Medical Cannabis: When It Comes to Strains, Ask a Pharmacist
I do a lot of research into medical cannabis for my job. I watch videos, listen to podcasts, and consume incredible amounts of written content. One thing I am continually surprised by are all the recommendations of different strains for treating different conditions. Rarely do I see pharmacists contributing to such discussions.
If you are using marijuana recreationally, do whatever you want with strains. But if you are a medical cannabis patient, be cautious. Ask a pharmacist about different strains and how they might impact your treatment. Also be aware that much of what we refer to in the strain department has little to do with actual medical efficacy. It is more about branding than anything else.
The Basics of Cannabis Strains
Exercising caution when it comes to strains is rooted in the cannabis plant itself. When we talk about medical cannabis, what we are really referring to is marijuana used as a medicine. This matters because of the simple fact that both marijuana and hemp are varieties of cannabis. The only thing that sets them apart is THC content.
When brands talk about strains, they should be referring to marijuana plants that have been cultivated to promote or discourage targeted cannabinoids and terpenes. However, that is not always the case. Some strains do have unique cannabinoid and terpene profiles. Other strains do not offer anything special, other than a creative brand name designed to appeal to a target audience.
Active Ingredients Are What Matters
Cannabis used for medicinal purposes is supposed to alleviate a patient’s symptoms. It could be chronic pain, nausea, anxiety, or even insomnia. But just as with any other kind of medication, it is the active ingredients that count. Brand name means nothing.
Set medical cannabis aside for a minute and think of another type of prescription medication. You have brand name drugs and their generic counterparts. Guess what? The generic drugs are nearly identical. They contain the same active ingredients. They are sold in the same forms and in the same doses. In most cases, very little benefit is derived from taking the brand name drug.
Active ingredients matter with medical cannabis, too. Patients should be more concerned with cannabinoids and terpenes than creative brand names. This is where the advice of a knowledgeable pharmacist proves invaluable.
Trained in Pharmacology
Pharmacists are the most qualified people to advise on medical cannabis specifically because they are trained in pharmacology. A pharmacist specializing in medical cannabis has undergone additional training to gain a greater understanding of the endocannabinoid system.
The thing to remember is that medical cannabis is a business. Growers, processors, and retailers are all in it to make money. It is no different than Big Pharma. So if you want qualified advice you can trust, don’t ask someone on the business side of things. Ask someone on the medical side. Ask a medical cannabis pharmacist.
Where can you find such a pharmacist? At a medical cannabis pharmacy. The Beehive Farmacy in Brigham City, UT is just one example. Utah regulations mandate that all medical cannabis pharmacies have a pharmacist on-site whenever the doors are opened.
They Know Medical Cannabis
In Utah, it’s part of the medical cannabis pharmacist’s job to know as much about cannabis as possible. It’s no different in other states. Pharmacists make it their business to stay up to date on cannabinoids, terpenes, and strains.
Strains are part of the medical cannabis business. They are unavoidable. If you are a patient, be cautious about blind loyalty to a particular strain. It is better to consult with a pharmacist capable of recommending the best product for your condition.