muffins are the medical marijuana edibles for you!

This recipe makes 20 mini muffins.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup gluten-free flour
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cannabutter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
• Mix beaten egg, vanilla and sugar separately, and then gradually add the dry mix to this.
• Pour the mixture into mini muffin cups and bake until golden brown. This should take 20-25 minutes.

Frozen Berry Trifle

My mother always makes trifle at Christmas. I can usually take it or leave it. But if she acquired a 420 card and made this trifle I’d certainly be asking for seconds!

This recipe makes 4 servings of the medical marijuana edibles.

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces vanilla yogurt
• 1-2 tablespoons cannabutter, melted and cooled
• 1 ½ cups blueberries
• 1-2 tablespoons honey
• 1 ½ cups trifle base cake, torn in small pieces
• 1 ½ cups strawberries, cut up small

Directions:

• Mix the yogurt, cannabutter, blueberries and honey in a blender. Put 1/3 of the blueberry and yogurt mixture in a bowl and leave it in the fridge.
• Divide the trifle base cake among the four bowls. Pour the un-refrigerated 2/3 of the blueberry and yogurt mixture over the cake, and then freeze.
• Remove the mixture from the freezer and decorate it with the chopped strawberries. Pour the remaining blueberry and yogurt mixture on top, and freeze again.
• Before serving, allow to sit for 5-10 mins at room temperature, and top with whipped cream.

White Chocolate-chip and Peppermint Brownies

Brownies are the classic cannabis-infused treat. These particular brownies are a little different, they use white chocolate-chips and peppermint!

This recipe makes 24 servings.

Ingredients:

• Two 20-ounce boxes of brownie mix
• 1½ cups white chocolate chips
• 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, room temperature
• ¼ cup cannabutter
• ¼ cup butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup chopped peppermint candy

Directions:

• Heat the oven to 340.
• In a large bowl, combine the two brownie mixes (follow the instructions on the packet), and stir in the white chocolate chips.
• Bake the brownies according to the instructions. Allow to cool at room temperature and cut into ‘brownies’.
• Use a mixer to blend the cream cheese, cannabutter, butter, vanilla and sugar. Mix until fluffy.
• Spread each brownie with the cream, and top off with crushed peppermint candy.

At the age of 20, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the youngest man to ever win Mr. Universe and went on to win the title a further three times, and win the Mr. Olympia title seven times. He then set his eyes on Hollywood and despite his mountainous size and thick Austrian accent, he was able to quickly rise up the ranks, becoming the most successful and popular actor of the 1990s. From there he changed lanes and became the Governor of California in 2003. Due to his popularity while in office, he managed to win re-election by a landslide and did much for the state of California that he will be remembered for, his hand in decriminalizing medical marijuana being one such thing. In this article, we will be discussing how and why Arnold Schwarzenegger, as the Governor of California, decriminalised the use of marijuana.

California has always been a forward-thinking state, being the first to establish a medical marijuana program – Proposition 215 in 1996 and Senate Bill 420 in 2003. This allows people the right to obtain and use marijuana for any illness provided they can get a recommendation from a doctor. The Californian Supreme Court deemed there ought to be no cap on the quantity of the plant a patient may possess in their private residence as long as it is strictly for personal use. In order to make the purchase medical marijuana a smooth process, a patient must have a medical marijuana identification card. These are issued by the California Department of Public Health’s Medical Marijuana Program (MMP). Many cannabis dispensaries accept doctor recommendations, but if you get your 420 card online, it will be quicker, easier and cheaper.

Arnold Schwarzenegger helped legalize the use of medical marijuana throughout all of California.

It is important to make a distinction between decriminalization and medicalization of marijuana. Decriminalization of marijuana – the treatment of possession of small amounts of the drug as a civil, rather than a criminal, offense – began in July 1975 with the Moscone Act. This made possession of one ounce of marijuana a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine, and more severe punishments for amounts exceeding that.

So in this case, decriminalization began much sooner than medicalization, however, the medicalization of the drug also progressed at a much more rapid pace. Arnold Schwarzenegger certainly played a role in speeding up the process of marijuana from a criminalized to a decriminalized drug. Firstly he never shied away from telling people that he smoked cannabis throughout the 1970s. As an ambassador for strength, health, hard work, and success who smoked often, he was shining proof that marijuana was not worthy of its negative reputation and repercussions. This did much for the drug’s public standing and would inevitably contribute to the decriminalization of marijuana.

Though it was not only in an oblique, celebrity-focused fashion that Arnold managed to affect the trajectory of marijuana in California. On September 30, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law CA State Senate Bill 1449. This resulted in further reductions to the charge of possession of one ounce of cannabis or less, from a misdemeanor to an infraction – with no mandatory court appearance and, more importantly, no criminal record. The law became effective January 1, 2011.

This useful herb is legal to smoke for medicinal purposes all over California, thanks to Arnie.

And this was the nail in the coffin for those trying to hold onto the past – a place where control and punishment were rife and help and rehabilitation were sorely lacking. It was this point, California approached the legalization of marijuana at a noticeably quicker speed. By 2016 California voted for Proposition 64 legalizing the sale and distribution of cannabis for recreational use in both a dry and concentrated form. But licenses won’t be issued for cultivation and business establishment until 2018. Until that point, your best bet in purchasing marijuana is from a medical marijuana dispensary, so make sure you get your medical marijuana card online.

Now you know how and why Arnold Schwarzenegger decriminalized medical marijuana you may have a new-found respect for him. The history of medical marijuana in California is rich, diverse and definitely worth looking into further. And the knowledge of how far the state has come will certainly provide a greater sense of appreciation when you smoke, drink, or eat your legally owned medical marijuana. The next logical step is to legalize it in all states. This would have advantages far beyond the medicinal, such as dramatically increased tax revenues for the state (illegal drugs cannot be taxed), and the reduction of drug-related crime. Make sure you have your medical marijuana card so you can start to benefit from the drug’s long list of health benefits.

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.

Pain plays a vitally important role in the human body. Whether we like it or not, pain acts as the important alarm system that tells us when something is wrong – we simply cannot live without it. For those of us who suffer from chronic, daily pain the search for effective and long lasting relief seems endless and oftentimes when something potent enough is prescribed it comes at the cost of debilitating side effects. Thankfully, as California medical marijuana laws become more lax, cannabis card holders can now enjoy the unrivalled pain relieving effects of MMJ without fear of being persecuted for doing so.

Nowadays, those with a medical marijuana card have been using the plant to treat a whole spectrum of painful disorders such as arthritis or peripheral neuropathy, it’s even been used to treat the pain caused by childbirth! When it comes to the pain-relieving power of medical marijuana, we really can’t underestimate things. A clinical trial conducted by Mark Ware MD at McGill University in Montreal found that as little as three puffs of MMJ a day significantly reduced the chronic nerve pain of medical marijuana card holders enabling them to live more independently and sleep much better.

Here’s the chemical formula behind cyclization of cannabinoids – interesting, no?

So how exactly does MMJ ease pain? Put simply, it does so by working in conjunction with the endocannabinoid system within the human body. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating some of our most important biological functions like sleep, immunity and pain. It does so by releasing endocannabinoids to control these functions when they start to get out of whack. When endocannabinoids are not able to deal with this problem on their own, this is where we get into serious trouble and where pain can start to spiral out of control.

When one consumes medical marijuana as a way of relieving this pain, the active cannabinoids within the plant mimic the work of the endocannabinoids giving them a much needed boost and enabling them to do their job better. Although there are hundreds of cannabinoids present in MMJ, the most well-known and hard-working ones have to be tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC acts as an extremely potent pain reliever and anti-inflammatory as well as an antioxidant and muscle relaxant. CBD, on the other hand, has potent anti-convulsant, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant and anti-psychotic properties. These two components have an amazing synergizing effect insofar as they work exponentially better together than they do alone. As THC is the ingredient in MMJ that produces psychoactive effects, it’s important that CBD is present for those medical marijuana card holders who want to enjoy the benefits of their MMJ without the drowsiness that can come with it.

As well as cannabinoids, medical marijuana also contains terpenoids and flavonoids which work in conjunction with the other active components of the plant to provide the body with further relief from pain and inflammation. This combination not only provides pain relief but also has been noted to ease nausea, stimulate bone growth, prevent seizures and even reverse the growth of some cancer cells.

Many doctors are treating medical marijuana card holders with the useful MMJ herb.

As for the best strains of cannabis to treat pain, we’ll have to get more specific. Different types of pain can be vastly different in the way they need to be treated – you wouldn’t treat chronic nerve pain with an Aspirin! The same logic applies when you’re treating any sort of pain with medical marijuana, you need to use the appropriate strain for your ailment or else you could find it entirely ineffective.

For migraine relief go for a strain like Blueberry Headband. This strain is known for its ‘cerebral’ effects that target pain straight at the crown of your head, giving you near instant, targeted relief.

If you suffer from chronic spinal pain, opt for indica strain Mazar. Mazar is absolutely packed with cannabinoids that have an extremely potent painkilling effect, much more so than other strains.

Although most medical marijuana card holders typically wouldn’t use a sativa strain for pain relief, Harlequin is the exception to the rule. Perfect for treating inflammation and arthritis pain, Harlequin’s high CBD content makes it an effective pain reliever. The buzz given off isn’t as strong as other strains as well making it a perfect daytime consumable.

For generalized pain, opt for ultra-MMJ ACDC which has near unrivaled painkilling abilities. The secret to ACDC’s superpower comes from the fact that it contains very high levels of both THC and CBD making it the ultimate pain relieving medical marijuana out there.

Left unsatisfied by more traditional methods, people who suffer from chronic pain have benefited greatly from the medical professions increasingly lax views on cannabis as a form of analgesic. Cannabis usage as a way of relieving pain has been an absolute godsend for California medical marijuana card holders and thanks to the advent of more progressive MMJ laws across the country, more and more people now have access to the potentially life changing plant. As ever though, it is imperative that you talk to your physician and obtain a certified California medical marijuana license before embarking on your treatment.

Depression is an epidemic that affects roughly 350 million people worldwide. This painful condition is a leading cause of disability in the world today.  There are mixed reports on the effects of medical cannabis use on depression. Some experts believe that using their California medical marijuana card can help ease the symptoms of depression, while others believe depression symptoms can be worsened by cannabis use.

Can medical cannabis help those suffering from depression?

Lester Grinspoon, professor of psychiatry at the Harvard School of Medicine, says “I think cannabis has a lot of potential in the treatment of mental illness”, but he goes on to say that, like with any drug, “it will not work for everyone.”

Many depression sufferers refer to marijuana as ‘green Prozac’ because they feel that it hugely alleviates their depression, by lifting their spirits, controlling their painful ruminating, aiding with sleep, and giving them energy.

There are many forms of depression treatment currently available. It’s possible to successfully manage and eradicate even severe depression. All levels of depression can respond well to skilfully applied talk therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Medication is usually not recommended as a first course of treatment for mild or moderate cases of depression, but can be very helpful in managing severe depression. Unfortunately, there is anecdotal evidence that medical professionals can be all too willing to prescribe powerful, mind and life-altering drugs even before talk therapy has been given a fair shot.

There are many different types of antidepressant drugs on the market. Many of them have unpleasant side effects. Of the four most common forms of antidepressant drug, tricyclic antidepressants, MAOIs, SSRIs and SNRIs, all have potential side effects that can sometimes be even worse than the symptoms of the initial depression. What’s more, some studies have shown antidepressants to be no more effective than a placebo. An analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that antidepressants are only effective for people with severe depression, and that patients with mild or moderate depression see little or no benefit from their use. Antidepressants are big business. In 2008 pharmaceutical companies profited $9.6 billion from antidepressant sales alone. Could this mean that unscrupulous doctors are being persuaded to be too trigger happy in prescribing antidepressants?

There is a growing body of research on the benefits of medicinal marijuana as a treatment for depression.

Medical cannabis can be used in conjunction or instead of with some depression medication under a doctor’s guidance.

Scientists at the University at Buffalo have been exploring whether marijuana could be effective as a treatment for depression caused by chronic stress. They have been focusing on naturally produced chemical compounds found in the brain called endocannabinoids. These compounds play a role in cognition, emotions, and behavior, and they have a chemical makeup similar to that of cannabis. Chronic stress may suppress the brain’s production of endocannabinoids, which can lead to feelings of depression. It appears possible that introducing cannabis into the system may lead to the restoration of normal endocannabinoid function and therefore mood stabilization.

A 2007 study by researchers at McGill University in Montreal showed that low doses of THC can increase serotonin. However, high dosages of THC seemed to decrease serotonin, which worsened depression. “These findings confirm what has been reported by people who smoke cannabis,” said Dr. Gabriella Gobbi, who co-authored the study. “Often it produces euphoria, calmness, sociability, but in other circumstances it can produce bad dreams and negative feelings.” As with everything, sensible dosing is crucial.

There is still a lot of research to be done. According to Dr. Gobbi at McGill “Not only do we have to determine the dose-effect of cannabis on depressive people, but also which kind of cannabinoid may have a positive effect on mood.”

Thomas F. Denson, PhD, Professor of Psychology at the California State University at Long Beach, and Mitch Earleywine, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York at Albany, wrote in their 2006 study titled ‘Decreased Depression in Marijuana Users’, “Those who consume marijuana occasionally or even daily have lower levels of depressive symptoms than those who have never tried marijuana.”

Jay Cavanaugh, PhD, National Director for the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis, wrote in his 2003 article ‘Cannabis and Depression’ “Patients who use cannabis to ‘relax’ may be treating the anxiousness sometimes associated with depression. Cannabis aids the insomnia sometimes present in depression and can improve appetite. Better pain control with cannabis can reduce chronic pain related depression. While cannabis cannot yet be considered a primary treatment of major depression it may improve mood when used under physician’s supervision and in combination with therapy and/or SSRI’s.”

It is definitely best to be careful when using your medical card California whilst on conventional antidepressants, and to seek medical advice before going off conventional medicine. Many antidepressants have bad withdrawal symptoms, and if you suddenly stop taking them you can become very ill. Patients must taper the dose down gradually with a physician’s supervision.

It is often not a good idea to be too hasty in letting the pleasant effects of using your California medical card inspire you to give up on your conventional medication. Allan N. Schwartz, PhD, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychoanalyst, stated in his article ‘Marijuana Makes It Worse: Severe Mental Illnesses’, “I have directly witnessed the tragedy of patients going off of their medications for Bipolar Disorder, using marijuana and ending up re-hospitalized in worse shape than any time prior to the relapse…Leaving aside anxiety, those who experience severe depression and who use marijuana end up feeling much more depressed, at least that is what I have witnessed.”

Depression is a complex condition, and it is important to take it seriously and to be thorough in tackling it. It is crucial to get to the bottom of what is causing a patient’s depression. Treating the root causes of the depression is the single best way to cure it for good. Antidepressants can be effective, but they can have very debilitating side-effects. Marijuana can, as studies and anecdotal evidence are now showing, be a very useful weapon in some people’s battle with depression. It is very dependent on the person and their unique circumstances.

It is possible to use your 420 card if you suffer from depression, but only if your physician and therapist are on-board with the idea. Depression is a brutal and life-destroying condition, and must be fought with all of the knowledge, will and determination one can muster.

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.

Medical cannabis has long been disregarded by mainstream medicine, although this attitude is slowly changing. Prior to rigorous testing, medical practitioners are extremely wary of recommending the use of any drug to patients for fear of causing more harm than good, as well as for fear of possible backlash – lawsuits, bad press etc. And anecdotal evidence has to be overlooked in the medical world. Only conclusive, clinical studies gain the acceptance of doctors and scientists and that’s the way it should be. However, often anecdotal evidence – unequivocal as it may seem – is enough for the general public and they may become frustrated with the medical world’s extreme caution and bureaucracy (in most of the world it has previously been incredibly difficult to study marijuana as it has long been an illegal substance) leading to its lagging advocacy of certain drugs and procedures.

Californian doctors are ditching the pills in favor of medical cannabis.

However, there is more here than meets the eye. It is not always simply an ethos of caution that causes the FDA to deny the efficacy of certain drugs that have proven themselves time and time again to be of benefit equal to or greater than that of their legal, pharmaceutical counterparts whilst having fewer negative effects. So what does cause it? Sometimes, it’s the investments of pharmaceutical companies that slow progress. With it being so much harder to control the use and distribution of natural drugs (as they can be homegrown) it’s harder to monopolize, and, therefore, harder to charge extortionate prices. But those invested in slowing the progression of medical cannabis from illegal to legal drug could only stem the tide so long. In this article, we will discuss why medical cannabis is the new go-to medicine in California, and in a rapidly growing number of cities across the world. Make sure you’ve got your medical marijuana card online before we begin! Enjoy.

Since medical cannabis becoming legal pursuant to Proposition 215 in 1996, Californians have enjoyed the plethora of medicinal benefits found in cannabis. And as time has passed, more and more of the miasma surrounding the possession and use of medical cannabis has dissipated. So accepted marijuana has become that, as of November 2016 it has become legalized for recreational use (though this won’t come into action until 2018). This is in large part due to the undeniable, powerful medicinal properties of the drug which have been shown to be extremely effective in the management and treatment of many chronic illnesses, diseases and disorders. These include multiple sclerosis, nausea, seizures, arthritis, lupus, poor appetite and weight loss, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and Crohn’s disease. Its advantages have been enough to have large pharmaceutical juggernauts shaking in their boots. Why fork out huge fees for unnatural drugs when there is an inexpensive, natural plant that proves just as effective? 

Californian medical practitioners are using medical cannabis to treat a whole host of illnesses.

More than 15 million people abuse prescription drugs, more than the combined number who reported abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants and heroin. And every day in the US, 2,500 more youths abuse a prescription pain reliever. Prescription drugs give the illusion of safety and this makes them incredibly dangerous and makes their users highly susceptible to overdose.   

Marijuana, on the other hand, is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose yet still acts as a painkiller. So patients can manage or treat their diseases and disorders without the risk of death. This makes the plant an incredibly appealing alternative to lab-based, pharmaceutical drugs. The availability of medical marijuana has reduced opioid abuse and overdose deaths because it has offered people an alternative for pain relief. Three of five opioid overdoses occur in people with legitimate prescriptions for pain pills. The replacing of prescription drugs with marijuana reduces opioid-related deaths – there were 1,700 fewer deaths in 2010 alone.

Marijuana – or more specifically, THC – has been proven to have plentiful positive effects on brain cells. THC is a powerful neuroprotectant. Remarkably, scientists have gone as far as to show that THC can promote the growth of new brain cells through a process known as neurogenesis! This effect was discovered in 2005 by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan. Medical cannabis also has anti-inflammatory, antiemetic (anti-vomiting) properties. And it staves off prostate cancer too. Cannabidiol is another major component of the plant.

So it’s easy to see why medical marijuana is the new go-to medicine in California. The next logical step is to legalize it in all states. This would have advantages far beyond the medicinal, such as dramatically increased tax revenues for the state (illegal drugs cannot be taxed), and the reduction of drug-related crime.  Make sure you have gotten your medical marijuana card online so you can start to benefit from the drug’s long list of health benefits.

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.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disorder that affects certain people who have experienced a highly traumatic event. Being involved in warfare, extreme violence, or a road accident, or being the victim of child abuse, sexual assault, terrorism, or other threats to life can result in a person experiencing PTSD. It is also an affliction that can be treated with the use of medical marijuana.

Approximately 7.7 million Americans suffer from PTSD, and 11-30% of soldiers returning from combat in Iraq or Afghanistan have the condition. The main symptoms of this brutal condition are flashbacks, chronic anxiety, depression, insomnia and nightmares. Sufferers respond to innocuous events and cues in the external (and their internal) world with an acute panic response, because they remind them of the initial trauma they experienced.

There is a wealth of evidence demonstrating the benefits of medical marijuana for individuals suffering from PTSD. By aiding in something called memory extinction, marijuana can help reduce the association between innocuous stimuli in the present and traumatic events from the past. It also calms the body and mind, reduces stress, and aids sleep.

PTSD can affect people of all ages and backgrounds.

There are plenty of studies to back up marijuana’s effectiveness in treating PTSD. A University of Haifa study from 2014 showed that rats that were exposed to trauma, who received a synthetic cannabinoid within 24 hours, did not exhibit PTSD symptoms, however rats that were not treated with the cannabinoid did develop symptoms. This study led to an understanding of the neurological characteristics of the behavioral effects of PTSD. In traumatized subjects there was an increase in brain receptors associated with emotional processing. Cannabis was shown to decrease the numbers of these specific receptors in the areas of the brain that imprinted traumatic memories.

A study by Dr. George R. Greer MD in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2014 showed that participants with PTSD reported, on average, a 75% reduction in major PTSD symptoms while using medical marijuana. Dr. Greer reported, “Many PTSD patients report symptom reduction with cannabis, and a clinical trial needs to be done to see what proportion and what kind of PTSD patients benefit, with either cannabis or the main active ingredients of cannabis.”

As well as evidence from studies, there is also a wealth of anecdotal evidence self-reported by sufferers of PTSD who say that their lives would be unbearable if it wasn’t for the positive impact that medical marijuana has on their debilitating condition.

There is no doubt that medical marijuana is a very effective treatment for PTSD, but not all weed strains are equally effective. Here is a list of seven hybrid strains that people have reported work particularly well in combating PTSD.

Medical marijuana can help sufferers of PTSD.

Blue Dream is widely available with a California medical marijuana card. It is a mildly high-THC hybrid, and offers very reliable relief from PTSD. The sativa-dominant strain has an energizing and buoyant effect. It contains a nice dose of indica which produces a warm feeling of physical relaxation also. The herb is not very strong, so you can go about your business, feeling clear headed and fully functional while enjoying its PTSD-busting effects.

Grand Daddy Purple is a very pleasant indica-dominant hybrid that produces feelings of happiness, positivity and relaxation. It is often used by cannabis card holders who suffer from depression, and is widely regarded as an excellent strain for treating PTSD.

Stress Killer this is a high-CBD strain created by Royal Queen Seeds and easily available to people with a California medical marijuana card. It has quite low levels of THC, and is ideal for people who enjoy a mild but very manageable psychoactive effect. It will produce a light, sedative high and is ideal for relieving the anxiety that comes with PTSD.

A very popular indica-dominant strain that is famously good for pain and stress relief is Blueberry Kush. This is a big favorite with California marijuana card holders. It puts the body into a very relaxed state, and is widely availed of by PTSD sufferers.

Northern Lights is a massively popular indica-dominant strain that is used extensively by people with cannabis cards who suffer with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. It brings on a mellow high and is a fantastic sleep aid. It takes hold fast and knocks you out hard. Northern Lights and heavy machinery are not happy (or safe) bedfellows!

Even more of an insomnia-wrecker is Master Kush. This is a firm favorite of people who are cursed with chronic and extreme insomnia. It is a very strong strain that is not for first time smokers. You should be an experienced 420 card user before you use this powerful strain! It will knock you out hard and fast, producing a super-mellow high and ultra-relaxed body. Don’t bother getting munch, you won’t be needing it! Oh and make sure you are seated somewhere nice and comfortable when you smoke this awesome strain, because you probably won’t be moving very far for the foreseeable future!

Pineapple Express is a relatively mild sativa-dominant hybrid strain with a THC content of about 20%. The effects are pleasantly relaxing. It provokes a warm, happy feeling, and is eminently usable for during the day. Many PTSD sufferers have enjoyed the effects that this pleasant strain has given them.

California medical marijuana card owners are well served by a small army of friendly, knowledgeable, and well-stocked MMJ dispensaries. But there is also a lot to be said for cultivating your own medical cannabis.

It is a beautiful feeling to sit back, relax, and spark up a bowl that you yourself have reared, tended to, and watched develop over a period of several months. It is a very satisfying experience to grow your own weed, and a rewarding day when you smoke the herb that you have produced with your own hands. It provides a lovely feeling of accomplishment.

As long as you have a California Medical Marijuana Card, you can grow your own weed.

But what does the law say about cultivating your own cannabis? Does a California medical marijuana card enable a patient to grow their own weed, and if so, in what amounts, and where?

Proposition 215, the California Compassionate Use Act, which came into effect in 1996 makes it legal for patients and their primary caregivers to grow their own medical marijuana for personal use, provided they have the recommendation and approval of a licensed California physician.

The law explicitly covers cannabis cultivation for personal medical use only. Under Proposition 215 patients are allowed to grow whatever amount of medical marijuana they require to treat or manage their particular illness. 420 card patients can be prosecuted if they exceed these reasonable limits. They can also get into trouble for exceeding a local jurisdiction’s cultivation limits.

In 2004 a legislative statute went into effect that broadened Proposition 215. It allowed California medical marijuana card patients to form non-profit medical cannabis growing collectives and cooperatives. Many collectives and cooperatives now operate in the state, however, like in so many areas of MMJ law, exact policies vary from local jurisdiction to local jurisdiction, and many local governments within California have banned or restricted the rights of patients to set up collectives. Collectives tend to attract the attention of law enforcement, and large outdoor grows with over 100 plants are risky as, although they are not necessarily in breach of Proposition 215, they carry a five-year minimum sentence under US federal law.

Do you fancy growing your own MMJ? Just make sure you’re on the right side of the law.

