Legislation allowing medical marijuana continues to expand across the U.S., allowing patients in more and more states to have safe, legal access to the natural relief that cannabis provides. Since dispensaries first opened their doors in Louisiana in 2019, state patients who have one of the many approved conditions for medical marijuana have been able to use cannabis as an alternative treatment.
State medical marijuana programs give patients access to various cannabis products they can use to treat a multitude of conditions, including but not limited to chronic pain, cancer, glaucoma, anxiety, and so many more. Marijuana products are ONLY legally available to those patients who have consulted with a doctor and received their medical marijuana certification.
Cannabis - A Versatile Medicine for a Diverse Population
The cannabis plant itself is extraordinarily versatile. There are a myriad of different marijuana-based products on the market, such as flower, edibles, tinctures, topicals, and more. Some cannabis products can even be designated as legal without a medical card.
Hemp plants, which are classified as cannabis plants containing less than 0.3% THC, are also often used to produce products with some of the same properties as medical marijuana, just without the THC content. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive component found in marijuana. This means that products without THC do not have the ability to get consumers “high.”
It is important to know the differences between hemp-based products and medical marijuana products, especially if you are a patient looking to relieve your medical symptoms and conditions.
What Is the Difference Between Hemp Products and Marijuana Products?
Hemp-based Products Are Not Well-Regulated
For cannabis patients, it is important to know that the products you consume are safe and that they will effectively treat your symptoms. Medical marijuana products, which can only be purchased at a Louisiana-based dispensary - contain more than 0.3% THC, and are grown and sold specifically for medicinal purposes.
Because of this, they are regulated by the Louisiana Department of Health and undergo extensive testing and analysis before they are made available for purchase. Consumer-grade cannabis products that can be sold legally such as CBD oil, delta-8 vape cartridges and edibles aren’t legally required to maintain this level of testing and analysis. Sometimes they don’t even have their ingredients listed on the package.
While certain brands are earning a reputation for having tight restrictions on contamination and guaranteeing quality ingredients, these are typically far and few among retailers who are selling wholesale CBD products, many of which actually contain very little CBD.
Medical Marijuana Products Have KNOWN Benefits for Chronic Patients
There’s no denying the powerful abilities of CBD and how it can help alleviate many different symptoms.
Hemp-based products from reputable brands that offer high quality CBD can be a great complement to a medical marijuana treatment plan. As a matter of fact, many medical marijuana companies offer high grade CBD products at dispensaries
Hemp-based products, however, are not a replacement for medical marijuana. The medicinal benefits associated with THC (and THC with CBD) are significant and THC likely plays one of the most significant roles in treatment with cannabis. Simply put - CBD alone does not offer all of the healing properties that you can receive with medical marijuana.
While CBD has been shown to provide anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and mood boosting qualities, it does so at a reduced level when compared to THC. To get the most out of your medical marijuana experience, you should consider utilizing CBD & THC together to receive the most therapeutic and medicinal effects.
Hemp and Marijuana Products Provide Different Results
Medical marijuana and hemp typically serve two different functions, but for many medical marijuana patients, they can work well together. Many cannabis patients choose to use hemp-based products alongside medical marijuana for several reasons.
Patients who suffer from anxiety may look to incorporate CBD into their treatments. CBD, when used in concert with THC, can help to lessen some of the anxiety-inducing elements of marijuana, allowing patients to increase their overall sense of calm. CBD can work alongside THC for improved results with mood, inflammation, and for patients with conditions like epilepsy or seizures, CBD can be an important addition to medical marijuana products.
If you are looking for the “high” that you get from cannabis, hemp products are NOT what you are looking for. For this, you’re going to need medical marijuana. THC levels in hemp products are too low to have the psychoactive effect that makes marijuana so effective.
Medical cannabis products have much higher amounts of THC than hemp-based products, and THC is what’s responsible for the feeling of overall well-being that cannabis is known for. THC is a crucial compound because it addresses a variety of regulatory functions across the body’s central nervous system being transmitted and received in the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system is basically a communication network for many of the body’s functions, including learning, memory, sleep, inflammatory and immune responses, temperature, and appetite.
THC goes into the endocannabinoid system and directly binds to receptors. CBD, on the other-hand, does not bind to those receptors. Because of this, CBD can work as a companion with THC, helping to reduce the potency of marijuana’s psychoactive effect, giving patients a better overall experience.
Patients looking to use THC and CBD together will find that one of the best ways to accomplish this is to purchase a tincture. Most dispensaries have a selection of tinctures with varied ratios of THC to CBD. If you are curious about combining your medical marijuana treatments with CBD, we recommend visiting your local dispensary and discussing products and options with your budtender.
Ready for Relief? Get Your Medical Card Today
If you’re ready to enjoy the natural relief that cannabis provides, you’ll need your Louisiana medical marijuana card. If you don’t have your card yet, we can help you with that.
Reserve an evaluation online today, and we’ll make an appointment for you with one of our knowledgeable, compassionate doctors to see if you qualify for your medical card. Not only will you discuss your condition and options during a virtual appointment in the safety of your own home, but if you reserve an appointment online today, you’ll also save $25 off the cost of the appointment!
We’ll even refund the total appointment cost if you and your doctor conclude that medical marijuana isn’t right for you. You have nothing to lose, and a world of potential health benefits to gain!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Louisiana Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (833) 253-2943, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!