By Ruth Hill R.N.
Medical dispensaries and recreational dispensaries are indistinguishable to the expert consumer in Coachella Valley (CV). To the novice, it is a minefield. High-end cannabis stores offer a pleasant experience, with clean, well-lit cases filled with a hundred strains of flower, vape cartridges, and prerolls. Always buy your cannabis in a CA dispensary, which is heavily regulated, NOT online.
A doctor’s medical recommendations card is not necessary, but if you have one, it may entitle you to a medical discount. If you are traveling to another county in California or another state, there are medical-only dispensaries. You must be 18 or older to qualify for a medical authorization, but exceptions may be made in some states for minors with particularly debilitating conditions.
A doctor’s recommendation can be obtained by the downloadable form CDPH 9044 4/18 from the CA Department of Public Health, which your physician can sign if he agrees. Most dispensaries offer a discount to new customers. Please bring a current driver’s license and cash. ATMs are available. When you enter the dispensary, you will usually find a line to reach a budtender. You must be at least 21 years old to purchase cannabis from an adult-use store.
Budtenders focus on the plethora of colorful, tasty edibles or the latest strain of flower. Each edible contains 5-10mg of either cannabidiol (CBD) or Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Always remember the best product is the one that works for you. Many adults can find their sweet spot with this low dose and be happy. If these edibles are not working, the next step is to use a tincture. You can buy a specific strain of flower to smoke, but the strain in the tincture is not identified.
Dispensaries recognize that the growing number of medical users affects their bottom line, so they are introducing more medical products. Start with a full-spectrum tincture where there is 10-20mg/ml or a dropper full of CBD or THC. Most budtenders today are courteous and eager to offer information, but they are not able to give medical advice. Adult-use dispensaries are designed for accessibility and convenience, offering a grab-and-go experience.
The adult-use stores carry ratios such as 1:1, 30:1, or 1:30. These ratios are standard. The CBD is first, followed by THC. A 3:1 ratio is three parts CBD and 1 part THC. Products without CBD are available. A product without THC is a hemp product. A low concentration of 20:1 or 18:1 allows you to start with a microdose of 1-2 mg and gradually increase the dose until you find the effective one. The intensity of the pain, anxiety, or symptom is what determines a person’s dose. Most people can treat themselves, but for some, a cannabis medicinal specialist is required.
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), now commonly referred to as FECO (Full Spectrum Cannabis Oil), is not always available in CV. RSO and FECO are 1-5 Grams of cannabis in a syringe, used to treat cancer. It is difficult to treat children for cancer, seizures, autism, and many other childhood diseases when these are not readily available.
Currently, the industry is focusing on different cannabinoids, CBN, CBG, CBDA, and THCA. Local budtenders focus on the outdated terms, Indica and Sativa, which are largely moot points due to the prevalence of crossbreeding. Cannabis medical professionals and cultivators use these terms: Cultivar I (High THC), Cultivar II (1:1 ratio), and Cultivar III (High CBD). The acid forms of THC (THCA) and CBD (CBDA) will be the subsequent growth in the lesser cannabinoids.
Remember, cannabis is also for animals. Anxious dogs incessant barking or cats that have diabetes can benefit from cannabis tinctures. Most dispensaries have Vet Cannabis tinctures with a syringe to administer correct doses orally. Please do not go on the Internet for pet cannabis. It will not go through the rigorous testing like adult cannabis products.
For those who do not want any THC, using a hemp product is preferable. However, hemp products are not available in dispensaries. BLOOM hemp products are tested the same as marijuana products. Bloom also offers a free nurse line to assist with any questions.
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