As the leading Coral Springs medical marijuana doctor, Dr. Tirmal, explains some of the ways that CBD that you buy in local shops and the medical marijuana that he prescribes to patients are different.
Coral Springs Medical Marijuana Dr.: CBD Vs. Medical Marijuana
1. THC Levels
CBD and THC are both compounds that are found in the cannabis plant. THC, however, can only be extracted from the Sativa plant where CBD can be extracted from both Sativa and hemp plants. Hemp, however, does not produce enough THC to create the intoxicating effects of THC when ingested. Although THC levels in medical marijuana are usually very low, they are present in medical marijuana. When compared, THC binds much more strongly with the body’s CBD receptors resulting in much more efficient relief of symptoms. It’s important to note, however, that for some people, the euphoria that can come from ingesting THC containing products can be a little unsettling.
2. The Prescription
One of the biggest differences between CBD products and medical marijuana, of course, is the need for a prescription. Medical marijuana requires a qualified medical marijuana doctor to evaluate your symptoms, your illness, and to register you in the Florida state registry so that you can fill your prescription for medical marijuana legally.
3. Obtaining the Product
Since CBD products do not require a prescription due to their lack of THC, they can be purchased over the counter in a number of smoke shops around the state here in Florida. However, since medical marijuana is such a tightly regulated substance and it requires a prescription from a licensed physician, it cannot be obtained without the necessary steps – this includes being registered in the state database and filling your prescription at a state-regulated dispensary.
4. Quality Control
Since medical marijuana requires a prescription and is tightly regulated by the state of Florida, it can only be legally dispensed through approved state dispensaries. The product sold by these dispensaries is obtained from licensed growers who are also tightly regulated. This results in a product that is clean and grown under very strict guidelines so that you can be sure of the product that you purchase. This means that you don’t run the risk of dangerous side effects related to contamination of the product you use.
Conversely, CBD is much less well regulated and it can be grown, processed, purchased, and stored in any number of ways. Unfortunately, this means that the purity of a product that you purchase cannot be guaranteed. Unfortunately, there are also very few regulatory systems in place to keep tabs on the quality of products being produced and sold in the supplement and herbal medicine market which means that you could wind up with a product that doesn’t work for you.
5. Monitoring
Another of the great benefits to medical marijuana is that it must be prescribed by a physician and your medical marijuana registration must be renewed annually. This means that your doctor is being held accountable for your product use and that they must track and monitor your health while you are using medical marijuana. This isn’t just good for the state, it’s good for you as a patient too because it means that your doctor can adjust your prescription type or dosage based on your response to a current prescription.
Again, because CBD products are much less regulated, there is a good chance that you may experience a negative side effect with their use. This also creates a problem because should a problem arise, you are not being monitored closely by a physician with intimate knowledge of how CBD and THC work with the body. It may also mean that should you experience a negative side effect, you give up on finding relief of your symptoms and wind up living in pain once again. This shouldn’t be the case.
If you are interested in medical marijuana to ease your symptoms and would like to undergo a medical cannabis evaluation, we can help.
Are You Looking For a Reputable Coral Springs Medical Marijuana Dr.?
If you are in or around the Coral Spring area and are looking for a reputable medical marijuana doctor who can help you to overcome your most difficult symptoms, Dr. Tirmal can help! Just use our handy online medical marijuana appointment tool to set up an appointment at a time that’s convenient for you!