The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, which came into effect January 1st 2016, established a system for the permitting of marijuana cultivation and dispensaries. It allows patients to grow up to 100 square feet of cannabis for personal medical use, and primary caregivers with five or less patients to cultivate up to 500 square feet. The cultivation of amounts above this is considered to be growing for commercial sale, and to do this a license is required. Again though, this does not mean a local government cannot enforce its own restrictions or bans on the cultivation of medical marijuana in its own jurisdiction.

Problems with law enforcement are always a possibility when cultivating your own MMJ. Patients have been arrested for growing amounts that police deem over and above what they require, or due to complaints from other residents in an area, or for having dubious recommendations. Patients have ended up on trial, needing to prove the veracity of their medical marijuana cultivation needs. The State Supreme Court has ruled that patients have the same rights to medical cannabis as they do to any legally prescribed drug, thus, patients who have been arrested for cultivation can request dismissal of charges at a pretrial hearing, and the dismissal will be granted if the can convince the judge that there is no probable cause that it wasn’t for medical purposes. Patients in this situation, when acquitted, will have their plants returned to them.

You can grow your medical marijuana on your own private property. However, landlords are not obligated to allow tenants to cultivate medical cannabis on their property, and some local jurisdictions have enacted zoning laws that restrict where medical marijuana can be grown.

Proposition 215 does not allow California medical marijuana card patients to sell their excess cultivated medical marijuana. Legal caregivers and members of growing collectives can charge for their expenses in growing for others, but always on a non-profit basis.

When Proposition 64 comes into effect in January 2018 at the earliest, it will become legal to cultivate recreational marijuana. It will be possible to cultivate up to six plants per residence and possess the marijuana produced by these plants. Local governments may still forbid cultivation outdoors, but must allow it inside a private residence or accessory structure that is “fully enclosed and secure”.

These new cultivation laws will not affect the existing legal rights of California medical marijuana card holders to grow as much as they need under the original Proposition 215, or up to 100 square feet under the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act.
So yes, it is certainly possible to grow your own MMJ in California, but always be wise and aware of how much you are growing, where you are growing it, and what your local jurisdiction’s specific rules and regulations are.

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!

Customers with medical marijuana cards are now able to buy specifically tailored medical cannabis products to aid them in their fight against pain. Cannabis oil is one of those products.

“The traditional use of Cannabis as an analgesic, anti-asthmatic, and anti-rheumatic drug is well established. Our results would suggest that cultivation of Cannabis plants rich in CBD and other phenolic substances would be useful not only as fiber-producing plants but also for medicinal purposes in the treatment of certain inflammatory disorders.”

Amazingly, this was the conclusion to a paper published in ‘The British journal of clinical pharmacology’ by The School of Pharmacy at the University of London, in 1988. They showed that medical cannabis could be four times more effective than Aspirin at giving pain relief and reducing inflammation. 

The scientists themselves acknowledged that this news was in no way groundbreaking; people have been using medical marijuana as a painkiller for millennia. One of the earliest references is in a Chinese legend in which the mighty king prescribes MMJ tea as an anti-inflammatory, way back in 4700 BC, and there are references to the plant being used both medically and socially in almost all Asian, European and African countries since records began.

What the ancients didn’t understand was the science behind this magical plant. Modern research has begun to unravel the mystery and it is uncovering a wealth of health benefits. The reason cannabis oil is so good for your health is because it has cannabinoids in great abundance. It’s these cannabinoids that are proving exceptionally effective at treating a whole range of ailments. These cannabinols mimic the body’s own naturally produced endocannabinoids, which govern many bodily functions. Sleep, appetite, the immune system, pain and many more areas are controlled by these and when there is an imbalance medical cannabis can help restore that balance without any dangerous side-effects.

THC, the most famous of the 80 odd cannabinoids present in MMJ, has always stolen the limelight as it has the most obvious effects on the brain – for this reason it has been studied more and is understood a lot better than its quieter (and second best known) companion cannabinol, CBD. Because of its effects, commercially THC has been the more sought after cannabinol, so for decades strains were bred for more and more THC potency. This meant that the benefits of CBD were largely overlooked.

But why is CBD that important?

Research is showing that CBD has incredible pain-inhibiting and anti-inflammation properties. One of the most effective ways to reap the benefits of CBD without having to smoke medical cannabis is to ingest cannabis oil. Cannabis oil is the cannabis plant extract. It is chock-full of cannabinoids and generally has higher levels of CBD to THC, although make sure to check before you go ahead with your purchase. Medical marijuana card holders who don’t want any of the ‘stoned’ effect can now buy cannabis oil with no THC in it, allowing them to carry on their day as normal.

The idea that cannabis oil is an effective pain reliever is not up for dispute at this stage

CBD has proved to be very effective in the treatment of epilepsy (even on drug-resistant forms such as Dravet Syndrome). Strains such as Harlequin, Charlotte’s’ Web, Cannatonia have been bred specially to have very high concentrations of CBD and very low level of THC. These strains are being used to produce medical cannabis oil with a low enough THC content to be suitable for even children! So for those of us who don’t want the ‘high’ associated with marijuana, these oils are perfect. But don’t worry, you can still get oils with high THC levels if you want to enjoy the benefits of both of the major cannabinoids.

As a treatment, cannabis oil has been shown to be very effective at targeting certain receptors (glycine receptors) that are important in causing inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain. The test suggested that CBD would be effective at relieving chronic pain for illnesses associated with multiple sclerosis and pain caused by severe nerve damage. Again, the Harlequin strain and Cannatonic strain are going to be most effective with their high CBD contents. These anti-inflammatory strains will provide relief from chronic inflammation pains caused by arthritis.

Back pain, muscle pain and wounds can be treated with these oils. Topicals can be made by mixing cannabis oil with lotions or diluting it with oils such as hemp oil or coconut oil. These topicals have traditionally been used as an antiseptic but can also be used as a burn and bite relief, and rubbed into sore muscles. This method is becoming more popular with people who want the health benefits marijuana has to offer but, again, don’t want to take up smoking.

Cannabis oil can ease pain and give you back your regular life.

Research is only in its infancy, but the evidence is corroborating the stories and experiences of countless medical cannabis users from over the millennia.

Cannabis oil is a fantastic pain reliever – it can help regulate sleep, smooth running of the digestive system and alleviate anxiety and depression. Taken correctly, cannabis oil is good for you and it’s getting better with every study.

On November 8, 2016, California voters voted, by a margin of 56% to 44%, to pass Proposition 64 to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21 in the state. The details of the 60-page proposition are complex. The vote to legalize recreational cannabis use came 20 years after California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. Now that voters have decided to make recreational cannabis legal, what will become of California medical marijuana card holders? How will their rights be affected? Will medical marijuana users still need a California medical marijuana card to consume their medicine in the state?

For the calendar year 2017 at least, the answer is a definite yes. Proposition 64 will not come in effect until January 2018 at the earliest, which means dispensaries won’t start serving recreational users until at least that date. Implementing regulations is a complicated and time consuming process. Under the new law the ‘Bureau of Marijuana Control’ will not start issuing recreational licenses until at least 2018, and so a cannabis card is fully essential for the entirety of 2017 at least.

Make the new marijuana laws work for you!

Until the new law comes into effect, anybody who needs to use cannabis for what the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 calls “any condition for which marijuana provides relief” will need to visit their primary physician and request them to write a recommendation, or visit a specialized ‘cannabis doctor’, or get a California medical marijuana card through one of the many online doctor services that enable patients to get a medical marijuana card online.

But even come 2018, when the state is required to begin issuing licenses to recreational weed shops, different localities have the right to set different rules, so it is by no means clear how recreational use will play out. There is a lot of red tape to be hacked through.

There has been some apprehension amongst long-term MMJ users, who rely on easy and reliable access to medical marijuana to control debilitating physical and/or psychological pain. Some patients fear that people who don’t respect the drug and just want to get high are going to clog up the market and give the plant a bad name, while people who genuinely need marijuana as medicine will be forgotten about. They also worry that Proposition 64 will impose stricter regulations on where California medical marijuana card patients can consume their medicine and how much they could grow.

California medical marijuana card holders will be affected by marijuana legalization – but could it be for the better?

Some patients have also been concerned about how the measure might affect the cost of their medicine. But it looks as though the law will not have an adverse effect on MMJ pricing because it exempts California medical marijuana card patients from paying sales taxes, which will keep consumer costs down. It also caps the cost of getting an optional ID card confirming a person’s status as an MMJ patient at $100, and with many counties now charging up to $175, that could also lead to savings.

Indeed, experts have stated that the passing of Proposition 64 does not negatively affect the rights of medical marijuana patients established in the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, and will in fact improve them, so even once Proposition 64 is fully in effect, there will still be advantages to being a certified medical marijuana patient.

While recreational use will not be allowed in public, card-carrying medical patients will still be permitted to smoke medical cannabis in most areas in which tobacco smoking is allowed. And, while recreational consumers will be limited to growing six plants at a time, medical marijuana patients will continue to be able to grow up to 100 square feet of plants.

Proponents of the law believe its implementation will certainly broaden rights and access for California’s 1M+ medical cannabis users.

Matt Kumin, a San Francisco attorney who has represented medical cannabis clients for twenty years, is confident. He has stated “The sky is not going to fall, I think this is actually a new day for medical cannabis patients.”

How will the new law look? Many people predict California dispensaries will simply have two lines, with one for 420 card patients and one for recreational customers. Colorado legalized recreational cannabis in 2012, and recreational sales now account for 60-70% of the market. But both recreational and medical sectors continue to grow year on year in the state.

Much of how Proposition 64 plays out in California will depend on how cities and counties decide to implement it, since each jurisdiction controls what types of cannabis businesses can open and operate inside their boundaries.

Local governments also have the right to impose local taxes on top of state taxes, so while there’s a lot to be hopeful about, things are still a bit unclear, and may be for some time to come, especially in terms of differences between different jurisdictions within the state. For example, there could be areas in California where medical dispensaries are operating, but recreational use is still not happening.

So for the next year for sure, and maybe even beyond, there are definite advantages to being legally recognized as a medical cannabis patient, and having a California medicinal marijuana card, as opposed to being a mere recreational user.

In recent years, the widespread use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has been gaining traction. As more studies are conducted, an increasing amount of evidence supporting the health benefits medical cannabis provides is coming to light – leading to an increase in those electing to obtain a cannabis card.

Whether it’s to assist with the nausea associated with cancer and HIV/AIDS treatments, pain relief, insomnia, anxiety, or a myriad of other ailments, patients are frequently turning to the all-natural treatment it delivers. It’s no wonder that as of June 2016, 29 states and Washington D.C. have legalized cannabis for medical use.

While it may seem that the United States has been relatively quick to adopt the use of medical cannabis over the past couple decades – and indeed has been when compared to many other countries – the use of cannabis to treat health conditions dates as far back as 2737 B.C.

Thousands of years before the United States even existed, Emperor Shen Neng of China was prescribing marijuana-infused tea to his people. This tea was used to heal gout, malaria, rheumatism, and, rather humorously, poor memory. The wonders of the drug then spread throughout the globe; reaching Asia, Africa, and the Middle East – with doctors prescribing it for both general pain relief and child birth.

Documented evidence of medical cannabis being used in the U.S. did not occur until the late 18^th century, when early editions of American medical journals noted that hemp seeds were effective at treating venereal disease, incontinence, and inflamed skin. This was further popularized in the U.S. by the Irish doctor William O’Shaughnessy, who worked as a physician for the British East India Company.

As the use of medical cannabis developed from O’Shaughnessy’s findings, more and more treatments began to utilize its medicinal properties for easing the symptoms of a range of conditions, including cholera, tetanus, and rabies. Year-on-year, the popularity of medical marijuana was growing exponentially.

By the end of the 19^th Century, the tide of American attitudes towards medical cannabis began to dramatically shift, falling as quickly as it had risen. Unknowingly to them, it was discovered that between 2% and 5% of the U.S. population had become addicted to morphine, due to it being a secret ingredient within many medicines at the time.

Medical cannabis has a long, interesting and occasionally amusing history.

The U.S. government was quick to act, introducing the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. While cannabis was not targeted specifically, the very fact that the distribution of morphine and opium was now under doctors’ control, inherently led to a sudden shift in American drug policy. Eight short years later in 1914, the Harrison act was introduced and the consumption of drugs was defined as a crime.

23 states had outlawed marijuana by the year 1937. This was in-part due to the arrival of a wave of Mexican immigrants – many of whom bought the drug with them – or simply to try to limit the amount of morphine addicts who were looking for something new. In the very same year, the Federal Government then passed the Marihuana Tax Act, outlawing the non-medical use of marijuana.

Marijuana was now criminalized, with harsh penalties being enforced upon anyone who was to be found distributing or consuming. The only exception was during World War II, when the government planted vast fields of hemp crops to supply rope to the Navy. Mandatory sentences for drug offenders then came into motion with the passing of the Boggs Act and Narcotics Control Act in the 1950s.

As the 1960s and 70s rolled around, the public perception of marijuana altered, and laws criminalizing the drug were eased. However, the Reagan Administration – with its get-tough drug policies – halted any potential progress from being made, and the use of marijuana continued to indict severe penalties.

This continued until 1996, when California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana. While this was met with a slew of critics – to this day estimating that there are around 1,000 illegal marijuana shops in Los Angeles alone – several more states followed California’s lead in the years to come; with Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Maine all legalizing medical marijuana before the turn of the century.

As the medical benefits of marijuana further come to light, a direct response is being seen in the amount of states that are legalizing the drug for medicinal use with each passing year. In 2016 alone, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Dakota, and Arkansas all became additional advocates to the medical cannabis cause – equal to the number of states from the previous three years combined.

Unfortunately, as marijuana remains illegal at the Federal level, acquisition from anyone who is not a licensed physician is strictly prohibited – unless within a state which has legalized the drug for both medical and recreational use – such as Colorado and Washington,
therefore housing licensed dispensaries.

For Californians looking to reap the rewards of the passing of 2016’s Proposition 64, you’ve not too much longer to wait until your marijuana use is not solely limited to medicinal; with the government deadline for issuing pot shop licenses being no later than January 1^st 2018.

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.

Juicing is EVERYWHERE in California these days. From the yoga worshipping goddesses of Los Angeles to the hippies of San Francisco, everyone is getting in on the not so faddish health-fad that is revolutionizing the way we consume our healthy greens. Whilst most California medical marijuana card holders know the many benefits of juicing your MMJ, we dare you to go one step further and enjoy all the benefits of juicing with the added deliciousness of a smoothie.

Like juicing, making a smoothie with your medical marijuana has many benefits over smoking/vaping/tincturing. The main benefit you’ll experience using this method is that by keeping your MMJ raw, you’ll avoid any psychoactive effects that only occur when it is heated – a big plus for those medical marijuana card holders who want to consume their cannabis without the dazed side-effect.

In addition to this, by consuming your MMJ in delicious smoothie form, you’re leaving all the good, medicinal properties of the plant totally unharmed by heat meaning you can benefit from its power completely, with no important nutrients burned out.

To get started on your new gastronomical adventure, all you need is a blender, some ingredients and your California medical marijuana ID card! Here’s our pick of the 4 most awesomely delicious MMJ smoothies that you can make yourself at home.

Start off your day right with the ultimate medical marijuana breakfast smoothie

Who needs to smoke medical marijuana when you can make a delicious smoothie?

This recipe is perfect to start off your day. The mixture of ultra-healthy kale with cucumber, cantaloupe and banana will mask the weed taste of the smoothie with delicious fruity goodness to get your body moving first thing in the morning.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup organic hemp milk
• ½ Tbsp. organic hemp seeds
• ½ tsp organic flax seeds
• ¼ cup organic green kale
• ¼ cup organic cucumber
• 1 slice organic cantaloupe
• ½ banana
• Fresh raw cannabis (about ¼ cup)

Blend all ingredients except the cannabis until completely mixed. Add your cannabis at the end and blend on pulse until optimum consistency is achieved.

Treat yourself with a Pear, Sweet Potato and MMJ smoothie for lunch

Pick your favorite fruit and build an MMJ smoothie around it!

Smoothies act as the perfect meal substitute for those of us looking to stay away from greasy, unhealthy lunch staples like burgers or burritos. When the mid-day cravings start to niggle at you, grab your blender and opt for this ultimate hunger buster instead.

Ingredients:

• 2 sweet potatoes
• 2 pears
• 2 cups orange juice
• Water as desired
• Fresh raw cannabis (about ½ cup)

First, dice your sweet potatoes and pears. Then blend these two ingredients well followed by the orange juice. Finally, add your cannabis and water as desired.

Beat the afternoon slump with a banana, blueberry and MMJ smoothie

Combine medical marijuana with fresh fruit and milk: beautiful!

As fruits are naturally low in sodium, fat and calories and high in nutrients, this smoothie is particularly super-human when it comes to giving your body a much needed mid-afternoon boost. The hemp and flax seed add some extra protein and healthy omegas whilst the fruits and MMJ boost you full of medicinal goodness, alleviating your symptoms and tasting delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 2 large strawberries
• ½ cup whole blueberries
• ½ cup regular almond milk
• ½ cup coconut water
• 1 tbsp. chia seed
• 1 tbsp. flax seed
• 1 tbsp. hemp seed
• Fresh raw cannabis (about ½ cup)

Blend all ingredients except for the MMJ, only throwing this in at the end so as to avoid heating it with the blade.

Indulge in a luxurious peanut butter, banana and MMJ smoothie

PB & J? Nah, try PB & MMJ!

Probably the most mouth-wateringly delectable smoothie on the list is the holy-trinity unifying peanut butter, banana and MMJ smoothie. This is the perfect end of day treat that is sure to leave you with a full stomach and a soothed body.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup peanut butter
• 1 banana
• 2 scoops of ice cream
• 2 cups of milk
• Fresh raw cannabis (about ½ cup)

If you’re allergic to peanuts, opt for some equally delicious almond butter instead. Blend all ingredients to completion only adding the MMJ at the very end until optimum consistency is reached. Add ice cubes if desired.

Please note that if you’re using your MMJ card to treat cancer, or any other sugar-feeding disease, it’s advisable that you consult your physician on exactly what you can put into your smoothies as certain fruits can be high in sugar and thusly can exacerbate your condition.

Remember, as your blender blends it releases heat so you need to keep your medical marijuana as far away from the blade as possible. The best way to do this is to blend all your other ingredients completely first, then add your MMJ and blend on pulse until you get the consistency you want.

In order to benefit the most from your medical marijuana smoothies, Dr William Courtney, founder of the Cannabis International Foundation (CIF), recommends splitting them up into smaller portions that can be consumed during the day at your leisure. As drinking a smoothie is much more discreet than other MMJ consumption methods such as smoking or vaping, they’re easier to consume at work, on the go, or wherever else you may need them. Tasty and undetectable?! We like the sound of that!

Even if you get stopped in your car by an overzealous cop, you’re not going to get in trouble for having a smoothie with you, especially if you have your cannabis card to hand.

Although making medical marijuana smoothies can seem like a bit of a nut-job idea at first, once you start you’ll understand why 420 card holders all over California are now reaching for the blender instead of the joint – you’ll just wish you started sooner!

If you’ve received your medical marijuana card online, or through an evaluation service, and have been smoking medical marijuana for any time at all you’ll know that this can result in a serious case of the munchies. In an effort to curb these post-smoke cravings you might be considering edible forms of medical marijuana – the most common of which is marijuana brownies. Or maybe you’re here in search of a different kind of high. Either way, we’ve got what you need! In this article, we are going to provide you with possibly the tastiest medical marijuana brownie recipes so you can eat marijuana to your heart’s content. Enjoy!

Weed Brownie Effects

Unlike smoking medical marijuana, eating it causes a far slower initial release of its cannabinoids – chemical compounds found in marijuana – such as THC and CBD. The high also persists for far longer than that of smoked marijuana, lasting anywhere from four to eight hours.

Making Canna oil/Cannabutter

In order to have the realize of the psychoactive effects of cannabis – namely THC – when eating it, marijuana needs to be heated in some way with some form of fat. You won’t feel a high if you eat it straight without preparation because the digestive system is unable to process THC directly.

Fats can be oil, butter, milk. This is because THC is fat soluble and water insoluble. This means you must cook the cannabis with a fat, such as butter or oil. This will release the THC from the cannabis and allow it to bind with the fat. Once bound to fat, THC becomes processable by the digestive system. On top of this, it becomes palatable (don’t try eating raw cannabis unless you are seeking taste bud misery).

The best way to control potency is to know how much THC is in the medical marijuana you are using. When buying from a dispensary this is listed on the package. Start with a weaker strain and go from there.

Method

Grind up the marijuana in a grinder or blender until it becomes very fine.

Pour oil or butter into a frying pan.

Spread the marijuana across the pan.

Turn the burner on low, until until the oil and powder start to simmer.

Turn burner heat to the lowest setting. Leave the burner on for 3-6 hours (longer is better).

Stir every 30 minutes.

Pour the mixture into a filter to strain all the marijuana bits out.

At this stage, you should have a brown colored oil.

Kitchen Preparations

Make sure you’re baking in a well-ventilated kitchen as cooked weed has a particularly pungent smell. Open a window, turning on the fan, and placing a towel under the door.

Medical marijuana can transform regular brownies into your new favorite medicine!

Just The Best Chocolate and Weed Brownies

Ingredients

2 tbsp. cannabutter

185g unsalted butter

185g dark chocolate (at least 70%)

50g white chocolate

50g milk chocolate

85g self-raising flour

40g cocoa powder

3 large eggs

275g white sugar

Method

Cut butter into small cubes and tip into a medium bowl.

Break dark chocolate into small pieces and add to the bowl.

Melt butter and chocolate, stirring occasionally to mix.

Leave the melted mixture to cool to room temperature.

Turn the oven on to 356°F(180C).

Tip flour and cocoa powder into a sieve held over a medium bowl, and tap and shake the sieve so they run through together and get rid of any lumps.

Chop the white chocolate and the milk chocolate into chunks.

Break 3 large eggs into a large bowl and tip in the white sugar.

Whisk the eggs and sugar until they look thick and creamy. It’s ready when the mixture looks really pale.

Pour the cooled chocolate mixture over the egg/sugar mixture, then gently fold together with a spatula.

Gently fold in the flour/cocoa powder.

Finally, stir in the white and milk chocolate chunks.

Pour the mixture into a baking tin. Put in the oven for 25 minutes.

Coffee Weed Brownies

Ingredients

2 tbsp. cannabutter

2 tbsp. stick unsalted, organic butter

4 ounces dark chocolate (at least 70%)

3 eggs

1 ½ cups white sugar

280g white sugar

2 tsp your favorite ground coffee bean

Pinch of sea salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C)

Lightly grease a baking tin with some butter.

Melt chocolate, over low heat until it’s all melted.

Take the chocolate off the heat and slowly add unsalted butter while whisking.

Next, add the sugar. Whisk until sugar has completely dissolved into the mix.

Add the salt, vanilla extract, eggs, cannabutter and ground coffee beans. Gently whisk for two minutes.

Next, using a spatula blend in flour until completely mixed.

Transfer batter to greased tin.

Bake for 35 – 40 minutes

*If you’re unsure if they’re cooked, take a knife and push it to the base of the pan. If it comes out clean, it’s cooked.

Oh, go on then…

Peanut Butter Weed Brownies

Ingredients

3 tbsp. cannabutter

225g crunchy peanut butter

225g bar dark chocolate, broken into pieces (at least 70%)

280g soft light brown sugar

3 medium eggs

100g self-raising flour

Method

Set aside 50g each of the peanut butter and chocolate.

Heat oven to 356°F (180C).

Melt remaining peanut butter, chocolate and all the sugar in a pan, stirring occasionally until the sugar has just about melted.

Turn off heat and use a spoon to beat in the eggs one by one.

Add the cannabutter.

Stir in the flour.

Add to tin.

Melt reserved peanut butter in a pan, until runny, then drizzle over the brownie. Bake for 30-35 mins until it has a crust, but the middle is still slightly runny.

Melt remaining chocolate, drizzle over the brownies.

Allow to cool and then cut into whatever size/number of brownies you’d like.

Take these three must-try recipes and bake up a storm. Let us know what you think and feel free to experiment with them in the search of your perfect brownie!

Marijuana has long been eschewed and demonized by mainstream medicine. Prior to rigorous testing, medical practitioners are extremely wary to recommend the use of any drug to patients for fear of causing more harm than good, as well as for fear of possible backlash – lawsuits, bad press, etc. – and anecdotal evidence has to be overlooked in the medical world. Only conclusive, clinical studies gain the acceptance of doctors and scientists and that’s the way it should be. However, often anecdotal evidence – unequivocal as it may seem – is enough for the general public and they may become frustrated with the medical world’s caution and bureaucracy (in most of the world it has previously been incredibly difficult to study marijuana, as it has long been an illegal substance) leading to its lagging advocacy of certain drugs and procedures. It’s hard to say whether medical science would save more lives moving quicker or if that would be to its detriment, and that’s outside the scope of this article. This article will instead focus on how medical marijuana has reduced deaths from pharmaceuticals since its adoption into medicine. After reading this, if you have one of the 49 conditions aided by medical marijuana, we’re sure you’ll be looking for a medical marijuana card online. Enjoy!

Every day in the US, 2,500 more youths (12-17) abuse a prescription pain reliever. More than 15 million people abuse prescription drugs, more than the combined number who reported abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants and heroin. Prescription drugs give the illusion of safety and this makes them incredibly dangerous and makes their users highly susceptible to overdose.  

