The Utahmarijuana.org website is part of a larger organization of professionals and support staff who believe wholeheartedly in the benefits of promoting Medical Cannabis use among patients whose conditions or symptoms can be improved by it. Education is a big part of what we do. Along with our clinics, operating under the KindlyMD brand, we seek to provide as much information as possible.
To us, patient education isn’t just another marketing avenue. Rather, it is critical to our mission. We want to help patients make the best decisions for them. And in order for them to participate intelligently in the decision-making process, they need to be informed.
We focus a lot of our educational efforts on efficacy. Simply put, we want patients to understand what Medical Cannabis can and cannot do. We want them to understand that it is not a miracle drug capable of curing everything under the sun. Yet at the same time, we also want them to know that Medical Cannabis is particularly good at alleviating the symptoms of more than a dozen conditions.
We believe it is important that patients understand the difference between symptom management and cure. Why? Because Medical Cannabis doesn’t cure anything – at least as far as we know. When a doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner recommends it, cannabis is intended to help alleviate symptoms. That is not a bad thing, by the way. Prescription pain medications do the exact same thing; they relieve the symptoms of pain without actually curing the underlying illness. And when a cure is not an option, our patient’s quality of life takes center stage.
Medical Cannabis education does not end with efficacy. There’s so much more patients need to learn. Take dosage and delivery method. Dosage equates to the total amount of medicine delivered into the body when a person uses Medical Cannabis. We believe it is best that patients take the smallest dose possible, especially to start. We always recommend starting slowly, gradually increasing dose until the patient finds that sweet spot of relief.
As for delivery methods, they can have a significant impact on how a patient feels. Vaping and dry heating deliver maximum dosage very quickly. THC gets into the bloodstream almost instantly, then goes to work to provide relief. However, the medication’s effects tend to wear off more quickly.
An edible product, like a tablet or gummy, takes longer to start working because the active ingredients need to make their way through the digestive tract. That means edibles do not work as quickly as vapes and dry heating. On the other hand, symptom relief tends to be more consistent and long lasting once the medications do kick in.
These are all things patients need to know. Without such knowledge, how can they truly understand the best way to use Medical Cannabis effectively?
Although we do not provide legal advice, compliance remains a valuable component of our educational efforts. Utah’s Medical Cannabis law is both clear and strict. Things need to be done by the book if one hopes to continue using THC medications legally.
Our clinics need to comply in order to keep their licenses. Each of our Qualified Medical Providers (QMPs) must abide by the rules pertaining to their licenses. When everybody follows the law, better decisions are made.
The truth of the matter is that Medical Cannabis is not a simple topic. There is a lot to know about it. That being the case, we believe education is critical to helping patients get the most from their medicines. It’s always a good idea to consult our Medical Cannabis guides or your provider with further questions.
