If you have a debilitating illness that affects your life on a daily basis, you’re probably going to try anything (like MMJ) that might help alleviate the symptoms. Conventional medicine generally follows the line of prescribing traditional medication. There are obvious reasons for this.
First, medics are trained in and knowledgeable about which medication helps with which ailment. They might not wish to deviate from the conventional path of offering tried and tested drugs to treat the long, and ever-growing, list of crippling diseases and illnesses. They might be afraid to ‘think outside the box’.
Another, more skeptical, reason is the drug companies and the amount of money that they generate. Who wants to be the one to rock that particular boat? So, let’s look at how owning a California medical marijuana card could be a better route for you to venture down.
Medical Marijuana Research and Support
Many researchers and medical professionals support the use of MMJ for qualifying conditions and ailments.
It’s a fact that every drug has a side-effect. In some cases these side-effects are minimal and rare, but in other cases they can be pretty devastating and almost as horrible to deal with as the illness they’re designed to treat.
If you could avoid this, that would be a good thing right? If you’re currently on medication for chronic pain for example, the chances are you’re definitely suffering from some nasty side-effects. MMJ is far less harmful and also a less addictive way to treat persistent and chronic pain. A clinical trial was conducted in 2010 that found that just three puffs of cannabis a day can help reduce extreme pain.
Medical marijuana is becoming increasingly more accepted by the medical profession and by the general public, too. CBS News conducted a national poll in 2014 which found that 86% of Americans were in favor of doctors being allowed to prescribe cannabis for serious, debilitating illnesses. That’s a lot of people backing an alternative to traditional drugs.
It’s widely believed that medical marijuana has anti-inflammatory properties, can reduce swelling and can help with pain management. It’s not just the numbing effect that smoking or consuming cannabis gives you – it can actually help relieve your symptoms.
Dr Allan Frankel, one of the world’s leading authorities on dosed cannabis medicine, has been looking into the beneficial effects of medical marijuana since the 70’s. He is now convinced that it can play an important part in modern medicine. He thinks that many people are still against it because they’ve been indoctrinated to view cannabis as a dangerous and addictive drug. He thinks prescription drugs have a far greater potential for sparking addiction.
Dr Frankel stated, “In the US in 2010, there were four times more deaths among women from prescription painkiller overdose than for cocaine and heroin deaths combined.” This should make us very wary of prescription drugs and more willing to consider the alternatives.
Benefits of MMJ
If you’re in possession of a cannabis card then you have access to a lot of medical help and advice for your illness. You will be able to speak to doctors in confidence about your MMJ use and dosage. This can be done online or in person. These specialists will advise you about the best strain or strains for treating your condition and the amount you should take.
You’ll also have access to licensed dispensaries and specialized and protected medical marijuana sites. So you’ll be able to inform yourself on all the pros and cons of medicinal cannabis – something that’s not always so transparent with traditional medicine.
Traditional medication, like pills, takes longer to go into effect than if you were to consume medical marijuana.
Another plus about MMJ is that – if you choose to smoke it – it gets into your system straight away and therefore, starts working immediately. Traditional medication, of course, takes longer to have an effect. Also, providing you get the right strain and the correct dosage, you won’t suffer any of those nasty medication side-effects with medical marijuana. You just get a general good feeling and a realization that your symptoms aren’t hitting you quite so badly.
Taking the correct dosage is important though; if you take too much it can cause paranoia and/or nausea, so be sure to get advice on this. If you prefer to ingest your medical marijuana, by experimenting you can determine how long it takes to start working and you can then decide the best time to consume it on a daily basis.
If you suffer from any of the 50 or more conditions that would qualify you for a cannabis card, it’s certainly worth looking into. You have nothing to lose by giving it a try, and plenty to gain. The best way to start is to apply for your medical marijuana card online.
The medical card evaluation is a simple, quick and private process. It will include a brief discussion with a specialist over the phone or via Skype, during which you’ll be able to ask any questions you like about usage, dosage, any side-effects and MMJ versus traditional medication.
Once approved, your California medical card will be mailed to you in a matter of days. You’ll then be at liberty to grow your own plants and/or to buy your recommended strain and dosage from recognized suppliers. Remember to always seek medical advice if you decide to come off any long-term prescribed medication.