3 Differences Between Medical and Recreational Cannabis

Did you know that 158.8 million people around the world use marijuana? There are two types of marijuana use that people indulge in, medical and recreational. Knowing the differences between the two is important if you are deciding on marijuana use.

Read on to learn about the medical benefits of cannabis and the difference between medical and recreational marijuana.

Medical Benefits of Cannabis

The medical benefits of cannabis helped create the term medical marijuana. It is used to alleviate symptoms of some diseases and conditions such as epilepsy, osteoarthritis, some cancers, restless leg syndrome, chronic pain, insomnia, inflammation, anxiety, depression, and more.

There are still a lot of secrets to the cannabis plant. The two main cannabinoids for medicinal purposes are CBD and THC. Recreational cannabis is known for THC and how it gives individuals a high. However, thanks to science, people are learning that CBD has wellness benefits that many users prefer over THC.

Here are three differences between medical and recreational cannabis.

1. Differences In Use

Simply put, recreational marijuana use is consuming marijuana without having a medical reason. Essentially, medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are the same. One is just prescribed through a medical provider.

Along with using them for different reasons, other things differentiate the two. For example, recreational marijuana often involves higher THC content.

2. Differences at the Counter

At a dispensary counter, some states have different rules on how to buy marijuana. Most dispensaries cater to both recreational and medical consumers. However, in some states, a medical marijuana license is required to buy from a medical marijuana dispensary.

When you are buying marijuana for a medical reason as noted by your healthcare provider, you can often get into smaller dispensaries that are less crowded. This means no waiting in long lines.

When you have a medical marijuana license, you also have access to products that have greater potency. This is important as some regulations ensure certain percentage points are upheld across all products. Sometimes, you can get free medical marijuana with a license.

If you don’t want to make your way to a dispensary, you can find a CBD doctor online like Namaste Canada. To get an idea of other ways medical and recreational marijuana differ, check out this article.

3. Age Differences

The medical benefits of cannabis are open to a wider age group than recreational marijuana is. Not every state has legalized recreational use so age groups can legally have it. The states that have legalized marijuana have specific age requirements so not everyone can enjoy it.

Medical marijuana is accessible to more people because those with disabilities and conditions can get prescribed.

How Will You Use Marijuana?

Knowing the difference between recreational and medical marijuana can help you decide how you will use cannabis. The two are similar in that the medical benefits of cannabis can be enjoyed even if you are using it for recreational use. However, it is important to understand their differences at the same time.

Keep coming back for more articles on how CBD is taking over.