Is Marijuana the Right Choice for Me?
CMMDR is the first medical marijuana clinic to certify patients in Florida. With 3 offices in Ocala, we often hear patients ask, how is it possible marijuana has helped their condition more than some of the prescription drugs they've tried? The answer is simple. Marijuana has the ability to influence a wide range of systems because the receptors that it influences are located all throughout the body. Marijuana brings homeostasis to the other systems in our body.
In school we all learned about the various systems in our bodies, such as the nervous system, the gastrointestinal system, and skeletal system, etc. However, few people have been taught about the endocannabinoid system. In fact, most doctors were never taught about the endocannabinoid system. Even though it is present in most mammals. The endocannabinoid system is a series of receptors that marijuana influences. The receptors are located on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, and some peripheral organs and tissues such as the spleen, white blood cells, endocrine gland and parts of the reproductive, gastrointestinal and urinary tract. The receptors that are influenced offer a wide range of influence that can calm inflammation in diseases, such as crohn's. Or stop an epileptic seizure, or reduce chronic spasms such as those experienced by MS and parkinson's patients. Improve sleep, calm nerves, increase appetite, reduce anxiety, block inflammation. All of these are part of the balancing act of marijuana. If you suffer from a medical condition call (352) 414-4545 to see if marijuana is an option for you. With 20 offices statewide we have certified a good amount of patients over 100 years of age!
CMMDR has also learned it's not just about influencing the receptors, but also influencing the receptor with the right combination of cannabinoids. These are compounds found in the marijuana plant. Every patient is different. What we have come to learn over the years, which is now back by science, is one size does not fit all. Most everyone has heard of CBD, and THC. However, these 2 cannabinoids don't work alone. They interact and influence each other. CBD blocks the uptake of THC. So higher CBD products will calm the "high" experienced from THC. The age of the patient is also a factor. Older patients typically need less for relief, and younger patients have a higher tolerance. Women typically have lower tolerances, and during hormone changes there is a change in the affect from marijuana as well. Those with higher levels of anandamide ( a compound produced by our body) will typically need less marijuana to feel the effect. There is no one size fits all. And then there are other influences.
Have you ever had a fulfilling meal that later made you feel tired? It's not just because you ate a lot, but rather because the compounds in the foods you eat affect your mood, state of alertness etc. The foods we eat have many of the same terpenes that are in marijuana. If you eat a mango about an hour before you use marijuana it will increase the effect due to the terpene known as myrcene.
Cmmdr.com learned early on, that some strains provide an uplifting, alert, creative state, while others are more sedating - yet for some patients the exact opposite effect will occur from the same strain. You've heard of Benadryl causing some to fall asleep, while others get a spurt of energy and want to clean the house! Marijuana is often the same. Patients can have the opposite effect from the same plant. We've evolved with marijuana and hemp over hundreds of thousands of years. "The munchies" is a phrase brought on by some strains of marijuana that are high in THC, which increases appetite. (great for those suffering thru chemotherapy of wasting syndrome). The suckling of a newborn baby is brought on by anandamide which mirrors THC and also influences the receptors on the endocannabinoid system. Anandamide is a compound found in the brain, and it is nearly identical to THC.
At CMMDR we like to think of marijuana as whole plant therapy. We all know it's better to eat unprocessed whole foods. Fruits, vegetables and grains as unprocessed as possible. The same goes for marijuana. Whole plant compounds that are extracted by clean extraction methods, or the whole plant itself. It seems when a compound is isolated and taken away from the hundreds of other compounds it was meant to interact with, a side effect is created.
When you buy marijuana from a Florida dispensary, it is safer than buying from the street. Not just because of the risk of arrest, but because of the contaminants often found in marijuana from the street. Florida dispensaries test for fungus, pesticides, heavy metals and other possible contaminants. Illegal growers don't waste their time on this step. And labeling is a major aspect of buying from a dispensary that is so important. Earlier we pointed out how everyone has a different affect from different strains. How do you know what strain you purchased if it is not labeled? How do you know what the THC or CBD level is if it is not labeled? You don't. To get consistently safe, and quality results, that are measurable, you need to buy tested and labeled products. Keep track of what works best for you. There are a myriad of intake methods and different types available to find what works best for you. New patients start low, and slowly increase over time until the desired affect is achieved.
On another note: The state of Florida refers to the natural dry bud, or dry flower as "smokeable marijuana". However, many patients who do not smoke at all, purchase the dry flower buds of marijuana, to vaporize or cook with. And that folks, is a whole other article. For more information give us a call or visit our website to see if marijuana may be a good option for you.
CMMDR.com
(352) 414-4545
3131 SW College Rd #408
Ocala , FL 34474
3495 W Anthony Rd #101
Ocala, FL 34475
1713 E Silver Springs Blvd #3
Ocala, FL 34470
