Getting a medical marijuana card for chronic illness doesn’t have to be so complicated. With more states embracing medical cannabis for chronic pain, you can apply for your MMJ card right now from the comfort of your home using our effortless telehealth services.
Today, we share all the info you need about using medical marijuana for chronic illness, using CBD oil for pain, and how to get your MMJ card in the first place. Let’s get started.
Understanding Medical Cannabis for Chronic Illness
Living with a chronic illness is tough. For those dealing with this condition, everyday tasks like driving, cleaning up, or carrying groceries become strenuous and exhausting. Eventually, the pain of the illness and even the side effects of prescribed medications become unbearable. This cycle of pain and stress drives them to seek relief from other sources, including marijuana.
Using medical cannabis has been proven to help patients regain focus and have a more positive look at life. For them, it isn’t just about the disease but also about how the condition makes them feel.
In recent years, marijuana has become widely accepted as a plant with therapeutic benefits. Medical marijuana contains THC, a chemical compound with pain-relieving properties known to give a euphoric, psychoactive experience. It also boasts CBD, another chemical popular for its non-psychoactive, healing properties. Extracting and enhancing these chemicals makes them valuable for myriad medical purposes. Besides, using MMJ reduces the reliance on opioid pain meds; it is a safe and effective way to improve symptoms of chronic diseases such as pain, sleep disorders, anxiety, and stress.
Regardless, it is essential to note that cannabis will not cure your illness; instead, it will relieve unpleasant symptoms or side effects associated with the disease.
What Does the FDA Have to Say?
Unfortunately, the FDA has not yet approved medical marijuana. First of all, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule 1 substance, making it illegal for medicinal use in treatment in the United States. Due to this, researchers can only conduct limited clinical trials to back up the effectiveness of marijuana as a medicine. The lack of a generally accepted dosage also makes it illegal under federal laws. So these issues make it difficult for patients to access medical cannabis for pain.
Nevertheless, the use and acceptance of MMJ continue to evolve, as shown by the growing number of states now permitting its use for medical reasons. So far, 33 states currently run their medical marijuana programs allowing residents access to cannabis.
Can You get a Medical Marijuana Card for Chronic Illness?
If you happen to live in one of the states with legalized medical marijuana, you can definitely get a medical marijuana card for chronic illness.
Despite federal law prohibiting the use of cannabis, several states in the US allow medical marijuana for specific medical conditions. However, each state’s medical marijuana program is unique and constantly changing, so you must keep yourself updated on the medical marijuana laws in your state.
On top of that, to get a medical marijuana card for chronic illness, you need to have a condition that qualifies you for the card. Every state has a different list of qualifying conditions, but the most commonly approved ones are:
- ADHD
- Anorexia
- Arthritis
- Cachexia/Wasting Syndrome
- Cancer
- Chronic Pain
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurodegenerative
- PTSD
How to Use MMJ For Chronic Pain
Marijuana contains compounds that may relieve pain, nausea, and other symptoms. At the moment, consumers frequently turn to cannabis for pain, and it is by far the most common condition cited by patients when getting an MMJ card. Most studies focus on the CBD and THC chemicals in marijuana for pain relief. However, more research is needed to verify the pain-relieving benefits of CBD oil and other products. These cannabinoids, when extracted, can be used as myriad products. Here are some of the most common.
Cannabis Oils
Companies craft cannabis oils by extracting cannabinoids using alcohol, ethanol, or infusing cannabis in quality oil like coconut or olive oil. The most common type of cannabis oil used for pain relief is CBD oil. Alongside its therapeutic properties, this is because CBD is significantly less habit-forming and has fewer side effects than traditional medications. Using CBD oil as a complementary medicine may reduce pain, inflammation, and overall discomfort related to various health conditions.
Topical treatments
You usually apply cannabis topicals to spot-treat tension, spasms, and muscle pain; the goal is to address pain by targeting specific surface areas. Lotions, balms, and salves containing cannabinoids to the skin can help relieve pain and inflammation. In addition to this, transdermal patches that have cannabinoids are also available and are typically more potent than lotions and salves.
Edibles
Marijuana edibles offer a convenient method to consume marijuana, and they are one of the most popular choices. Edibles involve infusing food, such as cookies, brownies, and candies, with the drug. You can use them in taking care of chronic pain in the body caused by either accident or illness. Nevertheless, you have to be extra careful with edibles as their effects can be difficult to predict.
Sublingual cannabis
Sublingual administration refers to the placement of a drug beneath the tongue. In this manner, the drug can enter the bloodstream faster, making a more significant impact on the body. A sublingual cannabis product, such as a tincture or an oral spray, enters the bloodstream in thirty seconds to two minutes. However, they are also not as long-lasting as edibles, so you need to take them more frequently.
How can I Get a Medical Marijuana Card for Chronic Illness?
Getting an MMJ card for your chronic illness will require a certified physician’s diagnosis and approval, and you can even start the process right now. We offer telehealth services that make it easy for you to talk to our doctors, discuss your symptoms and what products will be most beneficial for you, and get you on your way to receiving your card. Then, as soon as the state gives you your MMJ card, you are free to visit any licensed dispensary and buy the products you need for your health.
Sit Back, Relax, and Let Elevate Holistics Handle the Rest
In conclusion, long-term chronic health conditions affect patients in many different ways. You can turn to medical marijuana, however, to manage and reduce the effects of living with the pain. So, if you’re interested in trying some medical cannabis for pain relief, schedule a consultation with us today.