The availability of medical marijuana has reduced opioid abuse and overdose deaths because it has offered people an alternative for pain relief. Three of five opioid overdoses occur in people with legitimate prescriptions for pain pills. The replacing of prescription drugs with marijuana reduces opioid-related deaths – there were 1,700 fewer deaths in 2010 alone. Marcus Bachhuber reported on marijuana legalization, “Such laws were associated with a lower rate of overdose mortality that generally strengthened over time.”

The journal, Health Affairs, looked at prescriptions covered by Medicare between 2010 and 2013. They found that “the use of prescription drugs for which marijuana could serve as a clinical alternative fell significantly once a medical marijuana law was implemented”. This is significant. The most notable decline was in painkiller prescriptions, which fell by 3,645 daily doses per physician after medical marijuana laws were implemented! There were also statistically significant reductions in prescriptions for drugs used to treat seizures, depression, psychosis, anxiety, nausea, and sleep disorders.

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that medical marijuana is much safer than opiates.

In 2007, the Drug Enforcement Administration found that abuse of the painkiller Fentanyl killed more than 1,000 people that year in the US. It is thirty to fifty times more powerful than heroin. Marijuana, on the other hand, is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose, yet still acts as a painkiller. Pharmaceutical companies are heavily invested in a highly lucrative industry so are unlikely to stop selling dangerous and unnecessary pharmaceuticals. Rather than focusing on changing things at that level – which will prove a slow and difficult process -, legalizing medical marijuana in all states will allow those needing pain relief to find it in a drug that has no chance of killing them from overdose and isn’t illegal. As well as pain relief, the use of medical marijuana has a whole slew of other medical applications, including: nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and seizures. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, and so can be used by those suffering from HIV, AIDS, or dementia. Emerging research suggests that marijuana’s medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective.

Many practitioners are considering using medical marijuana as a go-to treatment for several ailments.

More than 30 percent of the U.S. population lives under some form of marijuana decriminalization, and according to a multitude of studies, these change in laws have not contributed to an increase in marijuana consumption nor negatively impacted adolescent attitudes toward drug use. It’s time that medical marijuana receives the recognition as a safer alternative to pharmaceuticals so that lives are saved. It’s time that the medical world adopts it not at its outer echelons, but rather at its nucleus. Medical practitioners should be recommending medical marijuana instead of other painkillers in a whole host of circumstances but this won’t happen until its accepted throughout the medical community, and subsequently accepted by all areas of society at large as a viable and safe way to treat ailments.

With all these statistics seemingly indicating that medical marijuana reduces deaths from pharmaceuticals it seems the next logical step is to legalize its use in all states.

Proposition 215, otherwise known as the Compassionate Use Act, was passed in the state of California in 1996. This law gives individuals the right to use and possess medical marijuana legally. It also allows prospective medical marijuana patients to speak with a doctors regarding medical marijuana use, dosage etc; and, equally important, it allows doctors to recommend medical marijuana to patients in dealing with a whole slew of ailments. So if you have an illness that you believe will be alleviated through the ingestion of medical marijuana but don’t yet have your California medical marijuana card, this is definitely the article for you!

What is a Medical Marijuana Identification Card?

The California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program (MMICP) was specifically established to create a State-authorized medical marijuana identification card (MMIC), along with a registry database for verification of qualified patients and their primary caregivers. The MMP (medical marijuana program) web-based registry allows law enforcement and the public to verify the validity of a qualified patient or primary caregiver’s MMIC as authorization to possess, grow, transport, and/or use medical marijuana within California.

What Medical Conditions Qualify?

MMJRecs physicians recognize over 49 qualifying conditions for medical marijuana use. Some of the most common qualifying conditions treated include: AIDS; anorexia; arthritis; cachexia (wasting syndrome); cancer; chronic pain; glaucoma; migraine; persistent muscle spasms; seizures; severe nausea; any other chronic or persistent medical symptom that either substantially limits a person’s ability to conduct one or more of major life activities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or if not alleviated, may cause serious harm to the person’s safety, physical, or mental health. The following link provides a full list of the qualifying conditions and symptoms so be sure to check it out before applying: Qualifying Conditions

What Do I Need?

Any form of U.S. identification and a condition for which medical cannabis can be recommended.

Learn all about your medical marijuana card before you apply, so you know what you can and can’t do with it.

Where Do I Apply For My Card?

You can get a doctor’s recommendation by asking your primary physician, visiting a 420 doctor at an evaluation center or online through a service like MMJRecs.

Any doctor licensed to practice in California can evaluate you and issue a medical marijuana card. However, not all doctors are comfortable recommending marijuana as an aid for ailments. So we recommend a doctor that specializes in the recommendation of Medical Marijuana.

That leaves 420 doctors at evaluation centers and online services. Often evaluation centers are stuck in hard-to-reach places in dangerous neighborhoods, have long wait times, and little time with the doctor, leaving you uninformed about how to use cannabis as an effective treatment option.

Online services such as MMJRecs, have chosen the most knowledgeable medical marijuana doctors from across the state to provide patients with the fastest and most secure MMJ evaluations. They are also highly informative, providing patients with a tailored, deep knowledge of dosage, strains etc, benefits and risks.

Is My Personal Information Safe?

The Medical Marijuana Application System does not contain any personal information such as name, address or social security number. It only contains the unique user ID number and when entered the only information provided is whether the card is valid or invalid. This ensures that only those in need of medical marijuana are able to purchase it. So yes, your personal information is completely safe!

Getting an MMJ card in California is a simple process for anyone in need of medical relief.

What Does an Evaluation Entail?

You’ll be asked to fill out a standard medical form, and you’ll able to upload any medical documents you may already have. The evaluation itself often lasts just a few minutes and involves a video/phone conversation with a doctor about your current condition, medical history and how marijuana might help you.

Keep in mind, most online evaluation services won’t charge you unless you’re approved by the doctor; the consultation is free otherwise – you can’t lose!

What Now?

Once you’re approved, you’ll receive a digital PDF version of your recommendation via email, which you can use that same day by printing it out – though not all dispensaries accept this version. Next, you’ll receive your medical marijuana card and official recommendation letter in the mail complete with your name, date, patient ID #, expiration date (you must renew your medical marijuana card each year), a doctor’s signature, embossed seal. Now you can enter marijuana dispensaries and make purchases. Alternatively, you can order marijuana delivery through marketplace sites.

And that’s it! Over 1.4 million patients in California have a doctor’s recommendation for using marijuana as medicine, and now you know the ins and outs of the Californian medical marijuana card application, you’re well on your way to all the medicinal benefits of medical marijuana! 

Each and every year, an increasing number of Californians are turning to medical marijuana to help ease a multitude of conditions and ailments. But for those not well versed in the area of medicinal cannabis use, the law is often a topic of concern.

While the use of medical marijuana in California has been a reality for some time for those in the possession of a cannabis card, recent developments, such as the passing of Proposition 64 to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, has many people questioning what this means for continued medicinal use.

Since Proposition 215 passed back in 1996, it has been legal to purchase and grow marijuana in California if you have a cannabis card; the most common reasons for doing so being to assist with sleep, nausea, and bodily pain. Obtaining a cannabis card is a relatively simple venture; with online services allowing 24/7 access to doctors who are able to provide a written recommendation within minutes.

Yet even with a valid card, there are certain restrictions which should always be kept in mind. Under Proposition 215, patients are able to obtain whatever amount of marijuana is necessary for their medical needs. However, being in the possession of an excessive amount can still lead to authorities placing you under arrest.

Since January 1st 2016, qualified patients are able to cultivate up to 100 square feet of marijuana for their personal medical use. But just because you are in the possession of a cannabis card, does not mean you are exempt from legal ramifications.  

Medical marijuana patients need to be on the right side of the law.

Several cases over the years have placed legal patients in trouble with the law due to various reasons. Questionable recommendations; growing excessive amounts; complaints from neighbors, are all things to keep in mind when growing and consuming cannabis. And for those in rented accommodation, landlords also have the right to disallow the use of marijuana on their premises.

Selling marijuana without a license is not allowed under any circumstance. Further restrictions include the location of the consumption of marijuana. Generally speaking, it is ill-advised to consume cannabis in any kind of public area; being within 1000 feet of a school, or within a no smoking zone, can lead to severe police intervention.

As of November 2016, 28 states and Washington DC have legalized the use of medical marijuana. Nevertheless, as federal laws still deem marijuana illegal, transporting it across state lines is strictly prohibited – even if traveling to another legalized state. So if you and Mary Jane were thinking about taking a road trip together, best to reconsider.  

Since the passing of Proposition 64 in November 2016, a common cause for concern among cannabis card holders in California has been how this affects their current rights. The short answer is that if you currently possess a cannabis card, it is still the most effective way of procuring marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Under Proposition 64, Californians are able to grow up to six plants for their personal use, and can purchase up to an ounce without a doctor’s recommendation. However, the general public won’t be able to purchase marijuana in stores until sometime in 2018. So if more than an ounce or immediate use is necessary, a cannabis card is still the way to go.

In addition to this, patients with a state ID card, which can be signed up for with a doctor’s recommendation at county health departments, are eligible for a break in local sales taxes. So while the masses are legally able to consume marijuana in California, those with a cannabis card are still currently at an advantage.

If you consume medical marijuana, knowing your legal rights is essential.

Since the passing of Proposition 64, additional laws and restrictions will be placed upon the distribution and consumption of marijuana, such as the amount of THC (the psychoactive agent within the drug) allowed within edibles. However, as cultivation limits are less stringent for medical marijuana card holders, homemade products are able to be far more potent if desired.

While the law is altogether kinder to those consuming marijuana for medicinal purposes, there are obvious laws which apply no matter how the cannabis has been obtained. While medical patients are legally able to grow whatever they need, driving a car while under the influence, or attempting to transport the drug onto a plane can have serious consequences.

Under Proposition 64, a Californian flying within state with under an ounce will not face any criminal charges, and may even be allowed to fly with it in their possession. With medical marijuana, the same rules apply. TSA are not obliged to allow marijuana through security however, due to being governed by federal law, which provides no basis to treat medical marijuana any differently from non-medical.

If you have been strongly considering obtaining a medical marijuana card, it is still the most effective way to obtain the drug. With greater accessibility and far fewer restrictions than that of recreational use, a cannabis card is a quick and easy application away.

For medical marijuana card holders and recreational users worldwide, the term 420 has a certain significance. Each year on April 4th, cannabis users congregate in public areas to mark the date by catching up with friends and smoking some weed – medical or otherwise! Locations made famous for this get together include Hippie Hill in San Francisco, the University of Colorado’s Boulder Campus and UC Santa Cruz’s Campus, whose unofficial 420 event became so big that students received an official email from the University’s Vice Councilor for student events which stated that, “The growth in scale of this activity has become a concern for both the university and surrounding community”. But how exactly did the term 420 become so popular? How is it that a California medical marijuana card is now often being referred to as a 420 card?

San Rafael High School is where the Waldos coined the term ‘420’.

Well, there’s been quite a backstory to this one, and quite a few myths being circulated too. Whispers have been going around since the 1970s about how the term came about. Depending on who you’re talking to, and what state of inebriation you find them in, people swear that the term for a 420 card was coined as a product of any one of the following: the fact that Hitler’s birthday was April 4th 1889, it’s the number of active chemicals that are in marijuana, it’s the multiplied result of the titular numbers of Bob Dylan’s song “Rainy Day Woman 12 & 35” and many more. Probably the most famous myth attributed to the coining of the phrase is that ‘420’ is police code for ‘marijuana smoking in progress’ – something that has since been debunked as no such code exists in California police code.

In reality, the story behind how a 420 card became known as such is a simple one that was borne out of an easy way to avoid detection when smoking weed. In order to give you a more detailed picture of the origin of the term, we’re going to have to take you back to 1971 in sunny San Rafael, California and introduce you to a group of friends called the Waldos.

The Waldos were a group of five friends from San Rafael High School, simply named for the fact they used to hang out at a wall. One day sometime in 1971, the Waldos got word of a Coast Guard service member who had a plot of land near Point Reyes Peninsula Coastguard Station on which he harvested weed. However, this man was no longer was able to tend to his crop. Armed with a treasure map, supposedly drawn by the grower, the friends decided that they were going to seek out and take the weed for their own. As this was in the days before mobile phone communication, the Waldos decided that they were to meet at precisely 4.20pm, after track practice, at the Louis Pasteur statue outside the entrance to the school. As they passed each other in the hallways, the friends would remind themselves of their plan by saying “420-Louis” to one another which was eventually shortened to 420.

As expected, the first few trips were unsuccessful in locating the patch. Determined as teenage boys are, they continued to search week in week out, each time meeting at exactly 4.20pm beside the statue of Louis Pasteur. Although the friends were disappointed in their failure to find the stash, they had found themselves a new code word along the way. Waldo Steve explains why the word caught on among their friend group: “I could say to one of my friends, I’d go, ‘420,’ and it was telepathic. He would know if I was saying, ‘Hey, do you wanna go smoke some?’ Or, ‘Do you have any?’ Or, ‘Are you stoned right now?’ It was kind of telepathic just from the way you said it,” Capper says. “Our teachers didn’t know what we were talking about. Our parents didn’t know what we were talking about.”

How did a term used by a tiny group of high school stoners evolve into the worldwide phenomenon that it is today? It has a lot to do with Californian band The Grateful Dead. The Waldos were intrinsically linked with the rock band since they upped tools from Haight Ashbury in San Francisco and moved to just a block away from San Rafael High School. Waldo Mark’s Dad looked after real estate for the band and Waldo Dave’s older brother Patrick was good friends with their bassist Phil Leash. The Waldos started to hang out with the Dead at parties and rehearsals where weed smoking was near compulsory. Whenever someone passed around a joint, it was punctuated by someone saying ‘Hey 420’.

The Grateful Dead were instrumental in propagating the ‘420 card’ phrase.

As the band continued to tour throughout the ’70s and ’80s, the phrase was tossed around in their circles and in their fan communities. However, until High Times magazine caught wind of the phrase, it was confined to within the Grateful Dead subculture. It was only when the High Times wrote about it that it became the international phenomenon that it is today.

Unfortunately for the Waldos, High Times proliferated the myth that 420 and the subsequent phrase of 420 card had originated from California police code instead of their autumn excursions in 1971. When the friends started to hear the phrase more and more they took matters into their own hands and contacted High Times directly in 1998 to set the record straight. After much back and forthing between the Waldos and the magazine it was wholly agreed upon that the friends were telling the truth and that it was them who coined the globally recognized phrase – something that they have yet to cash in on!

So next time you refer to your California medical marijuana card a 420 card, you’ll know exactly who to credit for the term: The Waldos!

Due to its relaxing affect, cannabis has long been the go-to sleep aid for medical marijuana card holders and recreational users alike. Even the most persistent insomnia can, in some cases, be improved, if not cured, by indulging in a pre-bed toke. Although there is some contrarian theories, the general consensus is that medical marijuana has an overall positive affect on sleep, especially for those MMJ card holders who use their online medical marijuana recommendations for ailments that reduce their ability to get to sleep such as chronic pain or epilepsy.

It is prudent to first talk about different strains and the different ways in which they promote or inhibit sleep. Sativa strains, such as Amnesia Haze or Sour Diesel, may be among the most popular in the world due to their unrivalled buzz and long-lasting effects but they also act as a stimulant to those who take it, giving them an uplifting and energizing experience. While this can be great for alleviating stress and depression or even helping you overcome your writer’s block, these effects are not conducive to you nodding off with ease. If you’re currently using your California medical marijuana card to obtain sativa strains, then it’s best that you avoid MMJ for at least a few hours prior to your going asleep. On the other end of the MMJ spectrum are the indica strains, such as Purple Kush and Northern Lights, which give you the relaxing, analgesic effects that help ease you off soundly to a great night’s sleep. It is also worth noting that the older your cannabis is, the sleepier it will make you feel. This is because as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) degrades, it is turned into cannabinol which is a much more potent sedative than new medical marijuana.

Medical marijuana can work as a great aid for those with insomnia.

The most noticeable effect that medical marijuana will have on your sleep cycle is that it was dramatically reduce the amount of time it will take you to fall asleep – a phenomenon that has proven invaluable to the millions of insomnia sufferers across the country. The ingredient to thank in MMJ for this amazing effect is THC which has been proven in countless studies to significantly reduce the time it takes for both healthy sleepers and insomniacs to fall asleep. Not only does THC have a direct ameliorative effect on the speed at which you fall asleep it also drastically reduces symptoms of other ailments which inhibit sleep such as PTSD, Multiple Sclerosis, chronic pain etc. It’s important to remember that if you’re consuming your MMJ as edibles, they take a little bit longer to kick in. However, once they do start working you’ll notice that they work better than inhalation methods for making your sleep last longer. As with other issues you may be using your MMJ card to treat, it’s important that you don’t take too high a dose when using medical marijuana to help your sleep cycle or else you may experience a negative impact on exactly the thing you’re trying to treat.
Although 420 card holders will probably notice the affect that MMJ has on their ability to fall asleep the most, medical marijuana most positively affects sleep at stage three. Stage three sleep, also known as slow wave sleep, is the deepest stage of non-REM sleep. During this stage it is hardest to awaken the sleeper as they become dramatically less responsive to external stimuli. Medical marijuana has been observed to significantly lengthen the amount of time that users spent in this stage of sleep. This is incredibly beneficial to the sleeper as the most damaging effects of sleep deprivation are as a result of a lack of Stage Three sleep. Deep wave sleep is crucial to the restoration process that occurs when we sleep thusly those who use MMJ can notice that they feel more restored and rejuvenated when they wake up.

If you have trouble sleeping, medical marijuana could be the answer.

One stage of sleep that medical marijuana is observed to have a negative effect on is REM – although no one is quite sure whether this is really as bad as it sounds. Scientists still aren’t exactly sure what purpose REM serves, making it harder to determine whether going without it is really that bad. Medical marijuana significantly reduces the amount of time users spent in  REM. Medical cannabis users report that over time the amount of dreams they have lessens and become less vivid the longer that they consume. This is because dreaming entirely occurs within the REM stage. However, if you no longer need your medical marijuana card and halt your usage, you’re quite likely to experience REM rebound whereby your re-immersion into REM will lead to you having intense, vivid and sometimes lucid dreams.

Another lesser reported positive effect that medical marijuana has on sleep is that it restores respiratory stability by modulating serotonin signaling in the brain. Although this may not mean a lot to those without respiratory problems, to the millions of sleep apnea sufferers across the US it is potentially life changing. Sleep apnea is an affliction that manifests itself with pauses in breathing and shallow breathing during the sufferer’s sleep. According to a 2013 study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, “THC stabilizes autonomic output during sleep, reduces spontaneous sleep-disordered breathing, and blocks serotonin-induced exacerbation of sleep apnea.” Although this is one small study, the implications of this are huge as it could mean that the millions of sleep apnea sufferers across the country could opt to take an MMJ pill before bed to treat their ailment instead of using a cumbersome mask.

The positive effects that MMJ has on sleep are obvious for 420 card holder. With the advent of easily applying for a California medical marijuana card online, more and more people can benefit from what is being described as the ultimate sleep aid. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from sleep related issues, you’d be crazy not to avail of this amazing service which will nearly guarantee you the best night’s sleep of your life.

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.

You’ve smoked some medical cannabis. You’re feeling great. Then all of a sudden you get the urge to eat everything in sight. You promised yourself the last time that that was the last time. The plan was to resist the temptation to gorge. But it just feels so right. Once everything edible in sight is out of sight (and into your belly), you ransack the food cupboards and the fridge. Things you would have never considered before are making their debuts. You’re creating gastronomical gems that would have Wolfgang Puck weeping with joy.

Then the effects of the medical cannabis start to fade and you’re left with the destruction of your gluttony: empty packets of the fattiest, sweetest junk food you never even knew you had litter the floor and stare up at you in judgment, and a protruding stomach follows you wherever you go. Yes, every smoker has been on the receiving end of cannabis’ most notorious effect: the munchies. And, though for many the binge may be minor – or desirable for certain ailments and diseases (anorexia or HIV/AIDS come to mind) -, many others are binging hard and putting on unwanted weight.

This article is directed toward the latter group. We will walk you through the science of marijuana-induced food cravings and provide a powerful method to curb those cravings. Before we begin, don’t forget to get your medical cannabis card online if you haven’t already! Alright, now onto the main content.    

Why Does Smoking Medical Cannabis Cause Cravings?

Stay away from sugary foods after smoking medical cannabis.

Smoking weed modifies two processes in the body that cause the munchies: olfaction (the capacity for smelling) and appetite regulation. We’ll discuss both processes and their weed-induced adaptations below.

Fasting from food for brief periods can increase the level of natural cannabinoids in the mammalian brain, which, in turn, triggers us to eat more when we’re hungry. What’s interesting is that it’s specifically the activation of cannabinoid receptors in the nose – specifically the olfactory bulb (the primary brain region controlling the sense of smell) – which leads to an acute sense of smell that causes the devouring of grub.

Studies have shown that endocannabinoids (cannabinoid receptors located in the mammalian brain and throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems) can disinhibit circuits of the olfactory bulb when triggered. When these receptors are activated by external cannabinoids, such as those found in marijuana, the consumption rate goes up again. Research points to THC causing the increased sense of smell. So our main tip to curb your cravings: find a strain low in THC and high in CBD. Note: strains low in THC are non-psychoactive, so if that’s something you require for you ailment, use a combination of the tips below instead.

Many people use medical cannabis as a painkiller – but it can also cause serious hunger!

A connection exists between leptin and cannabinoids. Scientists have shown mice that don’t make leptin have oversized appetites and they have unusually high concentrations of cannabinoids in the hypothalamus (which deals with hunger control amongst other homeostatic systems). Young-Hwan Jo, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, took a look at slices of mouse hypothalamus. When he brought cannabinoid compound into contact with neurons, the neurons fired. But when he first added leptin (also known as the “hunger hormone”), the neurons did not activate. Leptin helps keep hunger at bay by ensuring that the cannabinoids in the brain and throughout the gut are not over-activating. So our second tip: eat foods that increase leptin sensitivity and induce proper utilization of the hormone. Creating a leptin diet is beyond the scope of this article, but lean proteins, oatmeal, green tea and fish are some great examples (do not under any circumstances combine them!).

Another great tip: don’t rely on willpower, be prepared. Don’t expect yourself to act in times of weakness the same as you do in times of strength. Willpower is a finite thing, so depend upon it as little as possible! Instead, simply get rid of the temptation, and willpower is no longer needed. This may mean clearing your house of all the junk food. Or, if you’re really a slave to your temptations, it may mean also giving your wallet to someone you can trust until the effects have worn off. In addition, either prepare healthy snacks beforehand to satiate the certain hunger, or just fast/lower calories approaching your smoke and binge guilt-free!   

And that brings us to the end! Try out this method and let us know what you think, and don’t forget – you need a medical cannabis card in order to take advantage of the many unique health benefits of cannabis.

Medical marijuana is a complex drug. To ingest whatever source available with no consideration for taste/strength/effect is the way of the recreational user. However, those who use marijuana for its medicinal properties in the treatment of a disease or ailment will naturally seek out a deeper understanding of marijuana and its many different strains to better combat their particular ailment. After all, knowledge is power, and power in the realm of recovery/treatment can make all the difference to your health!

In this article, we are going to go through several particularly interesting marijuana strains in relation to the
ailments they are best suited to treat. Though we will only speak of what the scientific literature has proven to have efficacy, we still recommend getting advice from a medical practitioner before picking a specific strain. Then, get yourself an MMJ card online and, without further ado, let’s begin!

Your doctor or budtender can recommend the right strain of MMJ for you.

Don’t Strain Yourself

Now that MMJ has been legalized in many states, it has gained the attention of modern medicine. Medical practitioners have found a plethora of health benefits of the plant, ranging from the prevention of epileptic seizures (2003 study for the VCU Department of Neurology) to improved lung health (2012 study published in Journal of the American Medical Association). And, in order to isolate the chemical compounds within marijuana responsible for these benefits, they are genetically modifying the plant and using these strands to treat very specific conditions. The positive implications of this advancement in the plant’s use are tremendous.

The choices of MMJ strains are almost inexhaustible, and in each individual case the strain that is most appropriate will vary, so some experimentation is recommended. 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. It’s responsible for the high as well as being anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective (preservation of neuronal integrity so you stay sharp), and antiemetic (prevents vomiting). 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.

There are two main species of marijuana: sativa and indica. 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.

Therefore, indica strains will be psychoactive making the user more relaxed and sleepy, while providing all the health benefits of THC. Indica is used to treat a larger number of conditions including cancer (chemotherapy), HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, insomnia and glaucoma as it is proven to be highly effective at reducing nausea, stimulating appetite, and reducing intraocular (eye pressure) pain amongst other things. Indica is characterized as giving patients a “body high”.

Sativa, on the other hand, will be far less psychoactive, increasing 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 – hypothesized to be an antipsychotic – it’s used to treat mental and behavioral issues such as depression, bipolar, ADHD, as well as epilepsy. Sativa brings about a cerebral high.

A simple way to remember the above distinctions between sativa and indica in relation to your ailment is to consider where the high takes hold: sativa, induces a cerebral high, and so is intended for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and psychotic conditions; indica induces a body high, therefore, is intended for the treatment of physical conditions.     

Below are some quality strains that are worth trying if you’re looking to treat any of the ailments listed above.

