The Top Ways to use Medical Cannabis in Florida

-        Florida is finally letting patients smoke marijuana, but it’s far from the only way to use medical cannabis.

If you are a new medical marijuana patient in Florida, you’ve probably gone through a long process to get to this point. Maybe you’ve been hearing about cannabis’ medical potential and you’re anxious to try it out finally. You’ve waited in line and finally have your card but, if you’ve never medicated with cannabis before, you might be asking yourself, “how do I use medical marijuana?” If you’re embarrassed to ask the experts like a medical marijuana doctor in Bonita Springs, this guide will give you everything you need to know.

The Top Ways to Consume, As Recommended by a Medical Marijuana Doctor in Bonita Springs

The most popular way to use marijuana is to smoke it, but it’s important to know that you don’t have to. There are lots of options out there. This guide—and the experts at your local dispensary—can help you choose which method is right for you.

To the frustration of patients and advocates, Florida’s 2017 bill did not provide for legal smoking of medical marijuana,  but the prohibition was struck down as unconstitutional in a 2018 court decision and, in March this year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSanctis signed a bill to make smoking medical marijuana legal in Florida.

If you were to ask a medical marijuana doctor in Bonita Springs what they thought, here’s how they might answer.

Smoking Medical Cannabis

If you choose to smoke marijuana, there are a range of methods, but the easiest way for a beginner is a joint, or cannabis cigarette. You smoke it the same way you would a cigarette.

If joints aren’t your thing, another popular way to smoke is in a pipe or a bong. Either of these devices will have a space called the ‘bowl,’ where you put your ground or broken up cannabis flowers.

Check for an extra hole on the side to control air flow and cover it with your finger if it has one. Put your mouth on the mouthpiece and start inhaling before you put the lighter flame to the ground cannabis—so you don’t burn your thumb.

Vaporizing Medical Marijuana

A medical marijuana doctor in Bonita Springs might suggest a similar, but healthier, way of inhaling medical marijuana: by using a vaporizer. These are devices designed to heat cannabis flowers up to the right temperature to evaporate the cannabinoids, but not to burn the plant material.

Vaporizers can be used with either whole cannabis buds, or with cannabis concentrates, which you might also find at your local Florida dispensary. Concentrates are pure extracted oils from the cannabis plant and are much stronger than whole flower, containing massive amounts of THC (the main active ingredient in marijuana that gets you high).

Due to their strength, concentrates generally aren’t recommended for beginners.

Vaporizers will usually have a compartment to put the weed, and electronic controls to adjust the temperature. For flower pots, set the temperature to between 320-450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Orally Ingested Medical Marijuana

If you’re not interested in inhaling weed at all, there’s plenty of other options for you. You can take marijuana orally and let it absorb through your digestive system.

There are lots of products that can be taken this way. While edibles are permitted under Florida’s medical marijuana statute, the state’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use has not yet approved any producer to manufacture and distribute edibles in the state.

However, patients can get the same benefits by using tinctures, which are commonly available. Make sure to speak to your dispensary staff to get the dosage right, however, because cannabis taken orally can be stronger than smoking.

Other options for those who don’t want to eat a lot of edibles include cannabis capsules or infused oil in a syringe that can be taken under the tongue. Of course, speaking with a medical marijuana doctor in Bonita Springs can help you decide which way to go.

Topical Cannabis Products

If you’re using cannabis for chronic pain in a particular part of the body, consider using a topical cannabis product instead of ingesting it. These are creams, balms, and salves that absorb through the skin to give localized relief.

There are dozens of ways to use cannabis; these are just some of the best methods for new users. Ask your medical marijuana doctor in Bonita Springs what they think will be best for you. If you aren’t already a medical marijuana patient in Florida, contact us to learn how to become one!