You've been diagnosed and given a prescription to use Cannabis as your Medicine – now what? There are very few Doctors who can tell you how to begin, what dose, what method of medicating, what strain or what you can expect as side effects. Not even Pharmacist can tell you the information you need.
There are several ways you can use Cannabis:
Smoking - This method is great for treating pain, nausea and anxiety. It generally works very quickly. The drawbacks include the odor and the inconvenience of having to roll joints and store dry plant matter. Some people are bothered by the easily recognizable odor and worry that neighbours will know they are using Cannabis. Others worry about interactions with police and that the odor will lead to embarrassing questions or even arrest. In addition to smoking the plant matter, some people chose to smoke Hash made from Cannabis. The smoking method is not suitable for children.
Vaporizing - Vaporizing usually has the same quick acting results as smoking. There is very little odor and users dont generally worry about the cough that is often part of smoking Cannabis. One can also vaporize concentrates such as oil, wax and shatter. The vaporizers themselves can be large and difficult to use. The are also very expensive. Vape Pens are the latest tool in the box for Vaporizing, they are small, some come with re-loadable vials, some you need to buy pre-filled vials. They are inexpensive and easy to carry and use. Vape pens come with a changeable or rechargeable battery.
Ingesting oils and concentrates - This is done by simply eating oil by itself, taking oil filled capsules, baking into food, made into teas or added to uncooked food. Tinctures are a popular way to medicate for many people. Some creative people make candy and infused chocolate. Its an easy and unobtrusive way to medicate but caution must be used. “just one more cookie or chocolate” has caused many people to sleep through things they'd planned on enjoying. When ingesting, the effects take much longer to be felt the effects also last much longer. You can expect to wait 30 to 60 minutes or longer to feel the effects. You should use caution on your first try, start small. Edible medicine should be stored out of the reach of children and pets.
Topical use - Many skin conditions can be aided with topicals. There are many recipes online about how you can make simple topical lotions, creams and oils. Arthritis, burns, and skin disorders are the most common problems to be treated topically. Some people will treat internal problems with a combination of ingesting cannabis oil and then using a topical cream in the area of the body close to the problem area.
Suppositories - these are generally made by filling molds or capsules with a mixture of Cannabis oil mixed with coconut or olive oil. Some use Glycerin, while some may use Hemp Seed Oil. These are inserted rectally to the depth of just past the sphincter. This method is generally well tolerated as very few people get the “high” effect when using this method. It can be a bit messy if the suppositories are not inserted far enough. You may lose a small bit of oil and it is advised that you lie down for at least 30 minutes after insertion. Many people use this method before going to bed.
Often patients use more than one method for the treatment of their disorders. They may ingest oil before bed, vaporize in the morning, plus use a topical on affected areas. No matter which method you choose you you will find some benefit. Be aware that smoking and vaporizing alone is not considered an effective treatment for serious diseases or illness such as Cancer. They will help with some things but are not as effective as ingesting the concentrated oil, which is often called RSO ( Rick Simpson Oil) or FECO. ( Full extract Cannabis Oil) Information on how these oils are made can be easily found online.
I hope you've found this helpful, this is #1 in a series I've written on using Cannabis as a medicine.