Pay attention that growing marijuana may be subject to special restrictions and regulation in your country or state. Please contact your attorney to obtain advice before cultivating cannabis.
Disclaimer
Pay attention that growing marijuana may be subject to special restrictions and regulation in your country or state. Please contact your attorney to obtain advice before cultivating cannabis.
Until recently, the use of marijuana and various cannabis-based pharmaceuticals was banned in many countries. However, things are changing rapidly, and many countries have legalized medical marijuana. Since then, this topic has been of interest to many people since it is unclear how to distinguish medical and recreational marijuana and how they differ in their properties. Stay tuned to learn all the differences between recreational and medical cannabis.
What is recreational marijuana?
In another way, this cannabis is also called non-medical or simply "regular.” The substance is usually used to obtain certain psychoactive effects, depending on its strain, Indica or Sativa. Cannabis is the most commonly used mind-altering drug in the U.S., after alcohol. It is widely used among all age groups for recreational purposes to rest, relax, or recharge. The substance, depending on its strain, can affect the individual in various ways. Usually, the effects include:
- increased appetite;
- feeling of joy;
- relaxation;
- increased sense of taste, hearing, and sight;
- changed sense of time;
- loss of coordination, and many others.
The effects depend on the psychoactive constituent; for example, there are strains with higher THC levels. But with medical cannabis, things are getting more interesting.
What is medical marijuana?
When doctors are asked what medical or recreational marijuana is, they cannot find a universal answer, as state laws and their definitions can vary significantly. For example, the Florida bill defines cannabis as:
“All parts of any plant of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant or its seeds or resin."
Marijuana is only considered medical if it is prescribed to a patient at medical cannabis dispensaries. Only these enterprises can prescribe and dispense these substances legally. Marijuana can be prescribed for a variety of reasons. Weed cannabinoids not only relieve pain but also have a positive effect on mood and reduce anxiety levels. Besides, medical marijuana helps with eating disorders because it reduces vomiting and improves appetite.
In general, there is no significant difference between medical and recreational marijuana; it is only a matter of the purpose of use. But the different strains have different amounts of psychoactive substances, so they suit different purposes. For example, strains with a high THC score fight pain better than “weaker” weeds. Consumers can also opt for THC-free strains, leaving only CBD. The latter component has a positive effect on health but does not have psychoactive consequences for the user. But the fact is, CBD strains are much rarer than THC-containing cannabis. However, CBD-infused oils, patches, and edibles are much more common.
It is important to remember that state laws may differ, however, medical marijuana is generally allowed in the form of:
- Oils
- Creams
- Sprays
- Patches
- Tinctures
- Vaping
- Smoking
Edibles can also be considered a legal product, but they are often not available because there are no clear guidelines for their use. This is because the effects of edibles can last up to 10 hours; this is a considerable period that can affect a person's life significantly.
The intensity and duration of the high depend directly on the type of product. CBD is not fast-acting; it works on a long-term basis just like vitamins. THC, in turn, has an almost instant effect, but when using Sativa, it is worth waiting a little for the buzz to appear. When smoked, the high lasts up to 3 hours. Some strains are strong enough to make you high for up to 8 hours.
What can confuse you?
Recreational cannabis can be used as a medical one, which can be confusing because Sativa, Indica, and hybrid strains have not only physical effects but also mental ones. They can affect consciousness, and these changes might be long-term, especially if marijuana is consumed regularly. Thus, medical marijuana users often prefer CBD strains because this component does not have any psychoactive properties or side effects.
