There Are Many Ways to Take Medical Marijuana

You understand that cannabis might be able to play a valuable role in your health, and you’re exploring medical marijuana. If you’re picturing sitting in a smoke-filled room, think again. 

There are many ways in which medical marijuana is available, and Dr. Sachida Manocha of Interventional Pain Center reviews each of them here.

Cannabis and your health

Before we get into the different delivery methods, we want to quickly review why cannabis is accepted today as a viable treatment for a number of different conditions, including managing pain.

Cannabis is effective because it works with a large cell signaling network in your body called your endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system regulates a number of functions, including sleep, mood, memory, and pain. Within your ECS are receptors in your central and peripheral nervous systems that are activated by endocannabinoids, including the cannabinoids found in marijuana.

Recognizing the interplay between cannabis and your ECS and how it can improve your health, not only are states legalizing marijuana for medical use, the FDA has already approved some cannabis-based medications and is set to approve more.

The ways you can take cannabinoids

Once we evaluate you for medical marijuana and you receive your approval from the State of Ohio, we can figure out which delivery method is right for you. 

According to the medical marijuana law, the marijuana is available in “Oils, tinctures, plant material, edibles, lotions, creams, and patches. The law prohibits the use of medical marijuana by smoking or combustion but does allow for vaporization (vaping).”

If you choose an ingestion method, such as an edible or tincture, it’s important to understand that the effects take a little longer to achieve. This is because the marijuana has to get through much of your digestive system before it’s picked up by your ECS from your intestines.

For faster pain relief, we recommend sublingual (under your tongue) drops that can gain access to your blood more quickly. As well, vaping is a very quick way to deliver cannabis into your system. A few inhales of your vape and the drug quickly accesses your ECS and gets to work.

If you have chronic pain, you might want a more steady delivery method for your medical marijuana, such as a patch, lotion, or cream. Or, you can go back to the ingestion method we discussed earlier for ongoing pain management.

As you can see, there are several points to consider when considering medical marijuana, and we’re happy to sit down with you to find a delivery method that best suits your health needs and goals.

To get started, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with the Interventional Pain Center today. We have offices in Worthington and Newark, Ohio.