Sativa/High CBD Strains

MMJ is used to treat a variety of diseases and ailments.

• Charlotte’s Web
• Harlequin
• Avidekel
• Cannatonic
• Sour Tsunami

Indica/High THC Strains

• Black Destroyer
• OG Kush
• Amnesia
• Tutankhamon
• Pineapple Chunk

That’s it, folks! We hope you’re going away with a great deal more knowledge than you arrived with and that that knowledge informs your usage. Don’t forget, you need an MMJ card in order to take advantage of the many unique health benefits of the different strands and the easiest way to get an MMJ card of your own is to order it online.

People with California medical marijuana cards have been reporting that cannabis is a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, glaucoma, anxiety disorder, depression, and insomnia.  

Not only is medical cannabis showing a great ability to ease the painful symptoms of disease, but it is also showing potential for actually improving health and functionality in its users. Research from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom has found that cannabinoids, the chemical compounds found in cannabis, can help to reduce brain damage and improve neurological functioning following a stroke. Another study, from the National Cancer Institute, found that cannabinoids may have a protective effect against the development of certain types of tumors.

The use of medical marijuana has no known severe side-effects. A Canadian study conducted on 215 patients with chronic pain found that after using medical marijuana for one year, patients “had no greater risk than non-users (control group) to experience serious adverse events”. Many people have been using their cannabis card for years and have reported no ill effects, and only positive, life-enhancing results.

Prescription painkillers, on the other hand, seem to be doing a lot of damage to a lot of people.

Prescription painkillers can have a number of adverse side-effects that can lead to severe health complications for users. People have reported side-effects such as liver spots, severe headaches, and bleeding gums. Opioid painkillers can lead to chronic constipation, which can lead to colon cancer down the line.

A 2008 study showed that the common symptoms associated with opioid-based prescription painkillers include “sedation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, physical dependence, tolerance, and respiratory depression”. It went on to say that, “Physical dependence and addiction are clinical concerns that may prevent proper prescribing and in turn inadequate pain management. Less common side effects may include delayed gastric emptying, hyperalgesia, immunologic and hormonal dysfunction, muscle rigidity, and myoclonus.” That’s quite a list of negatives!

A recent study has shown that opioid drugs used to relieve pain in cancer patients may stimulate the growth and spread of tumors.

The physical effects of using your California medical card certainly seem to be safer than asking your doctor to prescribe painkillers.

Prescription painkillers can have much worse side-effects than medical marijuana.

Addiction is another major issue. American citizens make up 5% of the world’s population, yet they consume 75% of the world’s prescription drugs. Prescription painkillers can be highly addictive. They are often derived from the same sources as other highly addictive drugs such as heroin and morphine. They are frequently abused by adults and teenagers alike. 54.2% of pain pills in the US are obtained free from a friend or relative.

Tolerance to prescription painkillers tends to build up quickly, so people need to take more and more to get the same effect. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has declared that prescription drug abuse in the USA is an epidemic. As of 2010, an estimated 52 million Americans over the age of 12 use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes.

Experts believe that the rise in heroin use could be in part due to prescription painkiller abuse. When people become hooked on prescription painkillers, but then can’t get a hold of any, they often turn to heroin. So those people who peddle the old myth that marijuana is a ‘gateway drug’ should be leveling that accusation at prescription painkillers, which have a great deal more in common with harmful and illegal drugs like heroin than cannabis does.

Medical marijuana has proved to be a much more effective remedy than prescription painkillers in a lot of cases.

Medical cannabis is non-addictive, and there is no evidence that you need to constantly up your dosage due to developing a tolerance to it. People use their California marijuana card for years at the same levels without needing to up the dose.

With the number of people addicted to painkillers increasing year on year, it seems that medical marijuana could provide a valuable and safe treatment alternative.

Both medical cannabis and prescription painkillers have potential psychoactive side effects, but the long-term effects of cannabis use seem to be much safer. Studies show that long term opiate use can lead to decreased brain function. Whereas most strains of cannabis, particularly low THC/high CBD strains, appear to have little to no effect on cognitive function at all. So for people suffering from chronic pain, your 420 card could offer similar relief to a prescription painkiller but without the negative effects of long-term opiate use on cognitive function.

Deaths caused by prescription drug overdose outnumber deaths caused by heroin and cocaine combined. Every 19 minutes someone dies in the United States of a prescription drug overdose. 17,000 people die of prescription pill overdoses per year. There are zero recorded deaths related to cannabis overdose. Ever. This is a big difference!

The legalization of the mm card may be a big factor in a 25% decrease in opiate-related deaths in the states that have legalized mmj so far. That’s a 25% reduction in deaths caused by pain pills, heroin, and morphine.

Pain medication should make your quality of life better, but it seems that a lot of current prescription painkillers in fact make people’s lives worse. Taking prescription pain-pills can lead to physical dependence and chronic, life-threatening side effects. Medical marijuana is very effective at relieving pain, and is less dangerous than opiates.

So it seems that getting yourself a California medical marijuana card may well be a better option than using prescription pills.

Feature Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay 

The election threw up a lot of surprises, mainly with who will become the next President of the United States; however, one thing that wasn’t that much of a surprise is that Proposition 64 was passed in California. It’s been a long time coming, and it was almost a guarantee to pass when it featured on the ballot. When you look through Prop. 64, it’s a big read; the 62-page document that lays out California’s plan to tax, regulate and control the sale of marijuana across the state. There are a lot of medical cannabis card holders across California who strongly opposed Prop. 64 and some that were happy with it. In this article we’re going to explore what Prop. 64 means for the medical marijuana community and how it might affect the future of cannabis in California long into the future.

The law & what you can grow

Even with legalization, it’s definitely preferable to own a California medical marijuana card, especially if you grow your own.

Ever since California passed the Compassionate Use Act in 1996, those with a medical marijuana card have been able to legally buy and consume from dispensaries across the state. They have also been able to grow medical marijuana at a level that has regularly increased over the years.

A lot of dispensary owners and CA medical marijuana card holders have been particularly worried that with the introduction of Prop. 64 the stipulations and rules that were laid out in the Compassionate Use Act would be watered down, and it would result in more restrictions placed upon the growth and use of medical marijuana for MM card holders.

However, Prop. 64 has acknowledged and prioritized cannabis card holders to ensure that their rights are protected. Currently since Prop. 64 has passed every resident of California can grow and consume marijuana. But unless you have a medical marijuana card, heavy stipulations are placed on how much marijuana you can grow on your property.

Current rules dictate that marijuana users without a MM card are restricted to growing 6 plants on their residence, while those with their 420 card are allowed to grow up to 100 plants. This is a huge difference and there is no indication that Prop. 64 will alter this rule in any way.

The law & where you can smoke

The law is still undecided on how legalization will affect where you will be able to smoke medical marijuana.

Another thing that medical marijuana card holders are worried about is how it will affect their ability to smoke and consume their medical weed in public places. Under current regulations those possessing the credentials of a medical marijuana card are allowed to smoke or consume medical cannabis in any place that tobacco smoking is permitted.

However, now that weed has been legalized in California a lot of MM card holders are wondering if these rights will be affected. The good new is that this is not going to change with the passing of Prop. 64. The same rights of medical marijuana patients will remain in place, but there will be stricter regulations placed on those who do not have a weed card.

The full extent of these regulations are currently being explored, but having a California MM card will give you a lot more benefits than not having one. In fact, leading proponents of Prop. 64 on the medical marijuana patients side think the passing of Prop. 64 will lead to a lot of additional benefits including access and rights for those holding cannabis cards.

Where you can buy your marijuana

What a lot of users didn’t understand about the passing of Prop. 64 is that just because it passed in November, that doesn’t mean that non-medical marijuana card holders can just rock up to their local dispensaries and buy weed. In fact, it won’t be until mid-January, 2018 that licenses will even be issued for retail units to sell weed to no- California MM card holders.

Many people think that local dispensaries will be divided into two lines of people, those with medical marijuana cards and those without. The priority will always be placed on those with a CA MM card. Without one, for the next year you’ll have to grow your own weed, buying it will still be illegal, at least until licenses are issued to official sellers. It’ll be a long wait for those without medical marijuana cards to start buying and consuming regularly and legally.

What does Prop. 64 mean for the price of marijuana in California

Medical marijuana card holders should be protected from inflation in the price of marijuana.

Even with the passing of Prop. 64 the rights of medical marijuana card holders are going to be protected and even improved. However, one of the main questions the legalization of weed has MM card holders asking is, when is California is going to want to start taking their piece of the profits and is weed is going to get more expensive?

California stands as the world’s sixth biggest economy by itself, but it’s still a little broke, which is one of the reasons that Prop. 64 finally passed. Legalizing weed will mean hundreds of millions and eventually billions of dollars made in tax for the state of California.  Under Prop. 64 California will add a 15% excess tax onto the sale of weed. They will also levy a tax on those who grow marijuana of $2.75 per ounce of leaves and $9.25 per ounce of flowers.

While this sounds like terrible news for those of you with MM cards, THERE IS GOOD NEWS. None of these taxes or levies will apply to those of you with a medical marijuana card, so you’ll still be paying far below those without one.

We hope that this article explains that despite the passing of Prop. 64 those of you with California cannabis cards will not only have your rights protected, but in a lot of ways improved.

The budtender is the first person that any California medical marijuana card holder will encounter when they go to their local dispensary. He or she is the public face of any dispensary, so it is an incredibly important job. Most California medical marijuana card-owning patients rely on the budtender to educate them and help them to find the medicine that will improve their life the most.

A great budtender is passionate about medical marijuana, knows the cannabis card industry, and the product, inside out, and is a ‘people person’ who loves dealing with customers and helping them to improve their lives.

If you are a people person, then being a budtender can be an extremely rewarding and very often heartwarming job. You can create deep connections and friendships with your California medical marijuana card customers and watch as their quality of life massively improves.

If you want to become a budtender, here is what you need to do…

Studying what products are available to California medical marijuana card-holders is an integral part of being a budtender.

Have an extensive knowledge of the products available to a California medical marijuana card-holder

As a budtender, you will need to know all about cannabis strains, their effects, and what ailments each is typically good for treating. You need to know how the product was developed, where and how it was grown, and how your prices compare with those of your competitors. You have to be able to talk about the background of cannabis, and its history. In order to educate your customers, you must be highly educated yourself. Study is crucial – read books on the subject by Jorge Cervantes and Ed Rosenthal. Invest in yourself and your career by doing the necessary work to become a genuine MMJ expert. Make sure that before you attend an interview you are deeply familiar with all of the products that that particular dispensary sells. Being knowledgeable is essential, so do not be afraid to show this off during the interview.

Visit local dispensaries to see how things are done

Visit all of the dispensaries in your local area so you can talk to the budtenders and get some insider knowledge on what products each store carries, and what is most popular with their customers and in the wider California medical marijuana card scene. Meeting these guys and girls who are already doing what you want to do will be invaluable preparation for your career as a budtender, and will no doubt inspire you. Ask them about how they got their position and how they went about becoming experts in the field. Learn from the pros!

California medical marijuana card-holders may want to know everything about what they’re buying, so study hard!

Always educate yourself about new trends and directions in the industry

Study industry blogs and social media to stay on the cutting-edge. Follow industry leaders on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to see what is hot right now, and what exciting new developments are in the pipeline. Learn about new concentrates, extractions, and infused products. If your customers know that each time they come into your store you will have some interesting bits of advice, and tips about new products that are in the pipeline, they will come back to you again and again, and tell all of their friends about how interesting and informative their trips to the MMJ dispensary are. Also, stay up to date with new developments on the business side of things – who are the big industry names, what strains are making the most money, and what is the latest medical research telling us?

Go to cannabis conventions and meet people

Networking is important in any industry and the medical marijuana business is certainly no different. Cannabis conventions are excellent places to meet industry people from all over the state and beyond. Striking up friendships with fellow weed-lovers can be fun, informative, and can even create opportunities for career advancement. There are over 100 cannabis conventions each year worldwide, with most of them taking place in the USA and Europe. This is both a great way to meet other industry workers, and to learn about the most up-to-date and cutting edge developments in the industry. Put yourself out there, be brave and social, and make those vital connections!

Learn how to be compelling in your description of the product and its benefits

Being a compelling storyteller is an important part of being a great budtender. You want to fascinate, educate, and inspire your customers in equal measure. People need to enjoy the experience of dealing with you and learning about this fascinating subject that you are an expert in, and that will be having a profound effect on their lives. Connecting with customers on a personal level is key. Read books like How to Win Friends and Influence People to learn how to best connect with people and make them feel comfortable and inspired. Learning how to figure out what a customer needs and then sell it to them in a way that ignites their passion and imagination will make you a truly world-class budtender!

Bide your time before enrolling on a budtender course

There are a few budtending schools out there, but the California medical marijuana card industry is very new and the courses vary wildly in quality. You don’t need an official qualification in budtending to become a budtender. Genuine knowledge is the most important thing, and that can certainly be achieved with private hard work, lots of reading, and gaining lots of first-hand experience. With the growth of the MMJ industry, really high-quality courses will surely be established soon, and if you are going to spend money and get educated you want to be sure that your money is well spent, and that the information you are being taught is top-notch.

A career as a budtender can be fun, fascinating, and rewarding. It will require hard work and effort, but the experience will be well worth it. Learn, grow, develop yourself, and the sky’s the limit!

With the legalization of medical marijuana, as long as you have a California MM card, you no longer need to rely on whatever a back alley dealer has in stock for you. Now there are a huge variety of strains and types of medical marijuana available over the counter at your local dispensary. Each strain provides differing highs, and some are better at treating some of the core health benefits that medical weed delivers to you than others. In this article we are going to focus on the best strains of medical marijuana to help you treat feelings of anxiety and stress.

How does medical marijuana help you deal with anxiety and stress?  

Medical marijuana can help soothe anxious feelings.

Marijuana’s ability to help people cope with stress and anxiety is one of the main reasons that getting a medical marijuana card in California is so popular. In fact, despite marijuana providing a wide range of treatments, the herb’s ability at helping people cope with stress and anxiety is the main reason that people report for using cannabis. Through numerous studies, marijuana has been clinically proven to help reduce anxiety and stress disorders amongst patients. This is because it has a direct impact on your brain and particularly on a system within your brain called the endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system’s job, amongst a variety of other functions, is used to help regulate and control your feelings of stress and anxiety. This is accomplished through the release of chemicals known as cannabinoids. As you can imagine from the name, cannabis has a component known as THC, which is essentially almost identical to the cannabinoids found in your body. When you smoke or consume medical marijuana you release these replica cannabinoids (THC) into your system and they work overtime on the job your mind intends the cannabinoids to do. With more cannabinoids (within moderation, of course) your body is able to relieve anxiety and relax from stress. For those suffering with aggressive levels of stress or anxiety it can be an amazing way to treat and calm them down.

So what’s the best strain of medical marijuana to smoke to deal with anxiety?

With so many options available at your local dispensary it can be hard to even know where to start. There are too many strains of marijuana to even count, not to mention the huge number of delivery methods including: smoking (joints/pipes), vaping, tinctures, oils, edibles, creams and on and on! However, we’re going to focus on the strains that we’ve found most effective at dealing with stress and anxiety, and leave the consumption process up to you.

Choosing the right strain of medical marijuana is essential.

Great to start with the Northern Lights Strain

It’s one of the most popular and well-known strains of marijuana, and this is largely down to the fact that it never fails to deliver. This is the kind of strain of medical marijuana that is guaranteed to give you a euphoric dream-like high that sweeps over your body and mind and relaxes and delivers an amazing sense of peace. For those who suffer from acute stress or anxiety, it’s a weed strain that comes highly recommended as it delivers a smooth and long-lasting high that soothes mind and body.

Where is it from? Legend has it it comes from sensi seeds directly from Holland, but it first appeared sprouting on our shores sometime in the late 1980s, around Oregon.

What does it taste/look like? Thick crystal coated buds with a tinge of purple. The main flavors consist of earthy richness and pine.

Get Rich Relaxation from Purple Kush

Purple Kush is a very popular strain of medical marijuana.

The kush is one of the richest strains of weed when it comes to relaxing the body and mind. However, when you take it be wary that after the initial high you’ll be so relaxed that you’re probably going to want to sleep; that’s how deep and relaxing it is!

Where is it from? Purple Kush is grown across the US and around the world.

What does it taste/look like? Purple Kush looks kind of like a Christmas tree. It’s a dark pine-like green that’s covered in orange hairs that look almost like Christmas lights. The taste is sweet, with earthy tones and vague flavors of grape.

Want something as smooth as jazz? Try the BlueNote strain

This is a rare strain, split between two equally rare sources and typically only found in California. It’s a glorious high that will not only leave you feeling euphoric but also completely energized. It’s not the easiest strain to come by, so expect it to be a little pricey when you rock up with your weed card at your local dispensary, but in terms of the kind of high that will cure what ails you, BlueNote is incredibly hard to beat. It’s a favorite of a lot of people when it comes to dealing with, and fighting off feelings of depressions and anxiety.

Where is it from? A hybrid dream of California and Lebanese seeds.

What does it taste/look like? This is one of the sweetest strains you’ll find and the scent gives you a wonderful smell of cotton candy, plus – even better – it tastes like bubble gum. It’s a truly unique flavor and taste.

The strains above are just a few of the most popular medical marijuana strains when it comes to treating feelings of anxiety and stress. For your chance to sample some additional strains make sure you have a cannabis card and head to your local weed dispensary where they’ll be able give you samples and additional advice.

Well, hello there! If you’ve purchased your medical marijuana card online and started smoking, eating or drinking marijuana, creating a desire to unravel its complexity, or you’re considering buying a medical marijuana card but you want to be well informed before you dive in (this is definitely something we recommend), you’re in the right place.

Regardless of what brought you here, you’re here, and you’re hungry (I’m sure it’s not marijuana-induced!) for information. Let us satiate you with talk of THC and THCA. If you can wrap your head around these two little acronyms, you will have a strong grasp on the most significant chemical compounds within marijuana and their physiological effects. Alright, let’s get right to the nitty-gritty science!

Tell Me About THCA

Understanding the science behind THC and THCA will help explain why medical marijuana can be good for you.

THCA – Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (say that 5 times fast!) – is a biosynthetic precursor of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). So THCA precedes and is related to THC. THCA is found in fresh, undried marijuana.

THCA doesn’t have any psychoactive (mind-affecting) effects – this is why people don’t just eat the leaves (though maybe the pungent taste of raw weed has something to do with it too). However, It does have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective (preservation of neuronal integrity, so you stay sharp), antiemetic (anti-vomiting) properties. And it staves off prostate cancer too. All of this means THCA could be of great use to those seeking treatment of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and lupus, or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

Tell Me About THC

THC is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid of cannabis. Cannabidiol is another major component of the plant. There are at least 113 (I can’t even count that high) different cannabinoids isolated from cannabis, exhibiting varied effects. A cannabinoid is a class of chemical compounds that acts on cannabinoid receptors (involved in a variety of physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory) in cells that alter neurotransmitter release in the brain. Therefore THC affects physiological processes.

Many people consume medical marijuana without knowing exactly why it helps to ease their ailments.

THCA is present in fresh marijuana but is progressively decarboxylated (to be discussed later) into THC with drying. Under intense heating (smoking or cooking), this process is accelerated.  

Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group from TCHA and gives us THC. Simply put, it’s the acid in TCHA that is removed during drying/heating. A simple way to remember this is to look at what letter is missing from the acronym THC that is present in the acronym THCA: that’s right, it’s the ‘A’, which stands for ‘acid’.    

Without the carboxyl group, THC is able to freely bind to cell receptors in the body. Yay!

If smoked, the effects last around two hours, and get going 10-30 minutes after ingestion. Note: psychomotor impairment may continue after the perceived high has stopped, however.

Contrary to the mainstream narrative, marijuana – or THC, to be specific – has been proven to have lots of positive effects on brain cells. THC is a powerful neuroprotectant – we’ve discussed neuroprotectants already, so if you’re confused, it’s possible you require a neuroprotectant. Still confused? Just get a medical marijuana card online and get high and it’ll all become crystal clear!

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan discovered that THC can promote the growth of new brain cells through a process known as neurogenesis (sounds made up, but we promise it isn’t).

There’s a lot of science behind this little plant!

While marijuana is presently illegal in many U.S. states and in many countries, synthetic versions of the chemical have been legally prescribed the world overfor a smorgasbord of ailments and diseases. The first THC-based pharmaceutical, Marinol, was interestingly funded by the National Cancer Institute. In 1985, Marinol received FDA approval as a treatment for chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. Since then, numerous other THC -based pharmaceuticals have also been developed. This goes to show you that, despite the prevalent controversy – and illegality of use in many cases – surrounding marijuana use, THC, its main cannabinoid, has proven efficacy in combating many psychological diseases and illnesses.

That’s it folks! You’re now all marijuana scientists in your own right. You can enter into any related debate with some serious knowledge bombs and destroy all opposition. We also hope it informs your usage. Don’t forget, you need a medical marijuana card/cannabis card/420 card/any one-of-its hundreds-of-other-names card in order to start enjoying the many positive health benefits associated with the herb.

So you’ve got your medical marijuana card (if not, don’t fret, it’s a simple process to get one online), and purchased a supply of marijuana. You’ve eaten it and you’ve smoked it but now you’re looking for something a little different. Something healthier, something that gives you a longer, stronger high off of smaller doses, something that avoids the negative judgments of your less open kin/friends/housemates. Well, you’ve come to the right place then! In this article, we are going to going through the benefits of marijuana tea as well as the ins and outs of brewing a superb cuppa. So kettle, sorry, settle in!

Why Drink Marijuana Tea?

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes goes back more than 3000 years. It originated in Jamaica and India, where the medical benefits of cannabis have long been accepted. For pregnant women in Jamaica, marijuana tea was traditionally used as a remedy for morning sickness and pregnancy-related stress. Now it is used the world over by patients in dealing with countless medical conditions. And it is a popular choice for those who wish to avoid the health risks associated with smoking – this will be of particular interest for folk consuming medical cannabis to treat respiratory diseases.

The history of marijuana tea dates back 3000 years.

Because marijuana tea is absorbed gradually in the digestive tract – taking between 30 and 90 minutes (depending on the user and the potency of the marijuana) – it provides a slow, steady release of THC, which results in longer-lasting effects. This may be especially beneficial for people who consume marijuana regularly, minimizing the dosage required. Sound appealing? Get your marijuana card online and get your teapot ready!

Butter Me Up!

At this point you might be wondering why any method for making marijuana tea is deserving of an article to call its own: put weed in cup; put hot water in same cup; steep, then drink. That’s it, right? Wrong! With cannabis, tea making is a little more complex: the primary medicinal components in cannabis, are water-insoluble. However, those components can be extracted crudely by boiling the leaves; the heat strips the marijuana oil from the leaves. Then, in order to provide something for the oil to bind to, we must add fat to the mix in the form of butter or any oil you prefer.

Decarbo-what?

Marijuana in its natural state is non-psychoactive so just chewing on some leaves is unlikely to do much for you. Through decarboxylation the non-psychoactive compound THCA is converted into THC, activating its many glorious physiological effects. The heat applied to marijuana when smoking causes decarboxylation automatically. And when cooking marijuana, the process naturally occurs when the cannabis is cooked with oils.

Recipe for da Rasta

Be careful to pay attention to dosage and consider the delayed onset. Users should follow the recipe provided and only deviate from the marijuana dosage after experiencing the length and strength of the high produced – like all other methods of consuming marijuana, drinking marijuana tea may have adverse effects when consumed in excess. Assuming you do this, you should be pleasantly surprised by the effects.

Ingredients

Butter: 2 sticks unsalted

Marijuana: 5 ounces

Water: 2 cups

1 tea bag.

It’s important to follow the instructions carefully if you want the best marijuana tea.

Directions

1. Pour the water into a pot.
2. Add the butter.
3. Boil.
4. Add as many leaves as you can fit in your pan and cover with the butter/water mixture. Leave for 1 hour.
5. Mash and stir frequently to make sure all THC is extracted from the leaves.
6. After cooking strain butter from leaf using cheese cloth. Boil a cup of water and use it to rinse out every last drop of butter from the leaves.
7. Put in fridge (or freezer) to cool. When the butter has solidified, it will separate from the water.
8. Use a sieve to get rid of the unwanted water.
9. Add tea bag of your choice and one teaspoon of marijuana-infused butter to a mug.
10. Pour in boiling water.*

And hey presto!

*Note: do not drink until the marijuana butter has fully dissolved!

And do not feel confined or constricted by this recipe: feel free to push the boundaries and be experimental – add honey or cinnamon, add more or less marijuana, or eye of newt, or whatever else.  

And there you have it, your very own roadmap to some damn good marijuana tea. We hope you’ve found it informative. If you’re yet to get your medical marijuana card, we recommend getting it online – it’s quick and simple and can be done from the comfort of your home. We have articles all about that, so if you’re unsure of the necessary steps, definitely check them out. Happy drinking!   

So you’ve got your California medical marijuana card and you head down to your local dispensary. You’ve found your perfect strain and you’ve got your perfect delivery method. You get ready to head home or to a friend’s house but, you’re overwhelmed with the need to make a pit stop at the nearest grocery store and stock up on supplies. Typically really unhealthy supplies, because you know that after you consume your medical marijuana you’re going to be pretty darned hungry! You’re also going to find yourself surrounded by food wrappers everywhere while you enjoy your high. Why though? What is it about medical cannabis that makes you so hungry? Well, it’s a little scientific, but don’t worry too much were here to help explain why after smoking weed you get the inevitable munchies.

