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Although cannabis gets a lot of air time in the wellness world these days, there remain scores of rumours and misconceptions on the topic of medical cannabis. It’s no surprise, given its confusing legal status in the UK as a controlled schedule 2 drug illegal for personal use and a medical drug available on prescription. This, compounded by the booming CBD market and the fact that no two countries govern marijuana in the same way, has given rise to a great deal of misunderstanding — hence why we’ve gathered some of the most widespread myths so that they can be put to bed once and for all.
Myth 1: Medicinal Cannabis Is Pretty Easy to Get Hold of
On the contrary, medicinal cannabis is quite difficult to get hold of in the UK. The UK government has limited the prescription of medical marijuana to doctors listed on the General Medical Council’s Specialist Register. GPs cannot prescribe medical marijuana; instead, they will have to refer you to a specialist, who will discuss various alternative treatments with you before agreeing to prescribe medical marijuana. Generally, it is seen as a last resort and so isn’t often prescribed in a hurry.
For those seeking a medical marijuana prescription, you will need to be patient and expect some resistance from your specialist.
Myth 2: You Can Buy Medicinal Cannabis Online
Medicinal cannabis cannot be bought online. Any supplier that claims to be legally selling medicinal cannabis online is not to be trusted. Confusingly, there is a whole universe of CBD products on the market which are legal if they are within the legal limit of THC quantity (a maximum of 0.2% per product in the UK), but these are not classed as medicinal cannabis. Nowadays, medical marijuana can only be secured from the medical cannabis clinics with a prescription from a specialist.
Myth 3: Medical Marijuana is Highly Addictive
Given that it is prescribed in very specific quantities by a doctor, medical marijuana carries a very low risk of addiction. Furthermore, compared with other drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, medical marijuana has a very low dependency rate.
With every medication, there is always some risk of forming a dependence, and marijuana is no exception to that rule. Still, it is believed that the medicinal benefits of therapeutic cannabis use outweigh any potential drawbacks — hence why the law was changed.
Myth 4: Medical Cannabis Has Few Uses
Medical cannabis has dozens of credentials from a symptom-managing standpoint. For instance, it has been found to help battle symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, nausea, and so many others.
Extensive research has found that THC and CBD, the dominant cannabinoids found in cannabis, engage with the body’s Endocannabinoid system, producing therapeutic effects for both our mental and physical health.
Myth 5: You Might Overdose On Medicinal Cannabis
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no deaths have been reported stemming exclusively from cannabis use. While overdose is highly unlikely, you must make sure to monitor how much medicinal cannabis you are consuming and find a limit that suits your body.
Myth 6: You Can Legally Smoke Weed If it is for Medicinal Use
This is another potentially dangerous myth that could land you in trouble if taken as truth. In the UK, you cannot legally smoke weed bought from an illegitimate source under any circumstance, even if you are doing so for therapeutic purposes. This is because cannabis remains a schedule 2, Class B drug in the UK, and possession of it can result in legal penalties.
Myth 7: You Can Drive After Consuming Medical Marijuana
Although medical marijuana is safe to consume, driving after THC-heavy marijuana consumption of any kind is forbidden. That’s because even medical-grade marijuana can impair your reaction times and render you unfit to be behind the wheel if it is rich in THC.
Taking CBD-dominant medicinal marijuana with little to no THC, however, may mean you are fine to drive. It is worth chatting with your Doctor to find out the driving protocol for your specific prescription.
