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9 Myths About Medical Marijuana We Need to Stop Believing

Medical marijuana is a hot topic, but despite the good news, there is just as much confusion and, well, annoying myths surrounding the topic. The more updated you are with industry happenings, the easier it will be for you to have an opinion and view on this growing market.

Get this…

 

  • Did you know that alcohol sales reduced by 15 percent in states that have granted access to legal medical marijuana? This is according to a study carried out over the course of 10 years.
  • What’s more, the value of California’s cannabis market is projected to exceed $5bn by 2019 – pretty impressive, considering the state only just legalized recreational weed.
  • Something else that is expected to grow is the size of this industry as a whole, not to mention the 20,000-28,000 cannabis companies who were estimated to be active back in 2017.

 

Although the above information is true, it is more than what can be said for other areas of the cannabis market, with rumors circulating and brainwashing the minds of the uneducated. Unless you are educated on the subject, you may miss out on the healing potential of this abundantly growing herb.

Let’s clear the smoke, shall we?

Below, we highlight nine of the most common myths surrounding the powerful green plant:

 

 

  • Medical cannabis will lead to harder drug use. This is not true and the rumor should not prevent you from using marijuana as a medicine. According to drugabuse.gov, the people who use marijuana do not usually move on to harder drugs, despite what most people think.
  • Smoking medical marijuana will cause cancer. Considering the fact that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) supports the use of cannabis as a treatment for cancer-related pain, this one is certainly a myth. Although tobacco can harm the lungs, cannabis plant matter does not contain the harmful chemicals that regular cigarettes do. Vaporizing the herb is a cleaner alternative to smoking.
  • Cancer can be cured with medical cannabis. While cannabis-based treatments, such as CBD (Cannabidiol) oil may work wonders for easing chemotherapy-related symptoms, like nausea and insomnia, cannabis should not be relied on as a “cure” for cancer. Nevertheless, some people would disagree, such as the man who developed an oil that cured him of the disease – Rick Simpson.

 

    1. Medical marijuana is addictive. Absolutely not. Medical and recreational marijuana are equally as non-addictive, albeit enjoyable for many. In fact, CBD oil is now being used to reduce the addictive use of cannabis, with one study proving how a bipolar sufferer was able to reduce his habit of smoking marijuana when CBD oil was introduced into his life.

 

  • Medical marijuana medicines may cause a health hazard. Just like with any other type of medicine, you must consult your Doctor prior to getting a medical marijuana recommendation. Some people may have a high tolerance to cannabis, whereas others may not. However, marijuana is not dangerous and nobody has ever died from using it. A health professional will be able to inform you about any potential side effects, such as the psychoactive effects caused by Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
  • Patients who require medical cannabis can grow their own plants. This is not true for everybody, although Californians can now cultivate as many as six plants inside their own homes! However, medical cannabis patients must first gain approval under the Narcotic amendment. Licenses are also necessary, including a manufacturing license, research license and medical license.
  • Cannabis use is linked to increased crime rates. Quite the contrary, actually. The legalization of marijuana has been linked to a reduction in crime rates; in particular gang and drug-related crimes. As more states legalize the plant, the chances of the often dangerous black market being destroyed increases.

 

 

Finding the Best SF Dispensaries for Your Medical Marijuana Needs

There are a few qualities to seek out in a dispensary that sells medical-grade cannabis. Firstly, you ought to assess their presence in the cannabis market, both online and offline. Browse their website/blog and social media profiles to determine how in-the-loop they are and what they are doing to retain customer attention. Next, perform a swift background check on the dispensary to make certain they hold the relevant licenses to sell marijuana legally to patients. The good SF dispensaries will regularly update their inventory and hire knowledgdeable “budtenders,” who can inform you on the best bud/cannabis-infused products to buy.