What to look for When Buying Medical Cannabis Products
The modern world of medical cannabis can be confusing and overwhelming, especially when you are a new, or potential, medical cannabis patient.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of legal medical cannabis products available across the world and the amount of product choices can be daunting even for some experts.
Finding the “right” medical cannabis product(s) that fit your specific medical needs is important to the success of your medical cannabis program. We here at Kanteeva want to help inform you about your medical cannabis options so you are able to make the best possible decisions.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Before you read through the medical cannabis product purchasing guide below, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Speak to your healthcare practitioner before using medical cannabis
- Everyone reacts differently to cannabis and cannabis products
- No one knows your needs and sensitivities better than yourself. Experience and experimentation are going to show you what “works” or what does not.
- There is a ton of instability in terms of the names given to cannabis strains. Since there is no regulating body that determines what constitutes a “specific strain,” i.e. Jack Herer, then we are relying on the producer, retailer or the cannabis community for verification.
- It is always best to start slow and see how specific cannabis products will affect you before making larger purchases. For example, trapping yourself with a half ounce of flower that does not “work” for you, or a container of a topical product that you react negatively to, is a waste of money and time.
- Use the Kanteeva Community and our other Kanteeva resources to do research before purchasing medical cannabis products
- Word of mouth can be a double edged sword when choosing medical cannabis product(s), so it is important to be careful whose advice you listen to because many people are misinformed!
8 Things to do When Buying Medical Cannabis
- Ensure that the vendor is a reputable source via online reviews, their website, word of mouth, or through the Kanteeva community
- Check online reviews for the specific medical cannabis product and producer
- Look for the specific strain(s) that have been used to produce the medical cannabis product or, at the very least, if it was produced with a Sativa, Hybrid or Indica flower
- Check the product’s labeling: it should include the company’s name, the strain name, net weight of cannabis contained and when the product was packaged
- Check if the cannabinoid percentages that are listed on the package; the THC and CBD percentages or content should be on it
- After purchasing cannabis flower, look at the trichomes by using a magnifying glass or a 40x plus jewelers loupe. You can also hold the flower in direct sunlight as well but this method is not recommended because direct sunlight can degrade the cannabinoids in the cannabis flower. If the trichomes have an milky and/or an amber colour this means the flower has been cured well. If the trichomes are transparent in colour, the flower should have been cured longer. Buyer’s remorse is unfortunate because returns are not usually a part of retail cannabis. Knowing which producers properly grow and cure their cannabis can help you make more educated choices in the future.
- In the case of topicals, oils and tinctures, there should be a list of medical and non-medical ingredients. Look for these ingredients.
- Know what products work for you. If you purchase or try something and like the effects, write down the name and then do some research so you can more readily recognize similar strains and products.
Following these steps when buying medical cannabis products will set you up for success.
It’s your money and your medicine, so please only settle for the best.
Also remember, when purchasing online to watch out for deals that are too good to be true; scam dispensary websites are common!
What do you look for when purchasing your medical cannabis? Let us know by commenting below.
To learn more, we invite you to join the Kanteeva community.
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