Frequently Asked Questions about Legal Medical Cannabis

Q: What are the differences between Indicas vs. Sativas

A: Marijuana comes in many strains and varietals. Each strain fits into two marijuana families, indica and sativa. Mixed strains are known as hybrids.

Indicas are effective in treating physical illnesses and pain. Indicas are also commonly used for insomnia and other sleeping issues. Effects of sativas, on the other hand, are felt more mentally than physically. Sativa strains typically cause the user to feel awake, and they are described by some as having an almost energizing quality. Sativas also have an effect on the eye making them ideal for ailments such as glaucoma.

Patients who choose indicas as their form of legal medical marijuana generally report a stronger head high and do so in order to manage issues such as migraines or sleeping disorders. Those who choose sativas find that their medication can offer relief from pressure-pain related ailments. With the correct dosage, sativa patients report clarity of thought and little to no disruption of standard cognitive function.

Q: What are ‘Edibles’ and what else do Legal Medical Marijuana Dispensaries have to offer?

A: Legal medicinal marijuana doesn’t just come in the form of brownies and cookies anymore. Medical cannabis dispensaries carry an array of foods, including ice cream, candy, cereal, chips, snacks, olive oil, hummus, and many other varieties that can make the experience more enjoyable and suitable for the patient. By offering patient-preferred products, such as vegan, organic fair-trade, and gluten or dairy free, medical marijuana is accessible to all dietary restrictions. These products are also offered in indica, sativa, and hybrid forms.

Q: Can you tell me more about THC pills, lotions, and other unconventional forms of legal medical marijuana?

A: As an alternative to smoking or eating your legal medical marijuana, many dispensaries offer products such as pills and tinctures. THC pills are highly controlled doses of concentrated THC, whereas marijuana tinctures are small bottles of alcohol or glycerin infused with THC that can be sprayed into the mouth. Lotions and other topical forms of medicine are offered as well and can be applied directly to the skin for medication.

Q: What can you tell me about personal cultivation and clones? Are there training courses for cannabis botany?

A: Small female (bud producing) plants known as “clones” are sold at many dispensaries offering patients the ability to cultivate their own medication within the legal limit. Many dispensaries offer courses which teach patients how to cultivate their medication. Professionals are generally available to answer any questions patients may have about cultivation, marijuana law, or any other problems regarding their prescription.

Q: Can I travel on an airplane with legal medical marijuana?

A: In the San Francisco Bay Area, several airports technically allow patients to travel within the state with legal medical marijuana. The carrier must have proof of valid recommendation, and the amount being transported must be below the legal limit of both the county of departure and that of arrival. That being said, TSA officers are not legally qualified to verify a recommendation or cannabis card. If the TSA finds legal medical marijuana, they are required to call local police for verification.

Interstate travel, even between two states which permit medical marijuana, is not suggested, although an official letter from a TSA representative advises that patients contact relevant local or state police agencies (at both the place of departure and arrival). Patients travelling with marijuana do so at their own risk.

Q: Organic and Hydroponic Medical Marijuana

A: Many strains of marijuana, edibles, extracts and other types of alternative medication are produced in organic form. They contain no chemicals additives and are produced under strict guidelines. Legal medical marijuana is also available in greenhouse or hydroponic form.

Q: Does marijuana affect sleeping or dreams?

A: Some strains of marijuana greatly improve sleeping conditions for a wide variety of individuals. With that in mind, legal medical marijuana can cause patients to experience side-effects that they should be made aware of before beginning use. Sativa strains can make patients have increased anxiety. For some, marijuana can suppress various cycles of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep which can make dreams hard to recollect, if they are not forgotten entirely. Be sure to talk to your doctor and perhaps do some independent research to be aware side effects. Keep in mind, not a single person has died from the use of marijuana, which is more than can be said for the majority of prescription drugs.

Q: What about hash and oils containing marijuana?

A: Marijuana extracts such as kief (screen-sifted trichomes) and hashish (dense, highly-concentrated THC) are sold at almost every dispensary. These extracts are available in many forms including hash oils that can be 99% pure THC.

Q: My friend or loved one cannot easily get around. How can he get medication?

A: Legal Medical Marijuana Delivery Service and Caregivers

Friends and family of the bedridden, the terminally ill, or those patients who have cancer can obtain a legal permit known as a caregiver’s permit or caregiver’s card. This enables them to enter legal medical marijuana dispensaries and buy medication on behalf of their loved one who is otherwise unable to commute for health reasons. Delivery services are also gaining in popularity in cities in California. The services are very professional and discreet and offer a fantastic alternative to the traditional dispensary experience.

Q: Are there methods of intake besides eating or smoking?

A: As opposed to traditional smoking apparatuses, known as vaporizers, heat up marijuana to a temperature that vaporizes the THC. It does not, however, heat the medicine until combustion occurs. Consequently, this allows legal medical marijuana patients to inhale the medicinal qualities of the marijuana without any of the tar, carcinogens, or other irritants that smoke contains. This process is more healthy than traditional smoking, so it is often preferred by medicinal cannabis patients. Learn more at: “Ways of Consuming Medical Marijuana”