4 Effective Ways to Talk to Your Doctor About Cannabis
Stigmatization of cannabis is something that has been going on for the longest time. It took a lot of awareness campaigns to convince people that cannabis can be helpful in various ways. Not many understood it past the psychoactive effects. However, people have begun accepting cannabis steadily, and it has become legal in over 33 US states. With more people accepting the herb, the need to have rules and regulations that govern the market emerged. The market has changed and patients should be able to talk to their doctors about medical cannabis.
These rules have made it difficult for many to navigate in the cannabis industry. Cannabis is illegal at the federal level, and there are loopholes in its legality, leaving room for inhibitions. That makes anything to do with cannabis intimidating. The intimidation is so intense that even talking to a licensed health physician about cannabis becomes awkward.
It is quite unfortunate that not all doctors acknowledge cannabis power. Most of the doctors were trained to treat people using conventional methods. However, these medical remedies also have limitations. At times the human body requires measures that go past these ancient treatment methods. These measures may include the use of phytocannabinoids like THC and CBD.
Health physicians and US doctors are not yet aware of the therapeutic potential of cannabis. The problem becomes even direr since there is limited research on matters cannabis. There are no sufficient clinical trials that prove how efficient THC and CBD can be. FDA approves some medicines made from cannabis extracts, such as Epidiolex. If you need to know more about cannabis care, feel free to talk to your doctor about it. Below are some ways you can do that:
Conduct Research Before Your Appointment
Upon deciding to seek cannabis care, make sure you go through every information on the medical significance of cannabis. Talk to cannabis professionals, search the internet and dive into the studies that speak more about the therapeutic importance of CBD. Ensure you read on how your body interacts with cannabis and the leading cause of the reaction to cannabinoids and terpenes. With this information, you will know all the ins and outs of cannabis and its therapeutic effects on your body. Talking about it to your physician will be easy.
Learn About Your Condition
Consuming marijuana in a medical capacity has to happen in a process. As a medical marijuana patient, you have to qualify for some evaluations. For you to medically use marijuana, you have to be medically fit. Understand that every state in the US has its qualifying conditions. First, you have to look at this list in your state to determine whether your medical condition qualifies for cannabis use.
If you are qualified, you can familiarize yourself with the condition and see how cannabis can help you. Seeking the doctor's advice with this information will help you gain confidence in expressing yourself. You will also remain firm with your decision in case of the doctor questions it.
Be Serious During the Conversation
Using cannabis for medication is a big calling. If you need to take that route and talk about it with your doctor, you have to be firm and assertive about it. The conversation with the doctor should not be any casual conversation. Tell the doctor why you think cannabis may help cure your existing medical condition.
Look for ample time to talk to the doctor. It will be easier for you if you live in a state where marijuana is legal for medical purposes. If you think marijuana has helped make a difference in your life, present the case and back it with scientific facts.
Understand the Laws Associated with Cannabis
Cannabis laws are different in every state and can fluctuate at any time. The main reason is that at the federal level, cannabis is illegal, and it is still at the infancy stage. That means states have to review some cannabis clauses to allow them to regulate the use of cannabis. Some states just recently legalized the use of cannabis which makes the laws tricky to understand.
Ensure you learn the cannabis laws and regulations in your state to have an easy time with your doctor discussing it. Tell your doctor that CBD that comes from hemp and contains less than 0.3% THC is legal. That means CBD oil and such products can alleviate pain. Now that you know some ways to talk to your doctor about medical cannabis, you can begin to explore both Eastern and allopathic medicine remedies.