Why you’re hungry? It’s all in the mind

After smoking medical marijuana, it’s your brain that gets hungry, not your body!

Like all good things in life, your increased hunger level starts with the impact that medical marijuana has on your brain. When you consume weed, you’re consuming the main component of medical marijuana tetrahydrocannabinol, or, for those of us who can’t pronounce that (all of us), it’s more commonly known as THC. THC has the ability to heighten your sense of both smell and taste by targeting your brain’s olfactory bulbs. This in turn tricks your body into thinking it’s starving via the delicious smells and heightened taste sensation you get when high. Essentially, cannabis tricks your body into thinking everything is delicious when you’re high, but this is only part of it. Medical weed also has the capability of making your body forget it’s full altogether, but we’ll get into that later.

How did we find this all out?

It all comes down to the legalization of marijuana through CA cannabis cards, which has opened up a more healthy discourse and a series of scientific studies into the drug and the positive effects it can have on users’ lives. Studies carried out on mice recently, which would have never have gone ahead in the past, have really opened up the flood gates when it comes to giving us a better understanding of why smoking legal cannabis makes us so hungry! A new study performed on mice in France called “The endocannabinoid system controls food intake via olfactory processes” has made some substantial breakthroughs in understanding the exact science behind what it is within weed that makes us so hungry.

The study split two groups of mice up. One group of mice were exposed to the main chemical ingredient of marijuana (THC) and another group of mice were not. Each group of mice were provided with equal measures of bananas and almond oils. As you may have guessed, the mice that became high off the THC spent significantly more time smelling the bananas and almond oils than the mice who were not high. The mice exposed to the THC also ate more than the mice who were not exposed and therefore not high. You might be thinking ‘yes, well this isn’t a breakthrough, I get hungry when I smoke my medical marijuana’, but it all comes down to a system in your brain known as the endocannabinoid system. This is where the real science comes in.

What’s the endocannabinoid system and why does it make you hungry when you smoke weed?

Medical marijuana can trick your brain into thinking that your body needs food.

The endocannabinoid system in our brains produces our own cannabinoids, these cannabinoids regulate and control our moods, memory, pain and appetite. As we’ve already mentioned. the main chemical component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and what this chemical does is manipulate the cannabinoid receptors in our endocannabinoid system, thus mimicking and altering the sensations of hunger, pain, depression and memory. When it comes to hunger it’s all down to your body’s hypothalamus, which produces chemicals telling your body it’s no longer hungry. THC found in cannabis overrides this system and masks these chemicals, essentially confusing your body into thinking that it’s ravenous.

Let’s do a little stoner science instead

When consuming medical marijuana, it’s best to avoid junk food.

The above might all sound a little confusing but to put it in layman’s terms, let’s do a little stoner science. So we’re trying to explain why mice that consumed THC were hungrier than the mice that didn’t and, by proxy, clarify why you are hungrier after consuming medical marijuana than before, even if you’ve just eaten, think about it like this. Your body is full of neurons (like little balls – yep, think of neurons like a kid’s ball pit in your brain). These neurons work together and deliver messages to your brain. Once you’re full, these neurons tell your body you don’t want or need any more food and you stop eating (the ball pit is calm and compact). The THC in cannabis essentially represents you, if you were to dive into that ball pit headfirst! It disrupts the ball pit, which had assumed you were full, and confuses it into thinking you’re hungry again, whilst in the process making foods that are typically kinda disgusting delicious.

It’s all a little complicated, but its straightforward as well, so think about that next time you head down to the dispensary with your 420 card and are wondering why that snack pit stop seems inevitable.

The festive season is upon us and it’s present-buying time. If you know someone who has a California medical marijuana card and are struggling to find a present for them, fear not! We’re here to help. Perhaps you’re an MMJ user and you want to treat yourself this Christmas, or perhaps it’s a friend or family member that you want to make sure has an extra special stocking filler? Either way, we’ve got you covered with the five ultimate gifts for a California medical marijuana card holder.

These gifts are only meant for those who have a valid California medical marijuana card; if you’re unsure whether your friend or family member has an MMJ card or how they can get one, why not check our qualifying conditions to see if they should apply today.

California medical marijuana card holders will appreciate a vaporizer as a Christmas gift.

Vaporizer

Sure, you may enjoy the ceremony of rolling joints and nothing may feel better than taking that first drag of MMJ from your rolled up roach, but haven’t you ever though that there might be an easier – not to mention healthier –  way?

Turns out, there is. You’ll have seen vaporizers hanging out of the mouths of hipsters for the last year or so, but don’t worry; these tools are not just for the tattooed, skinny jean-ed contingent of society. Vaporizers heat dry medical marijuana to just below 400*F, converting the active ingredients to turn into vapor, which you then inhale. Proponents assert that this is a healthier way to consume medical marijuana as it doesn’t ‘burn’ the herb and thus harm your lungs as much as smoking.

Still not convinced? Check out our article on Is Getting A Vaporizer Worth It? It’ll answer all of your queries and point you in the right direction.

Why not get topicals for a California medical marijuana card holder this year?

Balm

If you don’t feel like getting a vaporizer, or if you feel like getting one and then another gift because, hey, it’s Christmas, you might want to look at cannabis balm, also known as a topical.

Cannabis-infused lotions, balms and oils are all the rage at the moment as they can treat a whole host of afflictions by directly targeting one area of the body. If you have sore joints or a point of inflammation, these topicals can offer localized relief.

Topicals are perfect for California medical marijuana card holders who don’t like the idea of inhaling smoke but still want to relieve their ailments in a subtle and soothing manner.

Stash box

After getting you hands on all of these new gadgets and bottles, you’re going to need somewhere to store your new equipment. It’s best to get a proper container, often referred to as a ‘stash box’, so that you know that your property is secure.

‘Stash box’ may have negative connotations in that it’s a place where you ‘stash’ illegal drugs, but as long as you have your California medical marijuana card with you at all times, you won’t be bothered by the police for keeping a small amount of MMJ for personal use.

Cannador offers an excellent container, with its 2-Strain Cannador® box being ideal for someone who wants to store, well, two strains of MMJ. The beautifully carved box contains two glass cups adjustable ventilated lids, as well as a lock and two keys. You can stick your vaporizer and your grinder in the bottom drawer and the wood (which is smell-proof, by the way) comes in walnut or cherry – your choice.

Juicer

If you’re a fan of healthy food porn on Instagram (who isn’t?!), you’ll have already noticed the trend of posting brightly-colored shakes and juices on one’s feed. But did you know that these intriguing libations can deliver your daily dose of medical cannabis?

Anyone with a California medical marijuana card can create  all sorts of delicious concoctions, as long as they have the right juicer, so that could shoot straight to the top of your presents list!

If you’re interested in juicing your MMJ, it’s best to check out Juicing Medical Cannabis: A How-To Guide; it isn’t as simple as chucking a few buds in the juicer along with carrots and apples, but once you’ve mastered the technique, you’re sure to be an instant convert.

Any healthy living fans should also cast an eye over The Health Benefits of Juicing Medical Marijuana to learn why juicing might be the best way to consume your medical marijuana.

Weed Wine

A bottle of weed wine will make the ideal gift for a California medical marijuana card holder.

We know that Christmas is all about Champagne and Sherry but in case you wanted to wet your whistle with something a little different this year, consider investing in a bottle or two of weed wine.

This unique tipple has been around in one form or another for centuries, but it’s only recently that a couple of entrepreneurs have brought the combination of cannabis and wine into the mainstream. Cancer survivor and (medical cannabis dispensary) Greenway owner Lisa Molyneux teamed up with the owner of Verdad Wines, Louisa Sawyer Lindquist, and have released Canna Vine, California medical marijuana card holders and anyone else who can legally imbibe the tasty nectar.

It’s been championed by rock star Melissa Etheridge amongst others and is said to be quite the palate-pleaser.

For further reading, check out Weed Wine: What’s The Hype?

There we have it folks, five ultimate gifts for a California medical marijuana card holder. We hope that you have a very merry Christmas and we’ll see you in the new year when you let us know if any of our gift recommendations were hits!

If you have a prescription for medical marijuana but are struggling to find a source, if you simply want to save money, or if you want to go into the business of selling medical marijuana, but you haven’t a clue on how to get started, this is the place to be.

Come to us green and we’ll send you off green-thumbed, with a solid knowledge of strains, growth methods, and best procedures for harvesting and curing your crop – a real blueprint to homegrown, high-quality medicinal marijuana.

We recommend starting small and growing from there (pun intended), lest you decide farming is not for you but you’ve completely decked out your entire house and remortgaged the kids to finance it – you’ve gone beyond the point of return. Alright, without further ado, let’s get to it, fledglings!   

In what environment should I grow my medical marijuana?

You don’t have to buy medical marijuana; with the right license, you can grow it yourself!

We recommend that you grow your crop indoors with soil for security, control, predictability, and ease. While you can grow more marijuana outdoors, the quality of the crop can be greatly affected by pests and fluctuations in temperature or rainfall. These environmental issues make crop control – and the consequent crop quality – an expensive affair. Another option is hydroponics (growing plants without soil) which achieves higher yields than either of the other two options; however, its high yields come with an expensive price tag, a complex set-up, and a demanding maintenance regime. So avoid the headache and stick with indoor soil.

Which strain is best?

Well, there can be no definitive answer here: it will depend entirely on the individual and requires some experimentation. The types available – Indica, Sativa, and hybrids – are more or less suitable for treating different illnesses depending on their varying THC, Cannabinol, and Cannabidiol contents. The various strains of Indica and Sativa each come with a unique smell, taste, and strength profile so it’s best to do your research prior to committing to any one strain.   

Our main recommendation here is to pick a strain that is easy to grow. A few examples: AK-48, Northern Light, Aurora Indica, Northern Light Blue and Critical Express (autoflowering).

Your reputation pro-seeds you!

Note: You’ll need a medical marijuana license in order to purchase seeds legally. If you’re unsure how to get a  medical marijuana card online check out some of our other articles which detail the process.

Auto-flowering seeds: the buds in flowers are what contain the active ingredients in medical marijuana, so getting your plants to flower is essential. Unlike normal cannabis plants, which require 24 hours of light to grow and then 12 hours of light to flower, autoflowering plants flower with 24 hours of light. This means you quickly get from seed to weed with no need to separate growing plants and flowering plants. Definitely worth considering for the inexperienced grower.

Feminized seeds: There are both male and female marijuana plants, but only the female plants grow the buds that produce a high. You can – and should – purchase feminized seeds to ensure that you get a high-yield crop.

Note: Under stress, female plants will produce male flowers. Plant stress is onset by under or overwatering, lack or excess of nutrients, ph-imbalance, or irregular light-cycles – here the Goldilocks principle should be applied (it needs to be “just right”).  

To grow your own medical marijuana, you’ll need an MMJ card.

I’ve Soiled Myself!

If using garden soil, note that Marijuana needs soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7. For overly acidic soil, use lime to increase pH. To increase acidity, add coffee grounds. Alternatively, you can buy a soil mix designed for marijuana.

Water We Gonna Do?

Ideally PH neutral (pH7). Raise water’s pH by adding either some lime, wood ash, or a pre-mixed solution. Lower water’s pH by adding sulfur, phosphoric acid, or a pH-lowering solution.

Tend to Your Tent!

If you don’t want to use an entire room a grow tent is ideal. They come in all sizes, holding from 8 up to 256 plants. They keep light out, offer easy hookups for your grow lights, are waterproof, and provide an exhaust point. Fantastic for the uninitiated and we’re going to assume this is the set-up you’ll be using.

Let There Be Light!

To grow, your plants will need light provided by bulbs that provide a full spectrum of light, unlike normal household bulbs. We recommend going with LED lights: though they will cost more initially than some other options, they’ll save money in the long-run.

Block out all external light. Your marijuana plants will need total darkness for large periods of time.

Germination

The easiest way to germinate your seeds is by soaking them for a day in a glass of distilled water and then placing them in a warm, moist paper towel. Once it has sprouted, it needs to be put into the soil.

Seedlings

At this stage, it is best to put a seedling under at least 16 hours light every 24 hours – but make sure the light is not too bright.

Flower Power

In the flowering stage, your marijuana plant will finally produce smokable marijuana. During this stage, you will need to reduce the amount of light it receives to just 12 hours. You will also need to adjust down the brightness of the light, using a bulb with 2700k.  Run this light regimen until your plant is ready to harvest.  

Harvesting

The best way to tell whether your plant is ready for harvest is to check the plants’ trichomes (extremely fine hairs that can be seen along the surface of the buds). Using a 30x magnifying glass, check that around 80% of trichomes are cloudy, 15% are amber and 5% are clear. If this is the case, it’s time to cut and dry.

Drying and Curing

Don’t smoke it yet! You need to dry and cure it first. To dry the weed, hang it until the buds are dry to the touch, but do not snap when bent. The most common technique for curing is known as “burping”, which involves putting your bud in an airtight glass jar and opening it for a couple of minutes every 12 hours over the course of a month – how cute!

And there you have it. Your guide to growing your own medical marijuana. Hopefully, this beginner’s guide to growing your own medical marijuana has provided the inspiration to get started and the knowledge to take you to the end. Make sure you get your 420 card before you begin and enjoy growing!

For millions of Americans each year, stress is the number one factor that affects their quality of life. Stress can develop from the most modest of places but over time can grow into a much larger issue, leading to insomnia, and even severe anxiety. Fortunately, medical marijuana and the medical cannabis oil extracted from the plant, can work wonders in securing a far more balanced frame of mind. If you’ve been living with stress for far too long, a cannabis card may be able to help.

With a myriad of ways in which to consume medical marijuana, and the differences in chemical compounds within each strain, finding the best type for you can often become a daunting task. For those who are inclined to shy away from the more traditional means of consumption, such as smoking, medical cannabis oil is an effective alternative, one which is able to relieve stress with very little effort, while omitting the usual high that is associated with marijuana.

Medical cannabis oil can be a fantastic stress-reliever.

Cannabis oil is merely a concentrated, distilled substance obtained from the marijuana plant, where the plant itself has been removed via a solvent. There are two core compounds found within most common types of cannabis: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabidiol (CBD) – the former of which responsible for the “high” feeling. Typically, medical cannabis oil which is marketing for medicinal purposes contains far less THC – this being the primary reason why oil is able to have a positive impact on stress.

If you hold or are thinking about obtaining a cannabis card in California, it’s important to know the principle differences in strains (assuming the cannabis is being used medicinally, of course). Simply put, strains with higher levels of CBD are beneficial for those coping with stress, while high levels of THC should be avoided in this instance, due to chronic consumption often causing stress and anxiety. The emphasis on CBD is one of the reasons medical cannabis oil is the ideal remedy for one’s stress.

Opting to acquire a cannabis card is becoming more and more common for people suffering from a range of ailments. Anecdotal and scientific evidence both show that medical cannabis oil has the ability to release pleasure hormones, relaxing the mind in the process. These hormones lend themselves to reducing stress levels directly, allowing a peaceful calm to wash over the body. Through relieving stress, secondary problems such as insomnia or anxiety can also be mitigated.

With medical cannabis oil predominantly consisting of CBD, consuming cannabis in this way is safe, unobtrusive, and efficient, due to its ability to combat a range of underlying issues. If left to fester, stress more-often-than-not evolves into anxiety, which can have a major impact on your standard of living – something roughly 18% of the US population can attest to. However, research conducted at Vanderbilt University found that the CBD compound is able to regulate and relieve anxiety, preventing further stress.

The oil extracted from marijuana can help relieve a whole host of medical issues.

For those on the fence about obtaining a cannabis card in California, further studies have shown how CBD-rich marijuana (such as that of cannabis oil), can have a dramatic positive impact on people suffering from the effects of stress. A 2013 study conducted at the University of Haifa in Israel found that CBD-rich treatment was able to regulate the emotional response found within those who had undergone a significant traumatic experience, preventing stress-induced impairment.  

CBD treatment is able to work wonders on the mind, due to the way that it interacts with the body. Evidence shows that CBD is able to minimize stress through the affects it has on the receptors in the basolateral amygdala (where the majority of sensory information is received) and the hippocampus (the believed center of emotion). Supporting these scientific explanations is the fact that cannabis simply offers therapeutic comfort, with the Institute of Psychiatry stating that CBD offers great psychiatric potential.

Stress can rear its head due to a number of reasons, each specific to an individual’s personality and environment. CBD has been shown to improve cognitive impairment, as well as the discomfort people often have when faced with speaking in a public setting. These benefits also extend to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with a 2015 review published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy finding that cannabis treatment is effective at supporting military veterans.

A cannabis card is the gateway to relieving a plethora of ailments. Veterans who house PTSD frequently report cannabis treatment reduces their anxiety and insomnia – direct effects of intense stress, which can similarly be applied to anyone in their individual situation. The advantages to consuming products such as medical cannabis oil are tremendous; faster acting than standard prescription medication, and producing few side effects that meds all too often go hand-in-hand with.

The key for any cannabis card holder searching for the most effective herbal remedy is the compound levels. If you find yourself struggling through day-to-day activities due to the impact stress is having on your life, then a CBD-rich strain is the way to go – with medical cannabis oil being a prime candidate.

Medical cannabis has a whole host of incredible benefits. It provides invaluable pain relief for sufferers of many chronic illnesses such as arthritis, glaucoma,

back ache, cancer, muscle spasms, and cramps. It also calms anxiety, aids with sleep, improves appetite, and can ease the symptoms of depression and PTSD. But like with anything good, it is possible to go overboard.

It is easy to become reliant on anything that brings physical or psychological relief, such as painkillers, coffee, wine, food, sex, or pornography. And weed is no different. Being dependent on something means that you are vulnerable, so it is always best to make sure that you, and not your 420 card, are calling the shots.

So with that in mind, here are a few tips on how to recognize if you are wearing out your cannabis card too quick. Monitoring your use of weed is important, and here’s how to do it.

Firstly, you need to be your own scientist and keep a close eye on the effects of your medical cannabis use. How are you feeling? Do you feel different when you are using compared to when you are not? And do you feel different in between sessions when you are not under the immediate influence of medical cannabis? If you are feeling groggy and lethargic, or are finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning, then it could be that you are availing of your medical card California a bit too much. Some people can function very well while using cannabis regularly, while others find that it makes them tired and unproductive. Keep a close eye on how your energy levels are reacting to your weed consumption.

If you consume medical cannabis regularly, it’s best to keep an eye on how often you reach for the MMJ.

Another important question to ask yourself is; are you becoming reliant on medical cannabis to function socially? People often enjoy being out and aboutamongst others while feeling a little weed buzz, and it sure is enjoyable to be mellow and relaxed as you go about your business. But if you are becoming dependent on your mm card to feel OK about being amongst crowds and interacting, then maybe you need to cut back a bit because, as I said before, relying on something other than your own mental faculties to be OK is never ideal.

Weed is not physically addictive, but like many non-physically addictive things, such as sex, porn, and gambling, it can certainly be psychologically addictive. If you are getting tetchy and irritable, just counting down the minutes until you can hit the bong, then you may be getting a bit too reliant on your sweet, sweet California medical cannabis. If you feel you couldn’t go a day or two without, then maybe going a day or two without is exactly what you need to do.

An indirect sign that your medical cannabis consumption could be too high is weight gain. Marijuana increases appetite, and if you are getting heavier than is healthy for you to be, then perhaps you need to be aware of how much your medical marijuana is indirectly causing you to become overweight.

A good way to keep your consumption within reasonable limits is to borrow a strategy from the intermittent fasting crowd. The 16 – 8 fast is a way of eating that allows people to eat within an 8-hour window only, and requires them to fast for the remaining 16 hours of the day. This is easier than it first sounds because we are usually asleep for 8ish hours of the 16-hour fast. This method of eating means that it’s very difficult to eat too many calories due to the relatively small eating-window. You can apply this method to your cannabis consumption by simply deciding that you will not smoke until a certain time each day, and then smoking within a strict window of time from then. This guarantees that you will have a chunk of weed-free time every day.

Similar to the intermittent fasting idea is to have a No Weed Day every once in awhile (weekly, monthly, or whatever). A day of no marijuana can give your system a little rest and also make the weed taste and feel all the better when you go back to using it.

Keeping a ‘weed diary’ can really help you monitor your medical cannabis consumption.

Another way to make sure you are not overdoing your consumption is to stick to a strain that is not too potent. Bring your cannabis card down to the dispensary and ask for some recommendations for a nice, mellow strain. ‘Harlequin’ is a pleasant hybrid with a 5:2 ratio of CBD to THC, so it’s good for pain relief but doesn’t have too strong of a psychoactive high. ‘One to One’ has a CBD to THC content of 1:1, and it is a very practical strain for many situations. Choosing a modest strain of medical cannabis will help you moderate your consumption.

A final suggestion is to keep a ‘weed diary’. This can be a great idea with any number of things – food, alcohol, and even your thoughts. Simply write down how much you smoke each day, or week, or whatever works for you. When you jot something down you can keep track of it. If you flick back through the pages of your weed diary and you see that the amount you consume is going up and up, maybe you need to be aware of the trend and cut back. Knowledge is power!

So, medical cannabis is an amazing addition to the lives of many thousands of people, and long may it continue. But, like every good thing – too much can be too much, so it’s best to keep track of your consumption.

Medical cannabis oil is utilized to treat a myriad of conditions, with the number of those who purchase it for medicinal use increasing every year. One of the most common reasons people are choosing to obtain a cannabis card is due to the drug’s effectiveness at combating cancer, and the symptoms related to its treatment.

Medical cannabis oil is a great tool in the fight against cancer.

Each year, an annual international convention on cannabinoid medicine takes place, gathering doctors and researchers together to combine their findings regarding the effects of medical marijuana. While most of the information aired at conventions such as these is greatly under-publicized, there is no denying the anecdotal evidence surrounding the use of cannabis to treat various conditions.

If you have recently obtained a cannabis card in California for medicinal purposes, the information and options available to you can quickly become overwhelming. From the varying degrees of chemical compounds found within different strains of marijuana, to the plethora of ways in which to consume it, purchasing the drug that’s right for you isn’t always as easy as it seems.

Consuming cannabis through more traditional methods, such as smoking it in a joint or bong, also isn’t for everyone. For reasons such as these, more and more people are turning to medical cannabis oil. Cannabis oil is simply a concentrated, distilled form of the marijuana plant, with the plant material itself stripped away via a solvent. Typically, cannabis oil marketed for medicinal use is far less likely to give the high associated with cannabis use, but can still provide a tangible impact on those suffering from cancer.

Just like its herb counterpart, medical cannabis oil contains two primary ingredients: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabidiol (CBD). While cannabis oil is more likely to contain lower levels of THC, both compounds found within marijuana have been found to act as a beneficial alternative form of cancer treatment. While no proof suggests cannabis can actually cure cancer, there is significant evidence suggesting it may be able to reduce cancer cells.

Found within every cell in the body are sphingolipids – lipids which specifically manage the life and death of each particular cell. Simply put, if ceramide levels in a cell are high, the death of that cell is imminent. Through the use of medical cannabis oil, THC is able to connect to the cannabinoid receptor site of a cancer cell, causing an increase in ceramide synthesis which drives cell death. While killing cells may sound like a dubious proposition, healthy cells do not produce ceramide in the presence of THC, so only the cancer cells are affected.

Many MMJ users like to use medical cannabis oil to relieve themselves of symptoms of illness.

For those with a cannabis card, certain steps are advised to make the most out of your cannabis oil. The key to fighting cancer cells is the accumulation of ceramide in the system. Consuming a steady amount of CBD and THC over a consistent period of time is far more beneficial than using a large amount all at once. Keeping firm metabolic pressure on the cancer cells will provide the most advantageous route to maximize the effects of medical marijuana.

Substantial evidence found throughout studies carried out over years suggests that medical cannabis oil is able to combat cancer head-on. In 2013, a study completed at the Complutense University of Madrid found that THC actually causes cancer cells to auto-digest, thus drastically reducing tumor size and prevalence. Many people have claimed cannabis helped them recover from cancer, and while this is indeed the case, frequently this is due to the reduction in side effects associated with traditional cancer treatment.

One of the most effective uses of your medical marijuana card in California is nausea relief. For a wealth of people suffering from cancer, chemotherapy is an uncomfortable and draining reality. However, cannabis oil is able to relieve the symptoms that arise through chemotherapy. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has stated that consuming cannabis can often be more effective than the use of most standard anti-nausea medication.

The range of uses for cannabis in relation to cancer is noteworthy, as they are able to directly affect the disease itself, as well as its symptoms. These symptoms – from nausea, to lack of appetite and pain – can be easily treated through the acquisition of a cannabis card. In fact, a study carried out at St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa found that the side-effects that go hand-in-hand with treatment for both cancer and HIV/AIDS were reduced by 38% in patients who consumed medical marijuana.

Through its ability to target both the cause and symptoms of cancer, cannabis – and the oil distilled from its mothering plant – is becoming an increasingly worthy source of treatment for a considerable amount of people. If you have a cannabis card, knowing the chemical compounds and means of consumption which are right for you is important – with medical cannabis oil being a viable and inviting option for many.

With California medical cannabis still being a relatively recent legal development, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Here’s a beginner’s guide to answer some of the most common questions.

