Just like in the mental health blogs I have recently shared, there are many patients who are unable to access the care they deserve due to stigma around their conditions or treatment methods.
I will be debunking what I believe to be some of the most common myths around Medicinal Cannabis.
- Medicinal Cannabis Is Illegal
Medicinal Cannabis has been legal in the UK since November 2018. It is available through prescription only, wherever THC is involved. The NHS is estimated to be providing less than a few hundred prescriptions for Medicinal Cannabis, mainly for conditions such as epilepsy, spasticity and MS or to assist in chemotherapy treatment. This leaves a high number of patients, in the tens of thousands, relying on private clinics under specialist care to be prescribed for mental health, chronic health issues such as pain and sleep conditions. This is often costly, with the average monthly costs being £200-£300 and often nearing double the fee, depending on the allowance required. Consultant reviews are required in the first 2 months and then every 3 months as a minimum with a thorough clinical team following the entire process and approving each prescription with individual consideration in what is called a Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting to ensure that the care provided is reviewed multiple times for maximum efficiency and safety.
Medicinal Cannabis can not be chosen as a ‘first-line option’ with clinics requiring proof of a relevant diagnosis and at least two conventional treatment methods (medication/therapy) that have been unsuccessful. - Medicinal Cannabis consumption is the same as ‘smoking marijuana’
Medicinal Cannabis is mainly provided in two forms with private UK Clinics, with these being flower form (bud-what you may be used to seeing recreationally) or in oil form and although cannabis derived products are becoming ever more available in our day to day life from CBD gummies available at majority of the pharmacies and even online, to hemp shampoos and even coffees, products with THC content are currently illegal to be sold without a prescription. The Medicinal Cannabis oil is to be taken sublingually, which means that it is placed under the tongue to be absorbed into the bloodstream quicker, in micro doses, usually not exceeding 1ml at a time, twice daily. Medicinal Cannabis oil can also be vaporised with the correct medical-grade devices.
Medicinal Cannabis Flower on the other hand, is to be vaporised, rather than smoked, as most commonly known. The reason for this is that the optimal temperature for cannabis to be heated at for its medicinal benefits to be released is believed to be around 160 to 220 degrees Celsius; however when smoking, the cannabis is burnt due to higher temperature, 230 Celsius and above and in contrast to smoking, vaping allows for precise temperature control, ensuring that the active compounds in medicinal cannabis are released without unnecessary combustion, which can potentially reduce their potency and introduce harmful byproducts which also increase the risk of respiratory issues as the combustion releases carbon monoxide and tar, known to cause lung damage and degeneration, regardless of if tobacco is used or not.
I will explain further about Medicinal Cannabis Flower and Medicinal Cannabis Oil in later blogs, although it’s important to know that clinical observation and assistance throughout your cannabis journey is likely to enhance your treatment; as your consultant will prescribe a medication most suitable for you depending on your medical history, current state and future treatment goals. This will include consideration into THC and CBD ratios as well as minor cannabinoid ratios (such as CBG, CBN and THCV) – which I will delve into further in the future, terpenes, flavonoids and method of administration.
In addition to the above two methods there are suppositories, topicals, edibles and capsules that can also be accessed through prescription in the UK, although much less common. - Medicinal Cannabis always gets you ‘high’
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the component in cannabis that will cause the ‘high’ psychoactive effect; however when consumed compliantly and not smoked, the differences are significant. This is mainly due to the temperature, as explained above. The compounds are released and absorbed differently at different temperatures with the average vaporiser using rarely exceeding 220 Celsius, smoking averages around 500 Celsius. This causes a quicker combustion, releasing the full spectrum of the cannabinoids at a much faster rate, leading to a more prominent and immediate psychoactive effect.
The compounds in cannabis differ and activate/release at different temperatures so whilst you may be benefiting from THC and CBD when vaporising, you may not be releasing the full spectrum of the compounds such as CBN which when working collectively, will cause the psychoactive feeling due to the entourage effect.
There are uncountable myths surrounding Medicinal Cannabis, and cannabis in general which I will delve into deeper; but hopefully as I continue to learn and share my findings and experience, I will be able to debunk these myths with further education and linked studies.
It’s important to remember stigma is one of the main barriers in accessing healthcare and we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves.
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