What is Medical Cannabis?
There are three types of cannabis plants: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, which both include THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and Cannabis ruderalis, which contains no or minute amounts of THC. Medical cannabis is made with plants that include THC on the black market, and grown from certified seeds that are available to buy online. Although sativa and indica strains can be used for medicine, most people use indica plants because they are more relaxing (although either is effective). The buds are then harvested and dried and then turned into an extract of oil that is used by patients for a multitude of health needs, including cancer.
Only cannabis sativa and indica strains contain the chemical that makes you ‘high’ – THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and they also contains reasonably high levels of CBD, depending on the strain/variety. CBD works In contrast, hemp has far higher levels of CBD than cannabis, and contains almost no THC. UK law legally identifies hemp as plants that have less than 0.2% THC levels. You could smoke a whole field of hemp and still not be stoned.
Length – 4m
Physician David Casarett was tired of hearing hype and half-truths around medical marijuana, so he put on his skeptic’s hat and investigated on his own. He comes back with a fascinating report on what we know and what we don’t — and what mainstream medicine could learn from the modern medical marijuana dispensary.
Is Growing Cannabis Difficult?
Growing cannabis is not difficult; think of how many youngsters grow it for recreational use! But then again, it is not easy either. It’s very similar to growing tomatoes, so easily mastered with a little patience and practice. And it is cheap; far cheaper than buying raw weed. Once the growing methods are mastered, you can expect anywhere from 500-1,000g of buds from each plant. The yield is affected by factors such as light, temperature, watering, and so forth.
Good to know:
- Certified cannabis seeds start from around £10 per seed (often less if buying 3 or more).
- An indoor hydroponic grow operation, using a 600 watt grow light), will yield around 720g (2.5oz) of buds from a single plant.
- 500g-1000g of bud makes around 15-30 grams of the extract known as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO).
- 1oz of buds costs approximately £200 on Britain’s black market.
- A gram of RSO costs £50+ per gram on the UK’s black market.
- A gram lasts around 4-6 weeks.
Types of Cannabis Medicine
Medical cannabis products, including those made by the pharmaceuticals, are all made entirely from the buds of cannabis plants alone.. nothing else. As such, plant material (weed) is the ONLY ingredient in any given product. According to British law, products intended for medical use that are made from plant material alone, are herbal medicines – not pharmaceutical medicines – and they should be licensed as such.
Like any medicinal herb, cannabis can be used to make an array of different products with varying strengths and uses. RSO, which is used to treat acute diseases such as cancers, MS, and Parkinson’s disease among many others, is made up from plants that have a very high THC content, but it is also possible to buy seeds with different strengths and medicinal uses, and to dilute the extract in carriers such as oils or alcohol, and then add the product to foods and drinks. This is very useful for those who have never consumed THC or haven’t done so in decades because it allows patients to introduce the medicine so gradually that they do not feel the effects of the THC.
Although smoking or inhaling the plant does bring some relief from symptoms such as pain, insomnia, and other relatively minor health issues, this form of medicating is nowhere near as powerful as using the cannabis extract RSO. Made from indica plants that are rich in THC, with a ratio of 80/20 THC/CBD respectively, it is this extract that the vast majority of medical cannabis patients are using.
How much cannabis can one plant yield?
Growing Versus Buying - remember both are illegal!
 Joy Smith was diagnosed in July 2016 with ovarian cancer. In August 2017 she was given six weeks to live after it was discovered that the cancer has spread to her stomach and bowel. But now she’s in remission and claims cannabis oil cured her terminal disease. Research Consultant Matthew Atha explains why the research into cannabis oil has been so limited. Broadcast on 13/3/2018.
Growing and making your own cannabis medicine is not difficult, but experience is the key, and that means patience, trials and errors. That is why so many cannabis patients buy from growers who make the medicine for their own health needs; after all, it is in the interest of these growers to produce a top quality product if they want to see their own personal health improve.
These growers have the experience and know-how to produce top quality buds, which means a top quality product. And they also know their product. I’ve never received bad advice, and I’m still alive, despite a stage III, advanced cancer diagnosis (2019) and refusing treatment (chemo). There are thousands like me out there .. including people that were once terminal (see Joy Smith’s story in sidebar).
So yes, cannabis medicines are able to treat, and in some cases cure, a multitude of health issues; a notion that is perhaps difficult or understand – but it is the truth. The fact of the matter is that my personal medical cannabis community (around 30 people, all local) are successfully using RSO to treat very different and complex medical conditions, many of us for years. These include many different types of advanced cancers, Parkinson, pain, and childhood epilepsy – to name just a few – while others are taken medical cannabis for pain, stress, insomnia, anxiety, and many, many other conditions.
Possible Side Effects of Medical Cannabis
It is important to note that during the whole of human history no-one has ever died from cannabis use. It is, in fact, impossible to overdose on. throughout the entire history of humanity, so while being stoned may be unpleasant for some people, the effects will pass without any long-term effects.
Cannabis medicines, especially those with THC levels, can cause side effects that can be positive and negative. The best way to avoid feeling the effects of THC is to take the medicine via a suppository (thus bypassing the gut). This is actually the quickest way to get the medicine into your system. However, it may also be possible to begin treatment with products that have very small amounts of THC (e.g. Cannabis Honey), and then increase the dose slowly until the desired effect is obtained.Â
It is important to note that the following side effects are often not experienced at all if using either of the two medication paths above, and patients who do experience them generally report them to be: drowsiness or fatigue; feeling dizzy or light-headed; and changes in bowel movements,Â
