Cannabis

What is medical marijuana?

Medicinal marijuana is the use of the hemp plant, also known as Cannabis sativa or marijuana, for medical purposes. As with any other physician-administered medication, medical marijuana is overseen by a licensed physician and reserved for specific medical problems. For therapeutic purposes, doctors use medicinal-grade cannabis plants and their pure extracts to treat a medical disorder or help improve a patient’s symptoms.

How does medical marijuana work?

Although doctors believe that cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in medical marijuana are the active ingredients responsible for its healing properties, researchers still don’t know exactly how medical marijuana works. There’s no question that it does work, however, for the patients who rely on it. Common uses for medical marijuana include:

• Pain and anxiety relief
• Spasm and seizure relief
• Appetite stimulation
• Nausea suppression

Patients typically take medical marijuana orally, as a sublingual extract, or by inhaling it through a vaporizer.  

What are cannabinoids?

Traditional plant breeding techniques have produced cannabis plants that have higher levels of the cannabinoids that help medical marijuana patients find symptom relief. There are five beneficial cannabinoids; each has unique effects, and those effects help reinforce the effects of the others. The most important cannabinoids in medical marijuana include:

• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
• CBD (cannabidiol)
• CBN (cannabinol)
• CBC (cannabichromene)
• CBG (cannabigerol)

Your neurologist at The Neurology Group knows the effects of each of these cannabinoids, and can help you understand which medical marijuana strains are best for treating your symptoms. If you’re most in need of pain relief, for example, you may be best off using a strain that’s high in two cannabinoids: THC, which is anti-inflammatory and acts a muscle relaxant, and CBD, which reduces the psychological effects of THC.

What are the rules for medical marijuana use in Florida?

In the United States, cannabis is a controlled substance that requires special licensing for use. In Florida, medical cannabis licensing is issued through the Office of Medical Marijuana Use, following diagnosis by a qualified physician. Some (not limited to) of the qualifying conditions for cannabis use in Florida are:

• Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Chronic nonmalignant pain

After performing an initial consultation and comprehensive physical exam, complete with full medical history, the physicians at The Neurology Group can diagnose qualified patients and prescribe medical marijuana, if they believe it’s appropriate. Without a proper diagnosis, it isn’t possible to secure a medical marijuana card and receive cannabis therapy in the state of Florida.