Medical Cannabis |Uses, Types And Products
Cannabis is a drug and its consumption is illegal. We all have heard about it and know that cannabis is an addictive substance. However, did you know everything related to cannabis, and it is even used for medical uses to relieve pain? Cannabis has medicinal usage and is now used to treat specific symptoms.
In this article, we will discuss what is cannabis, the types of cannabis, its medical uses, and the classification of medical cannabis along with its type like Ice cream cake strain (a natural-derived cannabis). Keep reading till the end to decipher the truth of cannabis.
What is cannabis?
Medical cannabis, a herbal drug, derived from the Genus Cannabis. It is used for the treatment of a specific symptom or problem. Even though cannabis specifically refers to a plant genus, it is often used for Marijuana (an addictive drug substance). Marijuana is made from dried leaves and flowers of cannabis. There are mainly two types of cannabis plants; the sativa cannabis and indica cannabis.
The use of cannabis/marijuana is prohibited in most countries. However, medical cannabis is cannabis that is prescribed to patients by physicians. In the US, federal law has outlawed the use of general cannabis, but, many states have on the individual level, legalised cannabis or the chemicals found in them; cannabinoids and terpenes. These cannabinoids are the components which are used for medical uses.
Types of cannabis plants
There are mainly two types of cannabis plant species: Sativa and Indica cannabis plants.
Sativa
Sativa cannabis species generally grow in moist areas. They have a tall structure with skinny and long leaves. The Sativa cannabis species are said to be more energizing and uplifting, compared with the Indica cannabis species.
Indica
Indica cannabis plants are dry species plants. They usually grow in dry arid areas with less moisture. They are stubbies and shorter plants with wide leaves that help to catch moisture. The Indica cannabis species are said to be more calming and relaxing than the Sativa cannabis species. They are said to have more sedating effects.
Moving further, we will discuss the medical uses of cannabis.
Medical uses of cannabis
The buds and leaves of cannabis contain chemicals called cannabinoids. These chemicals can affect the brain and result in a change in mood and consciousness. Different cannabis contains different amounts of chemicals thus resulting in different effects which are hard to control. This is the reason why cannabis should only be consumed with a doctor’s prescription.
Below mentioned are some medical uses for consuming cannabis
- As an analgesic (to alleviate pain)
- Control vomiting and nausea
- Increase appetite in a person
- As an antispasmodic agent (to suppress muscle spasms)
- Can help you relax and sleep
- Can be helpful for anxiety and depression
How to consume medical cannabis?
Medical cannabis can be consumed in various ways, namely;
- Smoked
- Vaporized
- Eaten
- Taken as a liquid extract
Types of medical cannabis products
Medical cannabis contains a number of biological components, but there are two active components that are used for medical purposes; delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Medical cannabis can be derived either from naturally produced cannabinoid molecules called phytocannabinoids, or synthetically produced cannabinoid molecules.
- Plant-derived cannabinoids
Plant-derived cannabinoids are basically raw plant material. They are produced from cloned plants in a very strict GMP-compliant environment, this allows a predictable cannabinoid content. The plant material has to be smoked or vaporized by the user. It is strictly prescribed by doctors to vaporize the Medicinal cannabis products in ‘flos’ or ‘bud’ form via a TGA-approved and registered medical device.
Some plant-derived materials are liquid (tinctures or oils), made by extracting cannabinoids from the plant material by exposing it to solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide or ethanol. This liquid is generally swallowed using a dropper.
Some extracts are made into gel forms for direct application on the skin. While other concentrated plant extracts are put into capsules to be swallowed like other medicines.
- Synthetically-derived cannabinoids
Synthetically derived materials are produced by chemical synthesis using ingredients like limonene or derived by biological synthesis using bacteria or modified yeast.
Synthetic-derived cannabinoids are better alternatives for industries requiring strict requirements or legal regulations. The production of synthetic cannabinoids is a valuable advantage for consumer applications that require high yielding and consistency.
Conclusion
We have discussed what is medical cannabis, what are its purposes, the different types of cannabis species and what are types of medical cannabis products. We hope that by now you have understood the important issues circling cannabis. If you have any further queries or suggestions related to biscotti strain or other cannabis you may drop your comment below.
