Why Cannabis Edibles Aren’t Always Good for Pain
With Ohio’s medical marijuana program inching closer to completion, patients in Cincinnati and throughout the state are eagerly awaiting the day they can purchase medical cannabis for their condition.
According to the Ohio medical marijuana law, there will be 20 different conditions that will qualify patients for a medical marijuana card, with the potential for additional conditions added by the state medical board at a later date.
Patients suffering from conditions like pain or Fibromyalgia will finally be permitted to use medical marijuana for relief. And some of the permitted forms of cannabis include topicals, raw herb, edibles, and more.
Edibles: Why They Might Not Be a Good Idea
Cannabis works differently when consumed. When you eat an edible infused with cannabis, it is metabolized and converted into 11-hydroxy-THC in your liver. This process can take a few hours and when it takes effect it’s often much stronger than any other form of cannabis. It can also last as long as 8 hours whereas other forms often only last a few hours.
On one hand, this makes edibles a great option for patients who need all-day relief. But on the other hand, inexperienced users can easily overdo it. For example, a “medical marijuana brownie” may be so potent that you only need to have a single bite for all-day relief. Unfortunately, some patients don’t realize this and end up consuming the entire brownie instead. While it may not be harmful to overdose on marijuana, it’s not pleasant. Patients may end up having a racing heart beat and their perception of time will slow down.
It’s important that both doctors and dispensaries do their part to educate patients on the responsible use of edibles.
Edibles can work very well but they need to be handled with care.
The Type of Edible Matters Too
Many of the edibles found at medical dispensaries in California and other legalized states are baked goods filled with sugar, white flour, and other questionable ingredients. If you’re dealing with conditions like cancer, Crohn’s disease, and chronic pain, this might not be something you want to digest. Patients who are sensitive to these ingredients may develop an inflammatory response, which could just worsen their condition.
If you’re interested in trying edibles once the Ohio program goes live, make sure you choose ones made with healthy ingredients. Another option is to purchase the raw cannabis and make your own edible with it.
