At Revolutionary Clinics, we’re not doctors. We don’t even play them on TV…
While several elements of this classic commercial from the 1980s are profoundly dated, millions of Americans are still “playing doctor” at home. From WebMD to drugs.com there are dozens of websites for you to research your symptoms, self-diagnose, and (if you’re not careful) scare the heck out of yourself. Whether you’re suffering from chronic pain or insomnia, or you have friends who are using cannabis for fitness and want to know if it can help you, don’t just talk to us. Talk to your doctor!
If the very thought of talking to your doctor about medical marijuana makes you feel anxious or embarrassed, DON’T BE. Your doctor is bound by law not to share any information you discuss with him or her and besides, a legal product that’s gaining more and more acceptance on a daily basis is nothing to be embarrassed about. While the stigma of medical marijuana is losing its grip on society, most of our new patients have a lot of the same questions that you do. In this post, we’ll share the two most common questions we get at our dispensaries and how to talk to your doctor about them so you can make the best decision for you.
Is medical marijuana safe?
Ask your doctor about the different ways you can consume cannabis besides smoking – edibles and infusions, are effective ways to receive the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana without lighting up. Your doctor should also be able to tell you about the differences between CBD and THC but don’t be surprised if he or she can’t. While cannabis has been used for medical purposes for centuries, it’s still a new form of treatment in the U.S. Celebrity physicians like Dr. Oz and Dr. Sunjay Gupta have both endorsed medical marijuana but at this point, there’s not a lot of scientific study for most doctors to immerse themselves in before recommending medical marijuana to their patients. Your doctor may not be able to give concrete advice but their opinion still matters. Our Patient Advocates will want to hear his or her thoughts and discuss them with you.
Is medical marijuana addictive?
Many of our patients worry about becoming addicted to marijuana or that it will be a gateway drug to harder drugs like cocaine or heroin. At Revolutionary Clinics, we encourage you to have an honest discussion with your doctor about this very common question. Be sure to discuss the opioid crisis. Ask what he or she think is causing it and whether or not medical marijuana may in fact be a safer alternative to prescription opioids that can be lethal if misused. We wouldn’t be selling medical marijuana if we weren’t wholly convinced that the reason people “graduated” from marijuana to harder drugs in the past is that the illegal dealers they purchased them from steered them in that direction for the sake of profit, no matter the cost. We believe medical marijuana has profound therapeutic benefits but we want you to have as much information from as many sources as you need to make an informed decision.
One of our favorite expressions at Revolutionary Clinics is “you comfort is key”. It’s the central message in our post about talking to your friends and family about cannabis but it’s also important when deciding whether or not medical marijuana is right for you. Whether you talk to your doctor and then talk to us or the other way around, the more conversations you have with people you trust, the better you’ll feel about your decision. To schedule an appointment or to continue asking questions, please contact us today!
