Cannabis can be a confusing thing. There are so many administration methods, so many strains, so many dispensaries, it can be hard to know where to start. You may even be thinking that using cannabis medicinally is a big hoax. In this short article, we look at helping provide some clarity and tips for patients.

1. Does Cannabis Really Help With Pain & Other Medical Conditions?

There is an overwhelming amount of patient testimonials claiming that cannabis has changed their lives for the better. In fact, a quick search on Youtube will reveal tons of powerful testimonials from patients who have experienced amazing outcomes using cannabis. But what does the medical research say?  To many peoples surprise- the medical research shows that there is conclusive evidence that cannabis effectively treats pain, along with many other conditions. One large study done by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine outlined a list of conditions with moderate or substantial evidence that backs the therapeutic use of cannabis. So the answer is overwhelmingly YES! Cannabis is the real deal. Now how does it work?

2. How Does Cannabis Help?

The cannabis flower has hundreds of organic compounds that work together to provide therapeutic effects for patients. The most famous of these compounds are cannabinoids, such as CBD or THC. CBD is a powerful, natural anti-inflammatory medicine that is amazing researchers around the world. THC also plays a role in pain relief, along with many other symptoms. The different cannabinoids within the plant interact with our bodies endocannabinoid system, a system that naturally responds to cannabinoids and provides different therapeutic effects such as pain relief.

3. Where Do I Start?

After you get a medical card from a licensed clinic (click here for more info on this), it’s time to find some cannabis and smoke it, right?! WRONG! There is a lot to consider before you start using cannabis, and some best practices to follow, especially for a first time user.

Choose The Right Strain

It’s important to start out with a high CBD, low THC strain. If you don’t know what that means, that’s ok. You just need to let the local Tulsa dispensary you go to that you want a high CBD strain, or product. Basically, CBD will not get you high, and provides many powerful therapeutic benefits. THC does too, but too much THC will get you high, so you want a balanced product. In fact, CBD counteracts the psychoactive high that THC produces, so a product will equal amounts of CBD and THC is a good place to start.

4. Do I Have To Smoke It?

No. There are many administration methods. Topical creams for localized pain, sublingual droppers, edibles. But, vaporizing can be a discreet and convenient way to start out. There are some benefits to vaping that edibles don’t provide.

5. Choose A Dispensary

Not all dispensaries are the same, and not all budtenders are going to give you the same recommendations. What’s most important is that the budtenders understand what you are needing, and take into consideration your medical needs when making recommendations.

This can be hard to find sometimes, because not all budtenders have the same level of patient best interest, or proper training to provide valid recommendation. If you are looking to find a dispensary where you know that patients needs are prioritized, check out Dr. Z Leaf. Dr. Z Leaf provides a professional and consultative approach to helping each and every patient find the right product and level of relief. They have a knowledgeable, well trained staff, and two brand new dispensaries in Tulsa.

6. Start Low & Go Slow

So you found a dispensary, and have bought some product. Here is the most important advice- start with low doses of any product that contains THC, and slowly increase the amount of THC. For example, if you have a vape pen that has a significant amount of THC, start out with one full inhale, and wait 15-20 minutes before you try another inhale. If your using edibles, start out with 2.5 mg of THC, and wait two hours before you try any more.

The biggest problem that people have is they don’t feel the effects right away, so they take too much and have a bad experience. If If you tolerate the first night of cannabis use, slowly increase the amounts of THC the following nights. Again, go slow!

Cannabis can be incredibly helpful for a variety of conditions, but it takes some trial and error to figure out which product, administration method and dosing will work best for you.

If you have any questions, our team of cannabis consultants are available any time to help answer questions. You can visit Dr. Z Leaf at 68th & Memorial and 31st & Harvard.