California medical cannabis can even come in the form of massage oil!

What are the qualifying conditions for California medical cannabis?

Many people apply for a California medical cannabis license in order to treat a condition that hasn’t been helped by more conventional medicine. People unfamiliar with the potential benefits of medical marijuana are often surprised at the sheer diversity of patients that use it on a regular basis. In the state of California, medical marijuana can be used to treat the symptoms of serious ailments such as HIV and AIDS, lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer, glaucoma and fibromyalgia. Medical marijuana is also used to treat eating disorders, anxiety, migraine headaches and fight the negative side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If you don’t see your condition listed, that doesn’t mean you won’t qualify for a California medical cannabis card however, as the law allows for other chronic or terminal illnesses to be treated this way.

How do you qualify as a medical marijuana patient?

You must first get a recommendation from a licensed healthcare provider. If possible, you should book an appointment with your primary physician in order to discuss receiving a recommendation for your ailments. If this is not possible or if you’re uncomfortable discussing the use of medical marijuana with your doctor, there are also a number of healthcare professionals who specialize in seeing patients to assess them for the use of medical marijuana or you could look into a weed license online. In California, any licensed physician will be allowed to give you approval before proceeding to apply for your cannabis card.

How do I get my California Medical Cannabis Card?

In order to get your medical marijuana, a doctor’s note will suffice at your local dispensary, although it will need to be verified on your first visit. Many patients, however, apply for a medical marijuana card to make the process simpler and easier in the future. This program is run by the state of California and once you apply with your doctor’s approval, it means that your details will be placed on an online state register so that physicians, dispensaries and any law enforcement will be able to quickly verify your legal right to use medical marijuana.

Your California medical marijuana ID is extremely useful to have on your person at all times because it shows that you are legally allowed to possess or cultivate marijuana for personal medical use. Should this question ever arise from the police or other law enforcement agencies, you can produce your MMJ card immediately, giving you legal protection at state level.

It’s best to be au fait with all of the laws surrounding California medical cannabis before you consume.

How do I get my medical marijuana?

Check online to see where your nearest medical marijuana dispensary is located. There are dedicated apps that can help you find your nearest one, or Google Maps will be able to help. You will need to bring along your doctor’s recommendation or your cannabis card, along with a form of identification that proves that you live in the state of California. You should note that if you visit the dispensary without a California cannabis card, the dispensary will call your doctor to verify your identity.

What kind of medicinal cannabis should I use?

Discuss with the dispensary staff what kind of medical marijuana is right for you. For a first time user, the different strains and products can be confusing. Don’t be afraid to take your time and talk with the staff about your condition and what you hope to achieve through use of medical marijuana. They will be trained to give you the best possible experience and guide you through the process. They will be able to recommend any particular strains of MMJ that will work best for your condition, as well as talk you through any possible side effects. There’s also a wide variety of possibilities for the way you ingest your medical marijuana in California; if you don’t want to smoke it perhaps you might be better suited to trying edible products, using a vaporizer, ingesting oil capsules or even applying a topical ointment instead.

As you become a more experienced medical marijuana user, you will be better able to navigate the variety of strains and options available. Many experienced users are able to tell the quality and strength of the different product by smell. There’s even a saying amongst medical marijuana users that ‘the nose knows!’ and it’s not uncommon for patients to smell a variety of strains before deciding on one to try.

You can also use the internet to do some research of your own and perhaps connect with other medical marijuana patients who have the same conditions as you. Ask them what strains helped them the most and how they prefer to consume their MMJ. Finding the right fit for you can involve some trial and error but it’s worth it to find the best solution.

As marijuana legislation is slowly moving in the right direction, California medical marijuana card holders are now enjoying a much more tolerant, understanding and welcoming society. Marijuana usage is no longer confined to the home and MMJ is finally being recognized for its numerous health benefits. However, as marijuana laws become more relaxed, 420 card carriers are getting more and more confused as to where exactly they can consume medical cannabis. Although laws like Proposition 64 have been passed, public and police responses to marijuana consumption remains mixed and you should be careful about how and where you choose to consume.

Your home is usually the safest and most appropriate to smoke MMJ if you have a California medical marijuana card.

Your home is obviously the best place to consume your MMJ. Not only will you be comfortable, but you’ll also be able to consume your medical marijuana any way you want to so smoke, vape, eat or even drink as much as you need. If baking edibles at home, never forget to keep them out of the reach of little fingers’ or else an unplanned trip to the ER could be on the cards. If you choose to smoke in your garden, always be mindful of your neighbors. Not only is this good neighborly practice but a cranky old coot of a neighbor could get angry and call the cops. Needless to say, a visit from the police will ruin your relaxing afternoon.

Although home is a comfortable and safe place for consumption, for some California medical marijuana card holders it is simply not practical to confine usage to within their four walls. Consuming in public is permitted but complicated due to the USA’s unique legal position regarding MMJ. Even though it is fully legal in some states, federal law dictates that all use of cannabis, medical or otherwise, is still illegal. This paradox goes largely unimplemented, but if you come across the wrong cop, on the wrong day, s/he can still charge you with possession, whether you have an online medical marijuana recommendation or not. It is prudent to be discreet when consuming cannabis in public, so you’re best to opt for vaping, edibles or tinctures instead of lighting up.

Smoking MMJ certainly has its benefits, but it also has several non-health related drawbacks that can limit where you can and can’t blaze up. California law states that marijuana cannot be smoked where smoking is prohibited by law, at or within 1000 feet of a school, recreation centre, or youth centre, unless the medical use occurs within a residence, on a school bus, or in a moving motor vehicle or boat. It is also extremely important to remember that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal. This can be defined as driving whereby your mental abilities are impaired by marijuana to the extent that you are unable to drive with appropriate caution. Unlike alcohol, there is no clear cut test to define what the legal limit of marijuana usage while driving is and because of this, it is best to avoid consuming when you’re driving and if you absolutely have to, you should keep it to a minimum.

Very few offices will let you smoke MMJ, even if you have a California medical marijuana card.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of workplaces in California disallow the consumption of cannabis on work property or during work hours, regardless of whether you have an online California medical marijuana card. The Compassionate Use Act doesn’t prohibit employers from disciplining or even terminating employees solely based on their MMJ usage. Only four states – New York, Arizona, Minnesota and Delaware – have brought in laws that protect employees who possess a  medical marijuana license and fail workplace drug tests. In these cases, the onus is on the employer to not only show that the employee was under the influence of marijuana while on the job but also that it impaired their level of work. Until the whole country is as forward thinking as the above states or unless you’ve got a particularly understanding boss, it’s best to keep your marijuana consumption out of the office.

Although taking your MMJ to Yellowstone for a few hours of relaxation may seem like the perfect Sunday, federal parkland is under the remit of federal law and as a result it is strictly forbidden to consume cannabis on its grounds. National park rangers are well known for issuing fines to anyone possessing the drug inside federal parks. Those who can produce a California medical marijuana card are subject to more lenient fines, but are not immune to penalties. Cards need to be renewed each year to remain valid, so you should get your cannabis card online, well in advance of your renewal date to avoid the hassle of paying extortionate fines should you run into an overzealous federal park ranger.

It’s best to do your research on where to consume your MMJ even after buying your California medical marijuana card online.

Federal law makes things especially confusing for California medical marijuana card holders when it comes to traveling. Although some airports like San Francisco and Oakland are MMJ friendly, others are not so much. If you’re unsure of your airport’s stance, it is best to call ahead and ask them directly so as to avoid any embarrassing altercations with security when you get there. It is also worth noting that whether or not you can bring your MMJ onto a plane is totally at the discretion of the Transport Security Authority (TSA). As the TSA is a federal body, they are unlikely to view MMJ any differently from marijuana for recreational purposes and you will likely have it confiscated at security.

Until legislators fully legalize cannabis at a federal level, there is still going to be a grey area about where you can and cannot consume MMJ. If you’re out in public and still unsure of whether you can light up, be smart and opt to vape or have an edible instead. Your relaxation should be of paramount importance, so exercise caution and always be carrying your California medical marijuana card in order to not land yourself in any hot water.

Juicing medicinal marijuana can be much more pleasant than smoking MMJ.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ll know that juicing has become ubiquitous with the health movement that’s been sweeping California. Beets, carrots, spinach and kale are among the range of vegetables that are being thrown into cold-press juicers so that we can benefit from their range of nutrients without removing any of the goodness through cooking. Although California medical marijuana card holders are well used to being innovative when it comes to consuming, very few are aware that juicing medical marijuana can be one of the best, if not the best, way to enjoy its benefits.

Unlike using edibles or smoking, juicing medical marijuana will not expose you to the psychoactive side effects that are caused when MMJ is heated. When you heat medical marijuana you’re converting tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) in raw MMJ into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is its psychoactive form, causing a high. Although some people do enjoy this high, others would much rather just experience the medical benefits of medical cannabis without the dazed side-effect. When you don’t achieve this high there is nothing to obstruct MMJ card holders from ingesting as much of the drug as they need to alleviate their ailments. Dr William Courtney, founder of the Cannabis International Foundation (CIF), noted that when heated, the tolerable dose of cannabis is about 10mg/day. However, when you remove heat from the equation, he states that upwards of hundreds of milligrams can be consumed per day without harm therefore juicing will allow you to consume MMJ in as large a dosage as you require.

Like any other vegetable, cannabis is loaded with nutrients such as iron, calcium and fibre, as well as cannabinoids that are unique to the plant. One cannabinoid, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), is particularly central to the medicinal power of the marijuana plant. Cooking or heating any plant will vanquish nearly all present nutrients within it. It’s estimated that you’re cooking around 90 per cent of the good stuff, including the all-important CBDA, when you heat cannabis, which feels like a massive waste. Left cold, those wonderful little cannabinoids have free rein to work their magic to their best ability and you’ll really notice the difference.

The trend of juicing medicinal marijuana is sweeping California.

Juicing medical marijuana is definitely the most convenient way to consume it without heat. As cannabis juice on its own is quite acidic, it’s recommended that you combine it with other juices to make it easier on your stomach. Not only can you add it to your usual morning drink, but you can also create a cannabis centered juice if you fancy something different. How about some kale, grapes, cucumber, apple and MMJ to pump up your iron levels? Or some ginger, beets, carrots, apples and MMJ for a rejuvenating detox? You can add cannabis to any delicious recipe that you can think of, so be as adventurous as you like. Although edibles present you with the opportunity to create other tasty treats, typically these also involve the use of high levels of sugar or fats which is counterproductive to creating a healthier you. If you feel that sweet tooth kicking in, opt for a cannabis, sweet potato and pear smoothie instead of a brownie and your waistline, as well as your heart, will thank you. For the best results Dr. Courtney recommends splitting your cannabis juice into smaller portions that can be consumed throughout the day. As drinking juice is more discreet than vaping or smoking, it’s much more practical to consume at work, on the go, at lunch or anywhere else need it. Similarly, if you’re stopped by the cops and they see a bottle of juice in your car, you’re not going to get in any trouble, especially if you have your online medical marijuana card with you.

The health benefits of juicing medicinal marijuana are plentiful.

Although MMJ is typically used by 420 card holders for treatment of chronic disease or pain, it also works to prevent future disease and maintain current health when juiced. The cannabinoids in raw marijuana possess antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that have been proven to be of benefit to the human body when ingested as a health supplement. Dr Courtney’s research has found that ingesting MMJ in juice can help prevent or diminish a whole range of ailments such as lupus, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, hypothyroidism, autoimmune disorders and cellular dysfunction. If you’re suffering from any of these conditions, it’s highly recommended that you obtain an MMJ card online to reap the benefits. Juiced cannabis has also been found to slow, stop or even reverse the growth of cancer cells in some patients – talk about a superfood! Although juicing medical marijuana does have these miracle effects, oftentimes it can take days, or even weeks to notice them. So if you’re becoming impatient while waiting for some of that famous MMJ juice goodness, don’t give up. You know what they say, anything worth getting is definitely worth waiting for.

It is worth noting that, as with any plant, cannabis loses more and more of its nutrients the longer you leave it after it’s been harvested. For this reason you can’t just use any old MMJ for juicing. Make sure that you obtain raw, fresh and pesticide-free cannabis for your juices and if you’re keeping it at home, make sure it’s left in protective bags in the refrigerator. If you’re unsure of what exactly you need to do to begin juicing medical marijuana, take a quick look at our handy guide here. All you need is your juicer, some fresh MMJ and your online medical marijuana card, so get juicing!

There are so many ways to actually consume medical marijuana that it can be confusing trying to figure out which particular method works best for you. Ever since the introduction of the CA medical marijuana card, the discussion around weed and how best to consume it has moved from the dark corners of the internet and what your friend Bob says (Bob is not an expert) to an open, healthier and safer forum, full of experts. Everyone has their personal preferences on how they choose to consume medical marijuana but we’re going to run down some of our favorite ways and provide a little advice on how you can find out what works best for you. It can be a case of trial and error and you may want to try a few different methods or even rotate your techniques, but we guarantee that this list has consumption options perfect for everyone.

Smoking is the most popular way to consume medical marijuana.

Smoking medical marijuana

This is by far the most common consumption method for consuming California medical cannibals. In fact it has been the most common method of weed consumption for centuries. Typically smoking weed is done via rolling paper to make a joint, or packed into a pipe or bong (water pipe). There are obvious pros to smoking: it is incredibly quick at delivering a high (or instant relief), it’s inexpensive and minimally processed. The main drawbacks to this method though are that it could be dangerous for your lungs and it will leave you and your clothes smelling strongly of marijuana.   

Eating medical marijuana, aka edibles

Edibles are really a study of BMM (Before Medical Marijuana) and AMM (After Medical Marijuana). In the past you’d be limited to chunky and pretty disgusting brownies but now with the advancement of MM cooking supplies the options are limitless. The food doesn’t have to be just about the weed anymore and it’s just as common to have delicious edibles as it is to get a high from them. There are a lot of core benefits to edibles and they are a great alternative to those who don’t want to smoke. They provide a long lasting sense of relief and you can control the dosage quite easily. The drawbacks mainly consist of how long they take to kick in and you have to make sure that children and pets don’t come across them and start munching away!

Vaping is a great alternative for consuming medical marijuana as it’s less harsh on your lungs.

Vaporizing your medical marijuana

For those who lack culinary skills and are worried about the harmful nature of smoking on your lungs, getting a vaporizer is a great alternative. You’ll need to buy a vaporizer but essentially it works quite similarly to a bong, with the added positive that there is a less potent smell. For those of you worried about how you’ll smell after smoking medical marijuana, it’s a great alternative to smoking. It also takes effect just as quickly as smoking for those of you looking for a quick sense of relief. Do bear in mind that vaporizers will require maintenance and regular charging though.  

An interesting alternative: Cannabis-infused beverages

We’ve expressed how the advent of Prop 215 and the introduction of medical marijuana in California means that the quality and variety of cannabis based products have increased exponentially. This is also especially true when it comes to cannabis-based beverages. You’ll find that your local dispensary is stocked with bottles of cannabis juices, sodas and smoothies. You’ll also find that it’s quite easy and relaxing to make your own cannabis based tea. Drinking medical marijuana will give you a relaxed, calm and sustained high. It takes longer to show an effect on your body than drinking though, so you’ll have to bear that in mind.    

Lesser known alternatives

The above are the four most popular and regularly used methods of consuming your medical marijuana. Of course, you’ll need a California medical card in order to try these techniques, but just in case none of them float your boat and you want a lesser known alternative to how you can use MM, we’ve got a few lesser known suggestions.

You can use a patch – Transdermal patches are quickly becoming a popular choice for MM users. They work when applied to a hairless patch of skin, typically on your wrist or ankle. This is great for unseasoned medical cannabis users and is more gentle and mild than the alternative methods above.

You can try a medical marijuana spray – Medical marijuana sprays are typically made up of coconut oil and come in a little bottle that is sprayed directly under your tongue. These can be flavored and your average hit contains a mild dosage. They are a great alternative for those who don’t want to smoke and the high is quicker than an edible.   

Last and probably least, you can use a suppository – While this might not be the most popular method, and certainly it’s the most socially awkward, you can actually insert marijuana directly into your rectum. While this may not be palatable to all, patients who use this method swear by it due to the quickness, intensity and length of the high.

You’ll find your perfect method of consuming cannabis as soon as you get your hands on a medical marijuana card, which, luckily for you, is possible to get online. Having this card will open the door to thousands of experts who can advise you on what is the best method for you; with a little trial and error, you’ll find your perfect solution.

You may be looking for an alternative to smoking your medical marijuana and are wondering if getting a vaporizer is worth their typically pretty hefty price tag. Well, this really all comes down to what is important to you, what kind of high you’re looking for, and what alternatives you’ve tried when it comes to consuming medical cannabis. In this article we’re going to explain what vaporizers are and offer a few pros and cons on getting a vaporizer, so that you can decide whether or not it’s worth it as a personal investment. Everyone has different preferences, so with your California medical marijuana card you can head down to your local dispensary and find out what might work best for you.

First off, what is a vaporizer?

A vaporizer (commonly known as a vape) is a device that heats dry medical marijuana to nearly 400*F (which is just below the heat required to light a joint). This allows the active ingredients found in marijuana to be converted into gas, or vapor, which you inhale and exhale as you would when smoking a regular joint. With the advent of the medical marijuana legislation in California, vaping has become a far more common practice. You can find a large variety of devices available on the market but at their core they can really be broken down into one of the following three groups: pen vaporizers, portable vaporizers and stationery desktop vaporizers.

Which vape would be right for you?

It really depends on what you want from your vaporizer, how much you’re willing to spend and if you want it to be easily portable. While each is unique and has its own benefits and flaws they all consist of a standard heating source and a delivery system which in turn allows you to vape your medical weed.

If portability is your main objective look at a Pen Vaporizer

They look pretty much identical to the e-cig machines that have become wildly incorporated with tobacco smokers. There are a huge range of vape pens available on the market and their popularity is continually growing. They are also the cheapest vaping option, but medical marijuana purists argue that their delivery method of conduction heating vs. the favored convection heating means that they don’t deliver the marijuana payload as well as other vaping devices.  

Want a good delivery system that is still portable? Check out a Portable Vaporizer

They look a little like a Stanley knife and are slightly larger than their pen cousins, but they are also incredibly portable for those of you on-the-go. The main bonus of a portable vaporizer vs a pen vaporizer is down to the fact that they offer butane and flame options, are more durable, and are easily chargeable when out and about.  

Looking to make an investment? Check out a stationary vaporizer

If you’re looking for the best of the best and the medical marijuana purist’s nod of approval, you might want to look into investing in a stationary vape. They aren’t really portable and will cost you $400 – $700 but their delivery methods are considered more effective by many. They offer a convection heating source and a series of different attachments that open up a whole new experience to your standard ‘draw and drag’ delivery method. Again, they are the medical marijuana community’s preferred vaping system but if you’re going to buy one then make sure you know how to use it and recognize that it is an investment for the future.

What are the main benefits of having a vaporizer?

• Vaporizing delivers a more potent level of medical marijuana than smoking does. This is down to the heating systems that do not actually ignite the weed but find a sweet spot where the active ingredients that give you that calm, soothing feeling of smoking are released without burning the weed.
• Vaping is better for your health when compared with smoking. This is both in the short-term and the long-term. With vaping, your lungs are not full of smoke and the coughing and shortness of breath associated with smoking are not an issue.
• Vaping does not smell as strongly as smoking does, it’s more discreet and will not make your clothes, house, or even yourself smell as pungent. Unfortunately, even despite the legalization of weed with a MM card, the consumption is still stigmatized in some circles, so this is a great option for those looking to be discreet.  
• Vaping actually saves you money in the long run. While the initial investment is high, studies have shown that vaping converts nearly 50% more of the THC found in marijuana into vapor. This in turn means that you’ll be able to smoke less while getting the same high and save more weed.

What are the cons of having a vaporizer?

• It’s really expensive to get started with a good vaporizer. You don’t want to buy a knock-off imitation, which will break quickly and not deliver its desired payload. If you want the best of the best, it’ll set you back a cold, hard $700; however, a good vape pen can be found a lot cheaper, under $100.
• You have to maintain and charge the equipment. Vaporizers can have charging, cleaning and maintenance issues, so you need to look after them.
• Some people prefer different methods and don’t like the experience of vaping at all. This is just a matter of personal preference and it’s totally up to you, but we’d definitely recommend that you try vaping before you buy.

With your California marijuana license you can try a vaporizer in a weed dispensary. Personally, we love them and think you will too, but we hope that this article will help you make up your mind on whether or not it’s the right way for you to consume your medical marijuana.

Cannabis has been vilified in the United States for decades but with the advent of medical marijuana, the stereotypical ‘stoner’ and ‘waster’ representations of weed smokers are becoming a thing of the past. This means that marijuana can be celebrated for its numerous health benefits. We’re going to run down a list of 10 of the most well known and proven benefits of using medical marijuana and let you know how this miracle plant can have benefits for you with your CA medical weed card.

Did you know that cannabis fights cancer?

One of the main reasons that marijuana is slowly being legalized and the fact that you can buy it in California with a MM card is down to the ways that it helps to heal your body. The most important and widely reported benefits of cannabis are found in their treatment of cancer. Numerous scientific studies in the USA and around the world have illustrated that marijuana can kill cancer cells and help patients deal with the stress and pain of this very serious disease.

Weed can help you lose weight

You may be thinking ‘But what about the munchies?’ Well, you’re right and you’re wrong; weed doesn’t make you hungry but rather intensifies your taste buds. In fact, numerous studies have proven that on average a medical marijuana user is thinner than a non-user. This comes down to the fact that marijuana helps to regulate your body’s production of insulin, which in turn helps you to manage your caloric intake.

A moderate use of medical marijuana can help those struggling with depression.

Medical cannabis can help treat depression

This belief actually goes back thousands of years and cannabis is widely known as the ‘green Prozac’ for its ability to help treat depression. Depression is the most common and least talked about mental illness in the United States. While there is no definitive proof that medical cannabis can treat depression in the long term, numerous studies have suggested that it does. With moderation, cannabis is known to increase serotonin levels (the happy hormone) in your body, which in turn acts as an anti-depressant and has proven to be incredibly effective.

Did you know medical marijuana can help prevent and regulate diabetes?

It’s important to note that medical marijuana is also really effective at helping to both treat and completely prevent diabetes. This is down to its ability to help your body regulate its insulin production and body weight.

Medical marijuana is safer than alcohol

While cannabis has been demonized, alcohol has long been considered a socially acceptable pastime. However, alcohol is much more harmful to your body than weed is. With the advent of the medical cannabis card in California and the slow legalization of weed this is likely to change. With moderation, MMJ is a much safer alternative to the long-lasting and permanent effects of alcohol.

Did you know medical weed can help prevent Alzheimer’s?

Unfortunately, while cognitive illnesses are completely unavoidable, recent studies have shown that THC found in medical marijuana can help remove toxic plaque found in the brains of those suffering from Alzheimer’s. While MM won’t be able to cure Alzheimer’s, it can help slow the process and lead to richer and longer lives for those suffering from the illness.

Medical cannabis can be used as a treatment for ADHD

A little know use for medical marijuana is how effective it is at treating ADHD. While the commonly held belief about smoking weed is associated with memory loss and the lack of ability to concentrate, this is actually the complete opposite when MM is used with moderation. In fact, it has been proven that in small and regulated doses medical marijuana can help improve concentration and is an incredibly effective, cheaper and safer alternative to prescription drugs like Adderall and Ritalin.  

Did you know that medical marijuana can actually help improve your lung health?

This may blow a lot of your minds but medical marijuana doesn’t contain the deadly carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco products. In fact, there are a huge number of recent studies that illustrate that those suffering from serious lung conditions, including emphysema and lung cancer, that can be treated with cannabis and that the results of this treatment can see a regression in their diseases.

Medical marijuana can be a great help to those suffering from PTSD.

Medical weed can be incredibly helpful treating those suffering from PTSD

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has long been pushing an anti-cannabis agenda but, as countless studies have illustrated, medical marijuana is actually an excellent way to alleviate some of the severe and stressful situations that arise from PTSD. As medical marijuana becomes more mainstream it will continue to treat a wide variety of traumatic experiences, especially helping PTSD sufferers.

Did you know medical marijuana can help cure a headache?

It’s true. Those who suffer from serious and even debilitating headaches can help to alleviate them with medical marijuana. Even though nonprescription medicine like aspirin, Tylenol and Advil are readily available they have a proven history of causing some severe health issues when overused. Medical cannabis is a quick and effective way to relieve a headache when used in moderation.

We’ve only focused on 10 of the health benefits of the miracle drug that is medical marijuana here, but there are hundreds more. Once you get your marijuana license online, you can talk to a doctor about particular ailments and find out how marijuana might just be the perfect treatment for you!  

As marijuana moves from dealers and back alleys and towards the forefront of society and trendy medical weed dispensaries, the herb’s health and social benefits are becoming more and more apparent. The popularity of medical marijuana has a lot to do with the benefits it offers compared with the relatively finite drawbacks. One of the most common and popular reasons why people get a medical marijuana card in California is due to MMJ’s relaxing effect. We all know that weed is capable of relaxing us and offering a euphoric sense of calm, but you might be wondering exactly how this is possible. Well if you’re curious about the science behind medical marijuana, we’re here to help; take a long drag and read on.

