What’s the deal with medical marijuana?

THE SKINNY: Before cannabis (commonly referred to as marijuana or weed) was legalized for general adult use in Missouri in 2022, people were only able to legally obtain the substance via a medical marijuana card. This created heightened awareness around the perceived medical benefits of cannabis use. At the same time, it further muddied the waters around what medical professionals consider safe regarding cannabis use.

Now that cannabis has been legalized for adult use, there are an awful lot of myths out there around its medical use for various ailments and issues.

Keep reading to dig into the weeds about the recreational and medical forms of cannabis.

What’s the difference between recreational and medical marijuana use?

Contrary to popular belief, using cannabis medically does not mean that you go to the local distillery, describe your pain or issue to the staff and then receive something that will help you with your symptoms. Even though it has medical undertones, this use is recreational.

This is because this is an unregulated approach to symptom management and the Cannabis Consultant is not a medical professional or qualified to give medical advice.

Medical cannabis use can only be determined by a medical professional, such as a doctor, surgeon or physician, to target symptoms. It involves a recommendation with specific information around appropriate use.

What are common symptoms that might cause someone to seek out medical marijuana?

The cannabis industry touts the many ways that its product can be used to help people, from sleep issues to pain management. However, we know that it is rare that cannabis is actually solving the underlying issue but rather masking it when it needs clinical support and attention. Treating underlying issues will always be more effective than covering up symptoms with cannabis use.

Some of the most common reasons we regularly hear cited for why people self-medicate with cannabis include managing stress, helping with sleep and coping with depression and anxiety. 

– Kelly Wieser, Director of Education

That said, we do rely on the medical profession to guide some safe medicinal uses. A doctor might recommend medical cannabis as a supplement to support cancer treatment and help make a patient comfortable, or even to increase appetite and reduce nausea during chemotherapy. There is also some research to support medical cannabis for glaucoma as it can lower pressure inside the eyes, though this effect doesn’t last very long and can lower blood flow to the optic nerve canceling out the benefit of lower eye pressure. (source)

It’s important to note that the treatment of most conditions with cannabis is often a short-term solution and is not sustainable long-term. 

What risks are still associated with medical marijuana use?

“Just because a patient experiences benefits does not mean they are using the substance without risk.”

 – Kelly Wieser, Director of Education

As with any medication, the potential benefits of medical cannabis should be weighed against risk factors including side effects, addiction potential and lack of efficacy. 

A major indicator of risk regarding medical cannabis is the lack of adequate, controlled research and regulation. When a patient is using a man-made version of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, a doctor knows exactly how much the patient is taking, much like a pill. When cannabis is used in research, they are able to control the strain variety and amount of THC.  

Unfortunately, that doesn’t translate to the marketplace. Because the cannabis industry lacks a medical level of regulation in its product, it’s hard to guarantee that each strain of cannabis is the same standard product with the same level of THC. When someone goes to their dispensary, they aren’t receiving the same level of regulation. 

Keep Digging In the Weeds 

At the end of the day, we know that cannabis has a place in our society. One of our top legislative priorities is ensuring Missouri’s medical cannabis program is implemented in a way that promotes transparency, legitimacy and public health. We continue to recommend that the Missouri General Assembly pass legislation regulating marketing, tracking of sales, dispensary staff training and limits on edibles as well as continues to promote research for the sake of better understanding how cannabis affects people in medical and nonmedical contexts.

Want to learn more about cannabis safety? We’ve put together talking kits to help you start conversations with your child or young adult. Check out our In the Weeds campaign for more information.

If you want to learn more about the evolution of the cannabis laws in Missouri, check out our blog post all about it here.