Medical cannabis is used to treat medical conditions. At our platform, we do not sell medical cannabis. However, it is good to know what it is and how it differs from legal low Weed vape pens. And, yes, the difference is significant.
Medical cannabis is the closest thing to full-spectrum cannabis extract that one can get legally, but only in some instances, and through medical prescription only, and only if living with certain health conditions in which it is shown to help.
Medical cannabis may or may not contain THC. These cannabis products are licensed for medical use by the UK MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency). Not only that, they are sold by pharmacies only, and only after getting a license to sell such products from the concerned department of the Home Ministry.
Since medical cannabis is high in cannabinoids, and some drugs are high in THC, it can cause addiction and health harm. These drugs are Class B controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA 1971). Cannabis is also listed in Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (“MDR 2001”).
Additionally, unlike THC vapes, medical cannabis does not necessarily have to be made of cannabis extract. This is yet another significant difference. These drugs may contain synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids have some unique health effects not seen with natural cannabis, since the molecule has been modified a bit.
Types of Medical Cannabis in the UK & Legal Access
First, let’s talk about legal access. Yes, those living with certain medical conditions can expect to get medical cannabis. However, one cannot simply go to a nearby pharmacy and get such medications.
As already said, their sales are strictly controlled and monitored. It means that only some pharmacies licensed to dispense such drugs can sell these medications. These medications are strictly dispensed according to the prescription given by a specialist. Naturally, a specialist will only write such a prescription if a specific medical condition is present. So, apart from those living with severe ailments, no one can get medical cannabis.
Here is more information about different types of medical cannabis available in the UK.
When it comes to types, the variety is massive. Perhaps the biggest difference between CBD edibles, low THC vapes, and medical cannabis is in the dose. Medical cannabis may contain just CBD, it may contain CBD and THC, or it may even contain synthetic cannabinoids. However, the dosage of cannabinoids in medical cannabis is much higher than in CBD edibles or THC legal vapes.
Learn more about conditions treated by medical cannabis in the UK.
This is because these drugs are frequently prescribed to patients who did not respond to regular treatment, and these are people living with some severe ailments. These health issues are difficult to manage using regular dosage of cannabinoids.
Thus, for example, there is a drug called Epidyolex containing 100 mg of cannabidiol in each ml. This drug is often used to control epileptic seizures in children living with a specific kind of resistant epilepsy. Since it is a medical drug, it is dispensed strictly according to the doctor’s prescription.
However, approval of this drug for controlling epilepsy in children says a couple of things. Firstly, cannabinoids can be safe if used responsibly. Secondly, this is proof that cannabinoids work; they have certain health effects.
There are a couple of other drugs based on medical cannabis. Thus, there is Sativex for managing spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. It has a massive amount of THC, that is 27 mg in one ml, compared to less than 1 mg in a container in legal THC vapes. This again shows that THC may help overcome certain health issues, but, of course, it must be used responsibly, in UK there are a number of steps that are needed if you would like to get medical cannabis prescription. These steps makes the availablity of THC vapes harder and hence creates the space for people to choose less then legal methods to acquire a THC vape.
In recent years, the UK MHRA has also approved a drug called Nabilone for controlling nausea related to chemotherapy or even nausea related to periods. This specific drug contains a synthetic cannabinoid.
Approval of all these drugs shows how things are changing fast, and an increasing number of drugs containing cannabinoids are being approved. Finally, more and more scientific research is showing that cannabinoids can help overcome health conditions.
This does not mean that low THC vapes have all those benefits, as those products are wellness products and not meant to treat medical conditions. But, then, unlike medical drugs, these products are readily available and are safe for casual use. They also have many health benefits, but those effects are much more subtle.
What Next for Medical Cannabis?
Here, what is vital to understand is that things are just getting excited. It is just a beginning. Introduction of medical drugs takes years, requiring extensive clinical testing in multiple phases. So, remember that many more drugs are in clinical trials. So, the number of drugs containing cannabinoids will expand.
It is also possible that some of the drugs might become more readily available in future, but at present, prescription and sales of medical cannabis are strictly regulated and monitored.
We do not sell medical cannabis based on our patient experience and legilstive red tape that would be needed if we decided to go via this route. or medications, and all this information is just for providing knowledge and helping people better understand cannabinoids.
Final Thoughts
As already mentioned, low THC vape pens and medical cannabis are technically and legally two very different products. Nonetheless, they are related to each other, as both contain cannabinoids as the primary ingredient.
Low THC vapes contain THC less than 1 mg per container, but they are rich in cannabidiol (CBD) and minor cannabinoids. They also contain numerous terpenes contributing to their health effects and to “the entourage” effect.
Further, studies related to medical cannabis are also benefiting the whole industry. Extensive research into medical cannabis generates health-related data. It shows how cannabinoids can help with various health conditions. This medical research also improves our understanding of the safety of cannabinoids.
Low THC vapes have multiple, mild health effects. One can use them daily, but in moderation. This ensures that they are able to enjoy their health effects, and all that, without experiencing any side effects.
Although it is technically not possible to overdose on THC by using legal vapes, but excessive vaping is not good for lung health. Further, one should only buy products supported by third-party lab testing.
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