There are numerous benefits that can be found from consuming medical weed, ranging from weight and metabolism control to pain relief and improved cognitive functionality. However, according to a global poll, the most popular reason that people choose to ingest marijuana is down to its ability to alleviate the stress and anxiety of everyday life.

Learn a little about the science behind why medical marijuana relaxes you.

Relax for a second: it’s about to get a little scientific

The fact that marijuana is so effective in battling stress comes down to the fact that it contains Tetrahydrocannabinol, or, for pronunciation’s sake, THC. This is the psychoactive constituent found within marijuana, and in layman’s terms, it’s what makes you feel good. The reason it makes you feel good is down to the fact that your body is full of Endocannabinoids (or ECBs), and an endocannabinoid system, which is believed to regulate your body’s anxiety and stress levels. Have we lost you? Take a breath…

OK, real quick, before this gets too confusing, the release of ECBs is generally a good thing as it reduces anxiety and stress. Make sense? Unfortunately, some people have an imbalance in their ECB levels, which leads to a wide variety of stress and anxiety based issues. This is where marijuana and the wonderful TCB comes in. It’s TCB’s job to replicate the job that ECB is supposed to do on its own. This basically means that marijuana helps to replicate a chemical in your body that is proven to help reduce stress and anxiety. Thereby giving you that therapeutic feeling of calm and peace that you get when taking medical marijuana.

Now that the messy science bit’s done, what kind of people can benefit from a medical marijuana card and the drug’s proven stress-reducing capabilities?

It has been scientifically proven in literally hundreds of studies that medical marijuana helps to reduce stress and anxiety, but you might be wondering about a particular issue you may have personally and how it can help you.

Well the truth is, stress and anxiety show their ugly roots in various ways. The main culprits in regards to these feelings are depression, insomnia, hostility, severe anxiety, insomnia and a lack of relaxation. Medical marijuana can get to the root of all of these issues and offer a legal and healthy alternative treatment that has been proven to work for millions of people for hundreds of years!

Need to relax? Medical marijuana can help with that.

Whatever your reason for needing to relax is, medical marijuana can help you. From the most severe examples, such as the death of a loved one or war veterans returning with PTSD to just having a terrible person in your life or having to make a potentially life-changing decision, MMJ is designed to help you relax. A lot of people use alcohol to cope with stress; this is far less healthy, less effective and more dangerous than marijuana. Medical weed has been scientifically proven to help you cope with serious stressful incidents in your life, and to allow you the peace of mind to relax.  

Can’t sleep, suffering from insomnia? Medical marijuana could be your cure for that

Chronic insomnia is a serious and debilitating sleep disorder. Sufferers feel stuck in a constant cycle of exhaustion and stress that deeply affects every aspect of their lives. Weed is a great aid for dealing with insomnia. It promotes a natural feeling of drowsiness, helps to ease the feeling that insomniacs get when their brains are stuck in overdrive and allows their mind and body to relax. Medical marijuana not only helps ease the mind, but it eases the body too, and because of this it is one of the most effective ways of treating insomnia.

Medical cannabis can help treat depression

While long-term studies haven’t covered the full scope of how weed can help you cope with severe depression, its ability to at least quell and contain it (within reason) temporarily is indisputable. Marijuana enables your brain with the ability to release dopamine (the happiness chemical/stuff that actually makes you feel good); this in turn produces a relaxing and coping effect. While medical marijuana alone should never be used to treat severe depression, it is scientifically proven to help abate severe feelings of depression and improve a user’s overall mood. Of course, it’s important to note that MMJ can’t act as a crutch on its own and that those suffering with severe issues should also seek psychiatric help.

Medical marijuana can help treat people with anger issues.

Really angry? Medical marijuana can help treat feelings of hostility

Since most of us consider weed to be a happy-go-lucky, relaxing herb, it’s surprising how few people recognize its effectiveness in treating severe anger and hostility issues. This is because anger is typically a direct result of stress, or a chemical imbalance within your system. Medical marijuana helps to improve your mood and relaxes you both mentally and physically, therefore giving you the ability to help combat anger and hostility issues.

If you recognize any of the symptoms above as something you might be suffering from, you might want to consider getting a medical marijuana card online and learning more about what kinds of weed can most effectively treat what ails you.

OK, so you’ve got the perfect party, event or chill-out session planned and you need something to treat your guest to. Well, if you and your guests have a California medical marijuana card, and you want to make something guaranteed to impress, we’ve got the ultimate cannabis brownies recipe that anyone can make and bake…

We’re talking luscious thick brownies with some of California’s finest marijuana that will simply melt in your mouth and leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy both on the inside and the outside. Before we get started on this perfect recipe we have to do a little admin for legal reasons. Without a medical marijuana card from our great and wonderful state of California, it is still illegal to buy and consume pot here. So with that messy business done for now, let’s get down to helping you craft some delicious cannabis brownies.

Making the cannabis brownies perfect!

If you’re reading this it’s pretty likely you’ve tried a cannabis brownie before, and let’s face it, it was probably pretty average and didn’t compare to the brownies (albeit weed-less) mom used to make for you as a kid. However, just because your brownies are going to be full of MMJ that doesn’t mean that you should have to compromise on taste.

First and foremost it all starts with the ingredients and, of course, your choice of cannabis; the reason most pot brownies are so poorly done is that those making them often just break off chunks of green and blend it through the batter. This means that the weed isn’t well distributed and can be chunky while compromising the taste. Well with the invention of the miracle that is cannabutter this is no longer an issue. With a medical marijuana card, which you can buy online, you can go to a local weed dispensary and get some cannabutter, which is crucial to the perfect pot brownie.

Always needed the ultimate recipe for cannabis brownies? Now you’ve got it!

The perfect cannabis brownie ingredients

• 9 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 7 ounces of dark chocolate
• 1 ½ ounces of cannabutter (can buy this from a cannabis dispensary)
• 1 cup flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
• ¼ tablespoon of salt

Shopping list ready? Let’s get down to baking these bad boys

Step 1 – Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease an 8-inch square cake pan with butter (not the cannabutter yet) normal butter

Step 2 – Use a saucepan to melt all your butters over medium heat. Add the chocolate and stir until the mixture is completely smooth. Allow to cool for 5 – 10 mins.

Step 3 – Whisk flour and baking soda together in a separate bowl.

Step 4 – Grab a large bowl and add the eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla and whisk vigorously. Add the chocolate mixture and mix again until evenly combined and finally add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.

Step 5 – Pour your mixture into your buttered pan and spread evenly.

Step 6 – Bake for 20 mins.

Step 7 – Let it cool for another 20 minutes.

Step 8 – Slice it up into between 6 and 12 squares (depending on your tolerance level for MMJ) and prepare to taste the most delicious cannabis brownies you’ve ever tried.

You need to get these herbs in cannabutter form for the best cannabis brownies.

After you try these brownies, you’ll know the difference a MMJ card can make!

The secret ingredient to these bad boys really is the cannabutter. It’s potent but not aggressively potent. It’s the perfect tool for any cannabis-based cooking needs you might have. With these brownies, you’ll be able to have one or two that won’t get you insanely high, but will give you the same euphoric feeling of the equivalent to smoking a joint. Plus the added bonus of not having to hunt down those munchies is priceless.

Since the introduction of the CA medical marijuana card, the possibilities of pot have expanded constantly. From edibles like cannabutter, which is also used to make things like pizza rolls and tater tots, to a huge variety of legal alternatives that are all available from your local pot dispensary.  

For anyone who knows the benefits of medical marijuana, getting your hands on that MMJ card and joining the 500,000+ people that have already done so in California is absolutely priceless.

With an MMJ card you can consume weed as you usually would, you can talk to experts and growers, find new and exciting blends and try a few things you never would have found before these cards were available.

Ordering a medical marijuana card online is simple and straightforward; you’ll find a lot more information on this site on how to do so with total ease and no stigma attached.

Enjoy those delicious brownies; we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

The US presidential election was a watershed moment for marijuana legalization, with a large number of states voting in some very cannabis-friendly laws. Medical, and even recreational, weed has become legal in a whole slew of new states. Citizens voted to legalize medical marijuana in North Dakota, Arkansas, Florida and Montana, as well as voting to legalize recreational marijuana in California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine. So even people who do not have a California medical marijuana card can now access weed in the state, leaving many MMJ users pondering what President Trump means for medical marijuana.

This means that cannabis will become fully legal in most of the western part of the United States, and even the more reluctant east is cottoning on, with Massachusetts and Maine joining the (very relaxed and peaceful) cannabis card party.

Many MMJ users are wondering what President Trump means for medical marijuana.

So let’s discuss what President Trump means for medical marijuana. Is he as weed-friendly as huge swathes of the population seem to be? And, crucially, will he be good or bad for the 420 card industry?

So far he has hedged his position on marijuana legalization. His campaign did not take a definitive stance on the issue either way. But based on the interviews he has given on the subject of California medical cannabis, recreational cannabis and drug legislation in general, his opinions seem fairly consistent.

Trump believes first and foremost in a state’s right to choose. He told the Washington Post in 2015, “In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue, state-by-state.”

He also believes that medical marijuana has definite medicinal benefits and that a California medical marijuana license should be available to all patients who it would benefit. In an interview with Bill O’Reilly in February 2016 Trump said he was, “In favor of medical marijuana, 100%,” and in response to O’Reilly calling medical marijuana a ‘ruse’ he said, “But I know people that have serious problems and…it really does help them.” This is very promising indeed.

When asked by O’Reilly about full legalization in Colorado he said, “I would really want to think about that one bill, because in some ways I think it’s good and in other ways, it’s bad.” He seems to be on the fence regarding full legalization, mainly due to his concerns about the psychological effects of cannabis on its users, “There’s another problem…the book isn’t written on it yet, but there’s a lot of difficulty in terms of illness and what’s going on with the brain and the mind, and what it’s doing…it’s coming out, probably, over the next year or so…I do want to see what the medical effects are.” 

Will President Trump be a good thing for medical marijuana? Only time will tell.

Despite his concerns about recreational marijuana, he seems to believe in state’s rights to choose in this area also. He told C-Span in 2015 that he was against legalization for recreational use, but when asked by the moderator about the state’s rights aspect of it he replied “If they vote for it, they vote for it…”

In 1990 he said the best way to win the so-called ‘War on Drugs’, and to wrestle power away from the drug czars, was to fully legalize. He told the Miami Herald “We’re losing badly the War on Drugs. You have to legalize drugs to win that war. You have to take the profit away from these drug tzars.”

Comments he made to Bill O’Reilly seem to suggest he is concerned that having a mix of legal and illegal states enables out-of-state drug dealers to source drugs in legal states for sale in illegal states. When O’Reilly claimed “dealers” are going to legal states to “load up on it” and “zoom around the country selling it,” Trump responded, “That’s a real problem.”

Trump has suggested the possibility of reclassifying medical cannabis from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 2 substance. Schedule 1 substances are federally illegal, while Schedule 2 substances are not, and are considered to have medical benefits, but also addictive qualities. So what President Trump means for medical marijuana may depend on his views on downgrading the herb.

Making medical marijuana legal at the federal level would make an MMJ card available to a larger number of people nationwide, but it would also make medical cannabis a regulated drug, and bring it under the strict control of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA would become responsible for approving the manufacturing and processing of medical marijuana, and it could regularly inspect grow farms to ensure that certain standards are being adhered to. The FDA could require California medicinal marijuana companies to prove via clinical trials that cannabis does exactly what is advertised. Clinical trials are extremely expensive and, along with the added regulatory costs, this could cripple smaller growers that don’t have the cash reserves to weather these added costs. This could have the negative effect of putting many small companies out of business and handing the industry over to big drug companies, resulting in homogeneous, lowest-common denominator ‘Mc-medical marijuana’. What President Trump means for medical marijuana growers and the industry in general is going to be very interesting to watch, as he claims to be a shrewd businessman.

So a Donald Trump presidency could prove bittersweet for the medical cannabis industry. He is very friendly to MMJ and appreciates how helpful it can be, but if he decides to reclassify medical marijuana and bring it under the strict control of the FDA this could negatively impact product quality, and put many small growers out of business.

This is all hypothetical at the moment and one thing is for sure: whatever President Trump means for medical marijuana users, we’ll still need our MMJ cards all the way through 2017 as no legislature will change until 2018.

The use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is growing steadily across the United States. 40 states now allow some form of medical marijuana use.

There’s an array of different state medical marijuana programs across the country. But not all medical cannabis programs are created equally – some function well and are high on patient satisfaction, while others are hamstrung by excessive red tape or clumsily written verbiage that puts doctors at risk of federal prosecution. Several states limit marijuana use to the non-psychoactive CBD part of the plant, while several others have dysfunctional medical marijuana laws that require physicians to break federal law by “”prescribing”” cannabis instead of “”recommending”” it (which is considered protected free speech between doctor and patient).

25 states, plus the District of Columbia, now have relatively functional medical marijuana laws. These states still differ in many criteria, such as patients’’ rights and protection from discrimination, access to medicine, ease of navigation, functionality, product safety, and all states have some room for improvement. A 2016 report by Americans for Safe Access found that, “While many states have important elements helpful to patients, no state has yet established an ideal, comprehensive program.””

Here are the ten states that the ASA rated most highly for their medical marijuana programs. These are the honors students in the class. Texas and Louisiana will be staying behind after school to write ““I promise to be more open-minded and kind to my sick citizens”” 100 times on the blackboard.

California (ASA grade – B+) – The Golden State comes top of the class! California is a leader in the medical marijuana industry. Medical marijuana California card holders are the lucky recipients of a truly great service. It has a centrally regulated dispensary system, meaning that there are no differences in requirements or legal limits between counties. The ASA called it, “The “best place in the country for patients to receive legal protections and gain the most timely access”.

Teacher’s comments: If she brings me an apple, next term she gets an A!

Illinois (B+) – Illinois cannabis is some of the best in the country. It has tight product safety regulations that prohibit harmful pesticides, microbes and solvents. If Whole Foods sold weed…, we imagine it would be Illinois weed. The state has only recently seen its first wave of dispensaries open for business, and has done a good job of rapidly implementing its cannabis card program, but unfortunately Illinois still does not allow patients to grow their own plants. According to the ASA, “The legislature should allow patients the right to cultivate their own medicine and replace the lengthy list of qualifying conditions with a simple provision that allows physicians the right to recommend medical cannabis therapy to any patient for whom the benefits would outweigh the risks.””

Teacher’s comments: She’’s doing great work, she deserves to be proud. Try to loosen up a bit and have more fun!

New Mexico (B+) – New Mexico is ramping up its medical marijuana program admirably. Over the last year it has doubled its number of dispensaries to 17, and cannabis cards are now widespread. It has the fifth lowest prices in the country. The state is still weak in terms of civil protection for its patients in areas like child custody, housing and employment.

Teacher’s comments: I believe in her, if she keeps working hard the improvements will come.

Colorado (B) – Medical and recreational marijuana are legal in Colorado, and dispensaries are widespread, so a 420 card is no longer essential for sourcing herb. Patients are offered discount marijuana if they are in financial hardship. ASA says the state could improve in a few areas, namely civil protection for users in the areas of housing, employment and child custody, and introducing state-wide product safety requirements, as opposed to letting each city and county set its own standards as is currently the case.

Teacher’s comments: She is a very talented student, but sometimes she needs to be a little bit careful with the finer details.

Hawaii (B) – Overall Hawaii has done a very good job of implementing its MMJ card program. The state still falls short in the area of product safety. Also, the state requires patients to have an ID card to get their medicine, but people have reported long delays in getting their ID cards issued.

Teacher’s comments: Very good effort, but tardiness is an issue!

Maryland (B) – Maryland provides good product safety, so the cannabis is of a high quality. However, this quality product is still not as widely available as it should be. There is a lot of demand in the state, but there have been delays in licensing dispensaries; the state waited 2½ years before it began issuing business licenses, which was a little bit naughty, to be honest.

Teacher’s comments: Overall good work. She started slow, but is now back on track having recovered well. Better late than never!

Massachusetts (B) – One of only three states that give doctors the right to recommend medical cannabis to any patient for whom they feel the benefits would outweigh the costs, Massachusetts is an impressive free-thinker with truckloads of potential. It can still take quite a while for would-be dispensaries to get their license, and patient civil rights could be better protected.

Teacher’s comments: Huge potential, great imagination, but doesn’’t always work as hard as she could.

Nevada (B) – It’s easy to get cannabis in Nevada, and the product is of a high quality. However, the low possession limits mean that some patients struggle to have an uninterrupted supply.

Teacher’s comments: Good work overall, however she is absent too often and sometimes she forgets her homework.

Many medical marijuana dispensaries in Tacoma and Seattle have recently shut down due to scaled back MMJ programs.

Oregon (B) – Oregon is very strong in all areas. Weed is fully legal in the state, and prices are the cheapest in the country, so a medical card evaluation is not strictly necessary. Cannabis access is widespread, and patients civil protections are robust. With such a strong medical marijuana program the state should beware not to merge its medical program with its recreational program, in order to make sure patients continue to get top-notch service.

Teacher’s comments: A very strong student across the board, however, with her commendable devotion to extra-curricular activities, I’’m a little concerned that she may spread herself too thin. Focus!

Washington (B) – Great product and strong rights protection for patients, however, since full legalization, its medical marijuana program has been scaled back with dozens of dispensaries in Tacoma and Seattle closing down recently. A cautionary tale for Oregon to keep an eye on. Medical marijuana should not be confused with recreational cannabis; one is essential, the other is a luxury.

Teacher’s comments: As always, a very strong student, although I’’m concerned that she seems a little distracted of late. Personal issues?

There is a slow-burning but steady and real awakening happening the world over. Forward-thinking countries on every continent are opening their eyes, changing their laws, and allowing people to enjoy the benefits of medical (and even recreational) marijuana on their territory. The Golden State is leading the charge in the US with their California medical marijuana card.

Your California medical marijuana card only lets you smoke MMJ in…California!

It is certainly an uneven awakening. Some countries are very liberal, some still very draconian. Even within the United States, certain states allow marijuanause by any person with a cannabis card, while others still vehemently prohibit it.

As an American, it is illegal to bring your medical marijuana out of your home state. If you have a California medical marijuana card, you can only consume your weed inside California. Federal authorities can arrest you for drug trafficking if you bring your weed out of state, and states without medical 420 laws can arres
t you for possession. If traveling from one medical marijuana-friendly state to another, it is not advisable to take your cannabis through a non-friendly state en route – it’s too dangerous. Some MMJ-friendly states recognize a 420 card from other MMJ-friendly states, but you will still usually need to register in the state you are visiting in order to purchase your weed there. Even traveling within states can be problematic, wi
th certain counties having different rules about the amount of cannabis a patient can have on them. Luckily, this is not an issue in California, where every county must abide by the state’s rules and allow at least the state minimum for every person with a California weed card.

Do not attempt to travel internationally with marijuana. Airports and airplanes are federal jurisdictions and bringing marijuana with you on a plane can easily get you arrested.

Taking your own medical marijuana abroad is not advisable, because as soon as you leave your state your medical 420 license does not entitle you to consume marijuana anymore. You can not consume cannabis in a country in which it is illegal, because each jurisdiction’s laws apply while you are in that specific jurisdiction. So even if you have a California medical marijuana card that does not, repeat NOT, mean you can safely score herb on your relaxing weekend break in Saudi Arabia!!

But while you cannot take your medical marijuana abroad with you, that does not mean you can never enjoy the benefits of weed while overseas.

Sure, there are many countries in which a few hours of relief from your glaucoma can get you heavily fined, thrown in prison, or (if you’’re carrying a large enough quantity) executed. But there are also many countries where getting your medicine is easy, safe and hassle-free.

In a small but growing number of countries weed is fully legalized, although you cannot bring it in or out of these countries. Marijuana is legal and easily sourced (although usually restricted in the same ways that alcohol, gambling, etc. are) in Uruguay, Colombia, Holland, Canada, Czech Republic and certain states in Australia and India (where weed is illegal at a federal level, but legal at state level in many states, and in such states it is often government-run shops that sell ganja!).

In Amsterdam there are several ‘coffeshops’ that allow anyone over 18 to smoke marijuana legally.

In Spain, weed is not technically legal but exists in a grey area and, if consumed in designated ‘’Cannabis Clubs’’, is not punished or prosecuted.

In a whole host of countries cannabis is illegal but has been decriminalized, so while it is technically illegal to purchase and consume weed, somewhat of a blind eye is turned to it if it is done subtly, and if you are ‘caught’ your punishment will be minor or more likely non-existent.

In some countries weed is illegal in name only. In Cambodia it is easy and completely safe to openly purchase and use weed in public with no threat of criminal prosecution or police interference even though it is technically illegal.

Sadly, in many countries in the world it is a truly bad idea to consume cannabis, no matter how bad your glaucoma gets. Indonesia, Singapore (where citizens and permanent residents can be thrown in jail based on urine tests that show they consumed cannabis while on vacation in a country in which it is legal!), Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, have super-tight, draconian anti-cannabis laws, and anyone caught flouting the law is liable to be severely punished.

So, the world, and even America, is a patchwork of friendly and unfriendly jurisdictions. Most of the world is still shaking their fists at the sky, foaming at the mouth, and committing violence against individuals who harmlessly ingest a natural plant that makes their lives better. But every now again we find an oasis of good sense, in which people are free to ease their pain, live life on their own terms and, hell, crazy as it sounds, have some harmless fun!

So my advice to you is to find these glorious kingdoms where the streets are paved with, ahem, green, avail yourself of the laws – e.g., in Cali, you’ll need a California medical marijuana card if you want to consume MMJ – and bestow upon these marvelous places your hard-earned vacation dollars!

The legality of cannabis varies wildly from country to country. While there’s a definite trend towards legalization, it is a very slow process. Many forward thinking countries such as Uruguay, Canada, Australia, the United States (but only in 420 card states, where citizens can use their California medical marijuana card), the Netherlands, Colombia and Czech Republic have amended their laws to allow consumption for medical purposes at the very least. But other more conservative countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Ireland, still have draconian laws prohibiting any and all use of marijuana.

Even in countries where weed is illegal, often (when the amount is considered small enough to be for personal consumption) it is decriminalized, meaning punishment may be a ‘slap on the wrist’ or small fine. However there are still some countries where marijuana is lumped in with all other drugs and there is a zero-tolerance stance towards all drugs. In these countries, punishments can be severe. For those who have already got their California medical marijuana card, the concept of not being able to consume MMJ may sound like a travesty. Nonetheless, in Malaysia possession of a small amount of cannabis will land you in prison, and possession of a large amount (over 200g, which, let’s be fair, you would only need if you were juicing!) could send you to the gallows!

There are also some interesting countries where weed is illegal, but not really. And even one mysterious nation where the legality and usage of weed still remains a total mystery. Can you guess where that is? You’re about to find out!

If you have California medical marijuana card, you don’t know how lucky you are compared with citizens of some other countries!

Weed-friendly countries

In Uruguay cannabis is 110% legal. Once you are over 18 and a citizen of Uruguay you can purchase and use marijuana to your heart’s content. What is this place, heaven?

Chile allows cultivation of cannabis for personal or medical purposes. Sale of marijuana-derived medications is allowed on prescription from pharmacies.

Medical marijuana has recently become legal at a federal level in Australia, with implementation varying from state to state. So far, medical cannabis is legal with a cannabis card in Victoria and New South Wales. One or two plants may be grown for personal use in the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia.

In Colombia it is legal to possess up to 20 plants and/or to have up to 22 grams of weed, for personal consumption. Marijuana is completely legal for medical use.

Medical use of marijuana is fully legal in Czech Republic, and possession of up to 15 grams or 5 plants is considered merely a misdemeanor and subject to a minor fine, which is very rarely enforced.

In the Netherlands it is legal to sell weed is designated ‘coffeeshops’. Outside of coffeeshops, it is illegal but decriminalized to possess up to 5 grams or 5 plants. While being caught with a small amount of cannabis will not lead to prosecution – your weed may well be destroyed, so stick to the coffeeshops!

Although sale and importation of weed is illegal and punishable by jail in Spain, cannabis can be acquired in private ‘cannabis clubs’, of which there are now 500 (200 in Barcelona alone, which is why it’s now known as the ‘new Amsterdam’). It is legal to grow your own weed for personal consumption, although not in any area visible from a public place, i.e. a street-facing balcony.

Medical marijuana is legal in Canada with a government-issued cannabis card. However, plans have been announced to fully legalize and regulate weed in Spring 2017. Yay!

United States federal law designates cannabis totally illegal. However, states have the right to decide their own marijuana laws, and weed is legal for personal use in Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, the cities of Portland and South Portland in Maine, and in Washington D.C. It is legal for medicinal purposes in 25 states, including California, where after a medical card evaluation, a person can get a California medical marijuana card. It is legal to grow for personal and commercial use in Colorado, Alaska and Oregon, for personal use only in Washington D.C., and for commercial use only in the state of Washington. Medicinal growing is legal in several states, including California with a California medical marijuana card and grower’s license.

In Jamaica it is legal to cultivate up to five plants for personal use. Imminent plans to legalize cannabis for medicinal and religious purposes are also afoot.

Weed is illegal at the federal level in India. However, it is legal or ‘tolerated’ in many states such as West Bengal, Gujarat, Bihar, Orissa and the North East. Large tracts of cannabis grow unchecked in the wild in many parts of northern and southern India, and in holy cities like Varanasi and various north Indian states government-owned shops sell marijuana in the form of bhang.

