Are you a Virginian who has or is considering getting a medical marijuana card? If you experience chronic pain, you are in luck! Medical marijuana has been shown to be a highly effective pain medication, causing many Virginians to seek it out as a natural and healthier alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals. Whether you are a senior citizen with chronic pain or an athlete dealing with an injury, medical marijuana can help!
How Medical Marijuana Helps With Chronic Pain
You may not know this, but you have compounds in your body that are very similar to the natural compounds in medical marijuana. Your endocannabinoid system, or ECS, consists of several (you guessed it) cannabinoid chemicals and cannabinoid receptors. When you take medical marijuana, the cannabinoids in the plant stimulate the receptors in your ECS. This then causes the system to activate the brain’s reward system so that you experience fewer symptoms of pain.
Though research continues much of the science so far backs up these facts! Researchers in Israel found that marijuana provided substantial relief from chronic pain to more than half of the cancer patients in the study. A review conducted by German researchers also found that therapeutic remedies based on marijuana increased the number of people in the study who reported a 50 percent improvement in their pain symptoms.
A Safer Alternative to Opioids
We’re all familiar, at this point, with the opioid crisis. Overprescribing pain meds of the opioid type has led to an addiction crisis in the States, leaving many painfully hooked on pain meds.
Medical marijuana can provide patients with a much safer option when dealing with chronic pain. Not only does it work effectively, cannabis can actually help assuage opioid over-use or addiction.
A survey done in 2016 showed that 64 percent of patients who used medical marijuana to manage chronic pain began reducing their opioid usage. As a result, these patients experienced improved quality of life and fewer side effects in treating their chronic pain. Cannabis also performed other pain medications in this survey, as well!
Finding the Right Medical Marijuana For Chronic Pain
How can you start using medical marijuana to treat your pain? Your first step is to consult with a certified doctor so that you can receive a recommendation for medical marijuana use in Virginia. Go through your symptoms with your doctor to establish that you qualify for a medical marijuana recommendation. You can then take that recommendation and get your Virginia medical marijuana card by registering with the state.
Choosing Products at the Dispensary
Your card gives you access to your local dispensary where you can start reviewing products. Which products work best for chronic pain? Your doctor may have some recommendations, but other patients in the medical marijuana community can be of great help, too!
When you visit a dispensary website, you will see that products are divided into various benefits, including pain relief. Remember, medical marijuana comes in different strains. Many patients state that indica strains are often the best option for treating pain, while sativa is better for energy and mood.
Start looking through these products and read the reviews. Other patients typically give feedback on which products are the most impactful. You can then use this information to narrow down your choices and find your best fit!
Get Your Medical Marijuana Card to Help Your Chronic Pain Today!
Medical marijuana is a safe and legal option for Virginians looking to address the complexities of chronic pain. Your first step is consulting with a doctor who can give you the recommendation you need to access this natural product.
Schedule an appointment with an online VA medical marijuana doctor today to start gaining access to safe and legal cannabis products, including tinctures, flower, concentrates and more for your loved one or patient!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness
safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on
education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by
providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.
Comments