“I’m interested in medical cannabis, but I don’t want to get high from it.”
If we had a drop of water for every time we heard this, we would have a full swimming pool…and a very strange way of acquiring water…(hat tip to Mitch Hedberg)
We don’t want you to get high either. We do want you to be well though.
That cannabinoid called THC
When people say they’re worried about getting high, they’re actually worried about consuming too much THC – probably the most well-known cannabinoid found in cannabis known for its psychoactive effects. It also has many health benefits. CBD is a different cannabinoid found in cannabis that is currently exploding in popularity and also has many health benefits and no psychoactive effects. In fact, CBD can actually counteract the psychoactive effects of THC.
You may actually be prescribed pure CBD products that contain no THC, thus there is no chance of “getting high.”
How we approach dosage
If you are prescribed a product containing THC, we always start you off with a very low dose – the same as you would with conventional medication. This dose is so low that patients typically feel no psychoactive effects at all. We usually add an amount of CBD to your treatment plan as well to reduce the potential of psychoactive effects.
Your dosage is slowly increased over time until we reach a level that is therapeutic. At the same time, your body will build up a tolerance for THC and you may find that you’re taking a relatively higher amount of THC but experiencing no psychoactive effects. Some patients are taking 20 mg of THC per dose and they experience no psychoactive effects at all.
One more thing: THC affects everyone differently because everyone has a different amount of cannabinoid receptors (more about these in a future post) in their body. That’s why the same strain can have very different effects for different people and it’s another reason why you should always consult a medical professional if you’re interesting in trying medical cannabis!
TL;DR:
Cannabis has two main cannabinoids: CBD and THC. CBD has no psychoactive effects and, although THC can cause psychoactive effects, we ensure dosing to be minimal and increase it slowly to prevent these unwanted side effects from occurring – leaving you with a better overall outcome of pain control and/or mental health stability.