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Do You Need Medical Marijuana Recs to Use CBD Legally?
Cannabis use has many health benefits. Currently, 33 states (including California) have approved it for medical purposes. To access medical marijuana legally, you require 420 doctor recs. A cannabis compound CBD (cannabidiol) is effective in reducing pain & inflammation and managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Unlike THC, it doesn’t cause psychoactive effects. CBD comes in various forms, such as oils, tinctures, edibles, flowers, etc. So, you can select an optimal cannabis delivery method based on your symptoms and preferences.
Since CBD is a part of the marijuana plant, do you require a medical marijuana card to access it legally? Let’s dig deep into the topic.
What Are 420 Doctor Recs?
In a cannabis legalized state, only patients who hold valid 420 doctor-signed cards can access the herb legally. Each state has its own MMJ qualifying conditions list. That means to get an MMJ rec letter, you must be diagnosed with at least one condition from the list. And, when talking to the doctor, you must provide your medical history and other data showing you are actually diagnosed with that condition.
Also, Read- 7 Tips to Help You Talk to a Medical Marijuana Doctor
Major Benefits You Can Get With 420 Doctor Recs
Access to Marijuana Legally
Using an MMJ card, you can legally buy, possess, and consume marijuana for medical purposes. However, without the card, you will be considered as a recreational user.
High-Potency Cannabis
You can buy high-potency marijuana products for managing your symptoms.
Save Money on Cannabis Taxes
Medical users are exempted from marijuana sales and use tax while recreational users have to pay it.
Age Relaxation
Medical users aged 18 years old are allowed to purchase cannabis from state-licensed dispensaries. However, recreational users need to be at least 21 years old to access cannabis legally.
Grow Medical Marijuana at Home
With a medical marijuana card, you can legally grow cannabis for personal use. In other words, you can cultivate your own medicine at home.
Also, Read- Here’s What You Need to Grow Cannabis Plants Amid The Lockdown
Is 420 Doctor Rec Letter For CBD Required?
Well, it’s complicated. Cannabidiol is available in both hemp and cannabis plants. However, hemp contains low levels of THC.
According to the Farm Bill of 2018, hemp is no longer included in the Schedule I Substance list. The new regulations state that hemp-derived CBD products are legal provided they contain less than 0.3 percent THC. Other conditions are—hemp should be grown by licensed growers, and hemp adheres federal-state laws.
For hemp-derived cannabidiol, you have a wide range of options in flavor and delivery method—oils, tinctures, juices, etc. And, you can also buy these CBD products online.
What about cannabis-derived CBD?
In states that allow recreational marijuana, cannabis-derived CBD products are legal. However, different states have different regulations. For example, in California, CBD products are widely available at dispensaries and OTC retailers. But, the state law doesn’t allow users to add CBD products to foods and beverages.
Also, Read- Should You Get an MMJ Card in a Recreational Marijuana Legalized State?
However, in states where medical cannabis is legal, you may require to apply for 420 doctors recs to access CBD legally.
What the FDA Have to Say?
There’s only one CBD-based medication approved by the US Food & Drug Administration. Epidiolex, a drug with a purified form of cannabidiol, is approved for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome for patients aged 2 years and more.
However, there are many other companies marketing CBD products for health benefits. The FDA says that they have issued warning letters to such companies to stop their business operations.
Moreover, according to the FDA, marijuana products including the ones containing CBD can cause serious health risks. So, they aren’t approved for moms-to-be and breastfeeding women.
How to Buy High-Quality CBD Products?
When buying CBD-infused products, the first thing is to choose a reputed online store. This is because there are many stores selling cannabidiol products with more than the approved percentage of THC. Moreover, they may not have third-party tested products.
Other important points you should consider when buying CBD products are-
- Check customer reviews on different sites
- Check the label carefully for CBD and THC content
- Visit the BBB site for customer complaints
- Check details about the extraction method, potency, purity, origin, etc.
However, it’s good to talk to a licensed doctor to get professional advice for CBD oils, concentrates, and edibles for managing your condition.
Major Health Benefits of CBD
It Relieves Pain & Inflammation
CBD is effective in relieving pain and inflammation. Since it doesn’t cause any unpleasant side-effects, more patients prefer it over pain medications.
Also, Read- Medical Marijuana or Aspirin – Which is Better?
Research says that cannabidiol can help in managing chronic pain, arthritis pain, muscle spasms, and cancer-chemotherapy pain.
It Reduces Anxiety
CBD can help boost mental health by alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
According to a 2010 study, cannabidiol can help manage social anxiety symptoms. The participants’ brain scans showed changes in blood flow in the brain regions associated with feelings of anxiety.
Additionally, CBD use can help increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood, happiness, and anxiety.
It Boosts Sleep
CBD provides ultimate relaxation, thus helping in managing sleep problems.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many causes of insomnia, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic pain. And, CBD can help in fighting these conditions, thus managing sleep problems.
Medical research says that CBD can help in improving symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder, which is linked to poor sleep & nightmares.
It Delivers Neuroprotective Effects
CBD is proven beneficial in fighting neuroprotective disorders, which can cause damage to the brain & nerves. CBD can help in managing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis effectively.
Research says its amazing anti-inflammatory effects can help in reducing neurodegenerative symptoms.
Bottom Line
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that provides various health benefits. It can help in relieving anxiety by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain. Like pain medications such as Aspirin, it doesn’t cause side-effects.
In the United States, hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3 percent THC are legal. Moreover, the hemp should be grown by licensed growers. Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug, is approved by the FDA for seizures.
However, CBD products obtained from cannabis are illegal as per federal guidelines. So, you must check your state regulations for cannabis-derived CBD products. And, it’s important to choose a reputable online store for buying CBD oils, concentrates, and edibles. If you want to use high-THC products for health benefits, make sure you get a medical marijuana card from a 420 doctor.
