Shopping for medical cannabis products can be very confusing while you wonder what product is best for you.
There isn’t any one clear answer and this is because IT DEPENDS on what you are treating, what’s available and your preferences. I’ll outline the major types of products below, and why you might select them above other products.
Flower: Flower is dry cannabis bud.
You can find it in a variety of cultivars (aka “strains”) that are high in various cannabinoids. We carry high CBD and CBG flower with no THC in the Nature Pharmacy. Most of the time, you’ll need to buy flower at a marijuana store, where you’ll find flower with at least .3%THC. You’ll use cannabis flower by smoking, using in a heated vape device or making your own medicines. Flower will be best for you particularly if you want a wide selection of cultivars to choose from. Inhaled flower has a very fast mechanism of action.
Capsules: Capsules are convenient, easy to carry and odor free.
Capsules may be any cannabinoid, or ratio of cannabinoids and come in a variety of dosages. You use cannabis capsules by swallowing them, ideally with a small amount of food. Capsules might be the best cannabis product for you if you know what dosage and/or cannabinoid ratio is right for you. It is usually difficult to cut them into smaller dosages. At the Nature Pharmacy we carry uniquely high potency capsules.
Edibles: Edibles are convenient, easy to carry and odor free.
Edibles may be any cannabinoid, or ratio of cannabinoids and come in a variety of dosages and flavors. You’ll find gummies, hard candies, chocolates, drinks and other food products. You use edible cannabis products by eating or drinking them. Edibles take 30 minutes-2 hours to take effect in most bodies. At the Nature Pharmacy our patient favorite are the gummies. If you need an in-between dose, soft edibles can be cut into portions. Edibles are best for patients who like a little treat. I often use them with children and elderly patients who have difficulty swallowing pills & might look forward to their medicinal treats! Be careful to keep edibles put away securely and never take more than your dose.
Tinctures: Tinctures are a liquid cannabis medicine that comes in different ratios of cannaboids.
Tinctures might be the best product type for you if you are new to cannabis and completely unsure of what dose is best for you. Use a cannabis tincture by putting your dose under your tongue for up to 30 seconds and then swallowing it. You can also put it into a drink. The packaging will show how many mg of cannabinoids is in a “serving” or the “bottle”. If it doesn’t, AVOID that products! Be sure to measure out your dose using the dropper if there are markings on it, or with a liquid medicine measuring device from a pharmacy. We carry CBD tinctures in the Nature Pharmacy.
Vape cartridges: Vape cartridges used for inhalation
This might be the best product for you if you need a convenient, mostly odor free product with very fast onset time (similar to smoking flower). Watch for solvent free products whenever possible. Use a vape product by inhaling, it’s best to inhale a small amount at first and then wait to see if you need more than one inhale for the desired effect.
Extract: Extracts might be the best product for you if you need a very potent product.
Extracts are not ideal if you are new to cannabis or cannabinoid medicines. Extracts come in many forms, rosin, shatter, butters and more. To use a cannabis extract, measure your dosage carefully and consume: alone, in/on foods, or put on top of flower before smoking.
FECO/RSO: Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) is the same as RSO.
These potent products might be the best medical cannabis product for you if you want all the cannabinoids, terpenes and bioactive compounds found in flower, but in a highly concentrated form. FECO comes in various ratios of cannabinoids. FECO will ideally be made without the use of solvents. To use a cannabis FECO, you can apply it topically (i.e.: on a skin lesion) or eat it. FECO is commonly used by patients with cancer or severe chronic health problems.
I hope that you have a better idea of how to use medical cannabis!
Our doctors have decades of experience helping patients like you, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment if you have questions!
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