Can you believe that plants are illegal in some countries?!

Weed-unfriendly countries in which marijuana is totally illegal but available strictly for medical use

In Israel, Romania, Macedonia and Puerto Rico, cannabis is totally illegal, but available for medical use in very specific cases, such as severe or terminal illness.

Weed is illegal in France; however, it is legal to sell medications containing cannabis derivatives.

Interesting cases

Weed is technically illegal in Cambodia, however cannabis can be purchased and smoked in public without threat of arrest, and use is widespread among locals and foreigners. ‘Happy’ restaurants openly serve food containing marijuana in cities with a lot of tourists such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.

North Korean defectors and tourists have claimed there is no law against growing or possessing weed in the country, and that it is not even viewed as a drug. Other reports suggest it is technically illegal but that the law is not enforced. And others still claim that weed is illegal in the country. So it’s a bit of a mystery really, which is a shame, because I have no doubt that a stroll around Pyongyang while high would be (arguably) the most surreal and enjoyable experience available to a human being!

California, which is almost a country onto itself, with a population higher that many of the aforementioned nations, has over half a million registered medical marijuana users. So while weed is (currently, although possibly not for long) illegal in the state, it is very widely used for medicinal purposes. If you are a California citizen you may be wondering how to get a California medical marijuana card. It’s easy, you can go to your doctor and ask him to write a prescription and you’ll get a California medical marijuana card, or you can get a medical marijuana card online by finding a doc in cyberspace who will prescribe you a medical cannabis card online.

So there you go; many countries are now open-minded and intelligent enough to see the benefits of marijuana, as a medicine and even just as a means of relaxing and de-stressing. Kudos to these countries! And to the Malaysias, Saudi Arabias and Irelands of this world – c’mon guys, read up, educate yourselves and get real!

When you first get your California medical marijuana license, your first few visits to the dispensary can be quite daunting. The variety of strains available with a California medical card can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to know which one will best help with your particular condition. Ultimately, everybody is unique and different strains affect different people in different ways. Some patients respond best to one strain, some to others. Luckily, when you have a California medical marijuana card, you can experiment to your heart’s content!

The two main strains of cannabis are sativa and indica. Both are available to you when you get a medical marijuana card online. Sativa is typically less potent, but tends to have a higher level of the psychoactive compound THC. Most people who use sativa find that it increases energy, focus, creativity, and elevates mood. Sativa is more cerebral and gives a more heady, mind-based high.

Indica strains are more relaxing and sleep-inducing. They tend to relieve nausea, stress and anxiety and give patients a sense of calm. Indica is used to treat a larger number of conditions and is especially good for patients with AIDS, cancer and glaucoma. Indica tends to be more ‘of the body’, while sativa tends to be more ‘of the mind’. There are also many hybrid strains, usually sativa-dominant, or indica-dominant mixtures of the two main strains. The goal of a hybrid is to emphasize certain effects and minimize certain other effects. They are tailormade for various ailments and conditions. Indica-dominant hybrids are good for pain relief, while at the same time maintaining energy levels. Sativa-dominant hybrids are good for stimulating appetite and energy, while at the same time soothing the body, reducing pain, and increasing relaxation.

So, to get you started, here are some recommendations for various strains you can pick up with a California medical pot card, and that work especially well with certain medical conditions.

Best California medical marijuana for energy

Girl Scout Cookies is a very popular strain with a high THC content, often over 25%. It is excellent for pain reduction, and for people who enjoy the hard stuff. Girl Scout Cookies is a sativa-dominant hybrid and so it is nice and energizing.

Strawberry Cough is a high-THC strain that is perfect for people who enjoy the energy and psychoactive effects that a strong sativa brings. It’s a super-effective and popular strain, with a delicious strawberry flavor and uniquely uplifting high. With a THC content of 18%, it’s uplifting and ideal for daytime use.

Best MMJ for promoting sleep

Afghan Kush is a potent Indica. This will certainly relax you and is great for alleviating pain and insomnia, as well as calming you down. It’s a pungent and pure indica strain and it will bring on deep, relaxing sleep, so it’s not good if you are operating heavy machinery, or intending to get any work done!

Best MMJ for pain management

The Avidekel strain was bred specifically for the medical cannabis market. It comes from Israel, which is rapidly expanding its medical marijuana program, although recreational cannabis is still illegal in the country. This is a high-CBD strain of indica. It has 1% THC and 15-20% CBD so is very relaxing and nice in the evening.

Best MMJ for alleviating anxiety

Blue Dream is a big favorite with marijuana users who get a medical card in California. It’s a high THC hybrid that is mostly sativa and its effects are energizing. It also contains a little dose of indica and so it gives a pleasant feeling of physical relaxation. You will be nice and clear headed on this stuff so it is is good for during the day when you are out and about.

Bred by Royal Queen Seeds, Stress Killer this is a high-CBD strain with fairly low levels of THC around 11%, ideal for people who like a slight and manageable psychoactive high. It will produce a mild, sedative high and is ideal for alleviating anxiety.

Best California medical marijuana for reducing seizures

Charlotte’s Web is a well-known strain of medical marijuana that’s named after Charlotte Figi, a young girl who had a rare type of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome which results in hundreds of seizures every month. Having tried many pharmaceutical treatment to no avail, she finally found the Stanley Brothers and the high-CBD strain of cannabis that they had cultivated. This worked where no other treatment had. In her first week of treatment her seizures dropped from the hundreds down to single digits. Charlotte’s Web has a CBD level of 20% and a THC content below 0.5%.

Best medical cannabis for making healthy juices

ACDC, or Alternative Cannabinoid Dietary Cannabis, is a high CBD strain specifically bred as a form of dietary cannabis. You can smoke or vape this strain but it is especially good consumed raw, and it’s excellent for juicing. Heat converts CBDA and THCA into their active forms, so for people who want the nutritional benefits without the psychoactive side-effects, this strain is ideal.

Best MMJ for inflammation and arthritis

Harlequin is a hybrid 5:2 ratio of CBD to THC, so it’s relaxing and good for pain relief without a strong psychoactive high. This strain is also good for anxiety and mental health issues as it’s very calming, without much confusing psychoactive effects. It’s also good for muscle spasms, cramps, and other similar physical conditions.

Best for California medical marijuana for headaches and migraines

Blueberry Headband is a hybrid strain with a cerebral feel and heady high. This sweet berry-flavored cannabis is excellent for relieving headache.

Best MMJ for multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms and stiffness

One to One has a CBD to THC content of 1:1, so it is a very practical and usable strain for many conditions. It has a similar 1:1 ratio as the pharmaceutical mouth-spray drug Sativex that is used in 24 countries (although not yet in the United States) to alleviate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. So this the perfect strain for people with multiple sclerosis who meet the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis  in California, but can’t yet access Sativex.

Everybody responds differently to each strain and the best way to go about finding what works for you is to get a cannabis card online and experiment with a few different strains to find out which one is your favorite.

Medical marijuana has a long and complicated legal history in the United States and its story is not over yet. It may be relatively easy to get medical cannabis in California via an MMJ card, but this has not always been the case. We often accept the criminalization of marijuana as the norm, while in fact historically it has been quite the opposite.

The history

The use of cannabis for medicinal purposes has been around for centuries. In 1841, an Irish physician called William Brooke O’Shaughnessy introduced the cannabis plant into Western medicine, having studied its numerous healing applications in India over the previous decade and even discovered new applications for the drug.

For the next sixty years marijuana was used frequently all over the United States, although the sale of cannabis and its preparation was generally restricted for medicinal use and some states required an official prescription for the remedy, similar to medical cards in California now. Although many people were using it therapeutically, it was also getting a reputation as a recreational narcotic.

Cannabis use were made illegal in the United States in the 1910s.

Making cannabis illegal

In the 1910s, many US states began to tighten up their legislation on cannabis, although the new laws never made cannabis illegal, merely the recreational use of it. This changed in 1937, when a new act effectively made all possession of marijuana illegal across the USA, even for therapeutic purposes. For the next few decades, harsher punishments became mandatory for those in possession of cannabis.

Despite the increasingly harsh calls for punishment from the federal government, several states decided to take the matters into their own hands and decriminalize cannabis, meaning that possession of a small amount was treated as a civil offence. Oregon decriminalized it in 1973, with ten other states following suit. However, this change in the law did not make it easier for people who wanted to use medicinal cannabis, as it was still illegal to grow the plant and, if caught with a small amount, the authorities would still confiscate it.

MMJ dispensaries are legally allowed to sell medical cannabis in California.

The legalization of medical cannabis in California

Despite many organizations calling for the reinstatement of medical marijuana, nothing changed until 1996. After a few decades of the AIDS crisis and the increasing use of harsh chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients, the demand increased to change the law. The federal government remained unmoved so a group of Californian activists decided to turn to the people. They gathered the 400,000 signatures required to create a statewide ballot.

Californians passed this vote – called Proposition 215 – by more than 55%, thus allowing the use of medical cannabis in California. From then on, people with a valid doctor’s recommendation and their California medical marijuana license were allowed to possess and cultivate cannabis for their own personal medical use. The first dispensary appeared in Fairfax later that year and now California weed dispensaries are even online, making it even easier for patients to get medical cannabis in California.

Despite the voters’ approval of medical cannabis in California, the federal government still tried to stop the spread of the treatment by holding raids and prosecutions all the way up to 2009. The vote caused a tension between state and federal law but that didn’t stop many states following California’s lead. The public’s acceptance of medicinal cannabis in California had massive consequences all around the country. Like dominoes, various states began to legalize some form of medicinal marijuana, beginning with Oregon in 1998 and, most recently, Ohio legalized it in 2016. Currently, 25 states have legalized it with four more states due to vote on the issue in 2016, potentially bringing the number up to 29 by the end of the year.

The future

Even though there have been great gains made by activists in the last two decades, all use of cannabis, whether recreationally or medically, remains illegal under federal law. The United States still remains in an unusual legal position where people who use medicinal cannabis in California and other states are breaking federal law, despite it being legal in their state. In 2013, the Department of Justice issued a memo to say that if states kept their marijuana markets strictly regulated, they would not step in but that they reserved the right to take action when the government’s priorities were being threatened, for example if marijuana was crossing state lines or if minors were in possession.

However, with nearly half of states now allowing medical marijuana and that number set to increase, the federal government policy may need to change in the future, especially as people can now get a cannabis card online. Now more than ever, it’s becoming increasingly probable that in the future there may be a change in federal law, making the use and cultivation of medical marijuana for personal use entirely legal in the United States. The change in law will no doubt come as a welcome relief to the estimated 1.2 million patients who have a medical marijuana card, and the many more who would welcome the opportunity to do so.

There are a variety of reasons why more and more people each year are turning to medical marijuana to help relieve their ailments. One of the most common across the United States is sleep problems – chronic insomnia in many cases. An estimated 10-30% of Americans are affected with insomnia related symptoms at some point throughout their lives.

For a large quantity of the population who suffer from unruly nighttime restlessness, turning to alcohol is all too often their go-to move. For those fortunate enough to possess a medical marijuana card however, that can be a thing of the past. Whereas studies have shown that alcohol and a good night’s sleep do not mix, evidence suggests that not only is consuming medical marijuana beneficial in combating mild to severe insomnia, but is vastly superior to both alcohol and even a lot of prescription drugs on the market – which themselves can often house addictive qualities and negative side effects.

A common misconception is that having a nightcap right before bed will result in a better night’s sleep. A recent review across 27 studies found that alcohol does not improve sleep quality. While findings suggest that in some cases among healthy people, getting to sleep can occur more quickly after a drink, this is only a short-term effect; conversely reducing the time spent in the deep sleep phase, increasing the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is much easier to wake up from. Furthermore, the more you drink before bed, the more pronounced these effects will be.

Medical marijuana and sleep

Medical marijuana has been scientifically proven to help users sleep.

If you have a medical marijuana card in California however, cannabis has been shown to greatly benefit the standard of living for those suffering from insomnia related problems. While smoking any kind of cannabis can provide therapeutic qualities, the chemical properties it inhabits can have a potent impact on many types of secondary insomnia (that caused by an underlying issue, such as anxiety or depression). It’s important to understand the differences in marijuana strains though, as some can inhibit sleep as equally as alcohol.

The most common strains come across by cannabis card holders will be THC and CBD; this is due to the advantages they offer to people suffering from a range of illnesses, from insomnia, to cancer and HIV. High levels of THC can be of a detriment to those with secondary insomnia, as it can actually increase the effects of anxiety and depression if relied on too heavily, while high levels of CBD will have little effect on insomnia at all. If these are indeed the strains you’re working with to help lull yourself to sleep, it’s best to stick to a relatively equal dose of both.

Alcohol does not actually help you sleep, while medical marijuana really can.

Alcohol and sleep

The medical director at The London Sleep Center in the UK has state that, “Alcohol may seem to be helping you to sleep, as it helps induce sleep, but overall it is more disruptive to sleep, particularly in the second half of the night”. He continues, “Alcohol also suppresses breathing and can precipitate sleep apnea” which is pausing breathing which happens throughout the night. This is effectively summarized by saying that the more a person drinks before bed, the more their sleep will be disrupted.

Even minimal alcohol consumption can interfere with the normal sleep process. Evidence found by Dr John Shneerson, head of the sleep center at Papworth Hospital in the UK, states that, “As the alcohol starts to wear off, your body can come out of a deep sleep and back into REM sleep […] that’s why you often wake up after just a few hours’ sleep when you’ve been drinking.” Further disturbances in sleep can come from simply needing the bathroom; as alcohol is a diuretic it isn’t just the liquid you’ve drunk that you’ll be losing either, as it encourages the body to lose extra fluid, which can in-turn comes with the adverse effect of making you dehydrated.

California medical marijuana card holders

For Californians, using your cannabis card is undoubtedly one of the best ways in which you can confront sleep problems head on. The most assured way to counter the effects of insomnia is to seek the indica strain of marijuana. The chemicals found within the indica strain are known to produce a physical ‘body high’, great for relaxation, and preferable over the more familiar THC or CBD. Synthetic cannabinoids such as nabilone are proven sleep aids too; reducing brain activity throughout the night, therefore resulting in far fewer dreams, helping those suffering from anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder stay asleep.

For cannabis card holders who desire a drink before bed, a prominent benefit to a healthy sleep can come from pairing herbal nightcaps with natural remedies, such as chamomile tea (un-spiked of course). As with alcohol, relying heavily on marijuana to soothe oneself at bedtime can result in a reliance if used too often, so it’s important to take breaks in between long acquaintances, as not doing so will eventually result in worsened sleep.

Sleep problems in those who are lucky enough to obtain a medical marijuana card, can be a thing of the past if used properly. Assuming the suitable strains to fight the effects of insomnia are used, the advantages over alcohol are tremendous – greatly increasing deep and long-lasting sleep. Turning to a nightcap only offers temporary relief; so if you desire to treat those sleep issues efficiently and directly, medical marijuana is the way to go.

If you’re one of the many people in California who suffer from insomnia, the prospect of obtaining a cannabis card due to the known benefits the drug holds when used as a sleep aid, can be an alluring one indeed. Across the United States, insomnia affects a staggering amount of people, with an estimated 10-30% of Americans being affected at some point in their life.

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With the US Elections dominating both the news and the majority of most water cooler conversations for the last few months, you could be forgiven for having missed another important potential change in the governmental system, also slated for November 8th: expanding legal access to marijuana across nine states. With five states voting for the legalization of marijuana and another four voting to legalize the use of medical marijuana, this could have a definitive effect for the medical marijuana industry; however, it’s best to be clear on exactly what effect it will have. The most important question on everyone in this state’s lips is, will you still need to apply for a medical marijuana card in order to consume MMJ in California?  (Skip to the bottom to find out!) (more…)

Wine and marijuana have long since been thought of as popular relaxants, with many people preferring to smoke medical cannabis as opposed to pouring a glass of wine at the end of a long day. It’s no surprise then that a company has thought to bond the two and create weed wine, an oenophilic craze that is taking California by storm. But what’s the real deal?  And can we get it with a California medical marijuana card? (more…)

Before California legalized medical marijuana, buying MMJ on the street or from a dealer was pretty much the only way to attain it. But then Governor Gray Davis passed SB 420, or the Medical Marijuana Protection Act, that allows medical cannabis to be used by everyone in California, provided that they have an official California medical marijuana card. MMJ dispensaries have since popped up all over the state, meaning that there’s no need to buy medical marijuana on the street anymore.  But some people still do! (more…)

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…)

If you’ve recently obtained your medical marijuana card, you’re probably looking forward to medicating yourself with a dose of MMJ on a regular basis. However, you may be worrying about how it’s going to affect your overall fitness. The media would have you believe that anyone who touches cannabis instantly turns into a lazy couch potato but this is not the case. True, there are a few medical cannabis users that fit this stereotype, but there is no reason why it has to be so.  We’ve got some top tips on how to fit medical marijuana into a healthy lifestyle. (more…)

Are you considering getting your medical cannabis card online to relieve your painful symptoms? You’re not alone. As the use of medical marijuana increases and become legal, more and more people are discovering it as an effective form of pain relief.

Unfortunately, as many patients know, there are some painful conditions that do not respond to traditional medicine, or the prescribed painkiller has unbearable side effects. Now in the search for effective and improved pain relief, many researchers have turned to medicinal marijuana as an alternative means of managing chronic pain.

The History of Medical Marijuana

Marijuana has been used for centuries as an effective form of pain relief from everything from childbirth to arthritis and joint paint. In fact, the healing properties of cannabis were first believed to be discovered as far back as 2700 BC by the Chinese emperor Shennong. Cannabis is recorded as being used in India as an anaesthetic as early as 600 BC. It was even used as a form of pain relief in the United States before the rise of aspirin and other drugs and, of course, the criminalization which followed afterwards. But before you apply for your cannabis card online, how does this ancient pain relief compare to our more modern treatments?

Medical marijuana dispensaries provide patients with MMJ.

Medical Marijuana: Scientific Trials

Marijuana is now legal for doctors to prescribe to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety and nausea, once you get your California cannabis card.  However, research seems to indicate that one of the most profound changes for patients is often a reduction in their painful symptoms. There have been many high-profile cases of patients going public with their story about how medicinal cannabis use helped alleviate their pain from such diverse conditions as migraines to muscle spasms in quadriplegics.

There have been at least 80 randomized trials studying nearly 6,500 people and when researchers examined all of the results, they concluded there was at the very least moderate support to support the claim that medical marijuana was effective in treating not only chronic pain but also muscle spasms and involuntary movements.

In 2015, the first and largest trial to examine the impact of medical marijuana on chronic pain took place. In one group, 215 patients who suffered from chronic pain smoked medical marijuana for one year and their results were compared to a control group of 216 patients with similar symptoms who did not use medical marijuana during that time.

The Results

The results were conclusively positive. As well as reporting improvement in their painful symptoms, the group using medical marijuana also reported an improvement in mood and in their overall quality of life. Best of all, the study examined whether medical marijuana was safe and confirmed there was no difference in serious side effects between the group who used medicinal cannabis and those who did not. The pain-relieving effects of medical marijuana appear to be particularly effective for chronic neuropathic pain when used in combination with other medications, something to consider if you’re thinking about getting your 420 card.

In another interesting recent development, a smaller study also suggested that medical marijuana works as a pain distractor, instead of a pain killer. The study was considered too small to be taken as hard facts just yet but if true, the results would ultimately be the same; your painful symptoms will bother you less when using medicinal marijuana.

Medical marijuana can help relieve pain.

Medical Marijuana: How It Can Help You

We know from these studies that marijuana can be an effective form of pain relief. But how does it work? The main effects of cannabis come from THC, one of the cannabinoids contained in the herb. THC is similar to another chemical that we produce naturally in our bodies. When we smoke cannabis, the THC works with our bodies to effectively change the way our nervous system functions, relieving symptoms of pain and anxiety, while also producing the pleasant symptoms of feeling high.

Pain is something can be very complicated to treat and some trial and error may be needed to find the best relief for you. Ultimately, your decision to use medical marijuana to alleviate your pain should be something for you and your doctor to discuss and they will ensure you meet the conditions for medical cannabis card in California.

Now that science is beginning to fund comprehensive studies into the benefits of medical marijuana, the public are becoming increasingly aware of the potential benefits. A recent study found 86% of Americans are in favor of allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana for medicinal purposes. Thankfully, the rest of the country is quickly catching up with the California medical marijuana requirements and laws. In addition to the other 11 states where some form of medical marijuana is legal, another 12 states have authorized medical marijuana research. The reasoning is clear; it’s an effective form of pain relief for patients who are in need.

The use of medical marijuana in treating a large number of sicknesses and ailments is rapidly growing all around the world. And one of the leading reasons people have been turning towards cannabis is due to its benefits when combating anxiety disorders. This is the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting roughly 18% of the population.

Cannabis has been used in India for over 400 years to treat depression and anxiety, and for those who possess a medical marijuana card in California, using cannabis may provide significant relief as well as an overall increase in your standard of living.

However, purchasing weed at your local dispensary relies on several important factors that anyone suffering from anxiety absolutely must know. Throughout the medical community, the use of cannabis in regards to anxiety splits the room; some advocating it wholeheartedly, while others advising against it. This is due to the variety of active chemical compounds found within different types of weed – some of which relieve anxiety, and others that can actually become the source of the illness.

Outlined below is everything you need to know about the different strains of medical cannabis, as well as the positive effects it can have when consumed by those looking to relieve anxiety.

The natural plan of medical marijuana is a great boon to progressive scientists around the world.

Medical Marijuana: The Science

Research conducted by Vanderbilt University found that the use of marijuana was effective at regulating and relieving anxiety, with the only negative side effects occurring through chronic use. Research states that this relief comes from cannabidiol (CBD) – an active cannabinoid found within cannabis. Considering the evidence, it’s no surprise why several states across the US, including California, have legalized the use of medical marijuana cards. So how does cannabis relieve anxiety?

Contained within cannabis are 85 natural compounds, which when consumed attach themselves to receptors in the brain that seek out similar compounds found naturally within the human body. Through this process, compounds – specifically CBD – are then able to relieve a variety of illnesses to varying degrees. Because of this, particular strains of marijuana are purposely bred to contain exact levels of each compound with an aim to target specific conditions.

For those who have obtained a cannabis card with an aim to relieve their anxiety, CBD is a word you will quickly become accustomed with. This is because it’s the key compound which has been found to help with the relief of anxiety. Conversely, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – also found within cannabis, and the compound used primarily to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer patients – can actively work against CBD, and ultimately cause anxiety.

Medical marijuana is very useful in combating anxiety.

Medical Marijuana: Combating Anxiety

When it comes to purchasing marijuana to soothe the effects of anxiety, the trick is to get the right chemical balance – which can be easier said than done. While it won’t give you the typical high associated with cannabis use, CBD-rich cannabis has been shown to counteract the negative effects THC has on those with anxiety, and is an effective way to relieve anywhere from mild to quite severe symptoms.

Due to the adverse effects that THC can have, it’s important for those with a medical marijuana card to be absolutely certain what kind of product they are purchasing before use. Studies have shown that THC activates the amygdala area of the brain. This is the part of the brain that controls fear, which in turn can lead to acute anxiety upon frequent use. This strain of cannabis is relatively common due to its benefits towards other ailments, therefore be sure to check that the strain of cannabis has high levels of CBD and low THC if you’re consuming for anxiety related purposes.

Not only is CBD able to alleviate the negative effects of anxiety through attaching itself to specific brain receptors, but it has also been shown to offer significant therapeutic comfort. In fact, a study carried out by the Institute of Psychiatry has stated that CBD offers great psychiatric potential. Furthermore, The Division of Psychiatry with the Department of Neurosciences and Behavior concluded that CBD dramatically reduced anxiety within its patients, due to its effects on mood-altering areas of the brain.

Medical Marijuana: How It Can Help You

For anyone with a cannabis card, the positive effects of medical marijuana that’s rich with CBD isn’t just limited to relief from anxiety either. Improvements in cognitive impairment, as well as a reduction in discomfort when speaking in public, have been shown to occur also. These positive impacts of marijuana consumption provide advantages over standard prescription medication on a chemical level, while also being faster acting to deliver immediate relief and coming with very few side effects that often go hand-in-hand with meds.

Above all, the two most important factors for anyone using their medical marijuana card to relieve anxiety are moderation and making sure to purchase a strain with a much greater concentration of CBD as opposed to THC. Habitual use or consuming THC rich cannabis can indeed have the opposite effect. However, for those struggling with the impact anxiety is having on their lives, medical marijuana can provide immense benefits, bestowing instant and prolonged relief.

Have you arrived home with your personal supply of medical marijuana but don’t know what to do with it all? Well, the obvious answer is to smoke it, but a common issue users face is how and where to store your medical marijuana when not in use. Fear not, as we give you the lowdown on how to maintain the potency of your marijuana and to ensure you still enjoy all the benefits that good quality medical marijuana offers. (more…)

In a classic episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David scores some ‘chronic’ from an LA street dealer (he should have found out how to get a medical marijuana card in California!) and ends up getting very, very high with his dad. The ensuing hilarious, tripped-out bathroom conversation between Larry and the bathroom mirror image of himself is a classic moment in American comedy history. The catalyst for picking up the weed in the first place was his desire to ease his old man’s painful glaucoma. But does medical cannabis really help glaucoma? And if so, how?
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