What is the Difference Between CBD and Medical Marijuana?

Why Is a Doctor’s Prescription Required for Medical Marijuana but Not for CBD?

A proactive approach to one’s health, wellness, and the treatment of symptoms is already being taken by someone who uses CBD or who possesses a medical cannabis card in the state of Louisiana. Even though you’ll have to put more effort into your treatment than you would if you just went to your local K&B to pick up a prescription, you know that the benefits are well worth it.

You can feel your best with the use of therapeutic cannabis products without worrying about the side effects and addiction risks associated with traditional pharmaceuticals. While the medicinal benefits of cannabis are well documented, understanding how to use it safely and effectively might feel like a maze.

A lot of people in Louisiana don’t know the difference between medicinal marijuana and CBD, and the legislation surrounding both of these substances. In this article, we’ll compare and contrast medicinal marijuana with cannabidiol (CBD), and answer a few of the most often-asked questions regarding the two.

CBD and Medical Marijuana in Louisiana

Louisiana’s Legislation Regarding the Use of Marijuana for Medical Purposes

After nearly 40 years of debate, the Bayou State became the first state in the Deep South to legally distribute medical marijuana, despite having some of the strictest cannabis regulations in the country. Baton Rouge’s Capitol Wellness Solutions opened to the public in August of 2019; now, nine other dispensaries across the state make sure every parish is covered.

Sublingual tinctures, edibles, distillate syringes (also known as Rick Simpson Oil or RSO), metered-dose inhalers, suppositories, and topical lotions are just some of the medicinal marijuana delivery options available to patients in Louisiana.

You undoubtedly already know that to purchase medicinal marijuana from a dispensary in the state of Louisiana, you need a doctor’s referral. If you have any questions about the registration process for Louisiana’s medical marijuana card, don’t hesitate to contact us.

With your card in hand, you can stroll into any of Louisiana’s nine dispensaries and speak with a helpful pharmacist about your options.

If you are worried about contracting COVID or if it is too far for you to drive, there is no need to worry. In June 2020, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards passed a bill allowing clinics to deliver to all voting precincts in the state.

Louisiana’s CBD Legislation

Because of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, certain CBD formulations are now lawful on a federal level; nevertheless, state governments have been sluggish to regulate the substance. In 2019, Louisiana finally enacted HB 491 to define the state’s position on hemp-based goods.

All forms of CBD other than those designed for inhalation or vaping are legal as a consequence of the measure. Strict purity and labeling regulations, as well as authorized sales only, apply to all products. However, no medical professional endorsement is required, and ownership is unrestricted.

For those over the age of 18, CBD products from Louisiana’s licensed shops are now readily available and guaranteed to be safe, clean, and effective. CBD is available for purchase at many medical marijuana clinics, and some of them even offer delivery.   

Sometimes Medical Cannabis and CBD Are From Different Plants

Hemp vs. marijuana: What Science Says

CBD oil can be derived from either hemp or marijuana. In the scientific community, marijuana and hemp are considered to be two names for the same plant. The scientific community is divided on how to classify the effects produced by various strains.

Differentiation in the Law Is Crucial

Despite their similarities, marijuana and hemp are two quite different plants from a legal perspective. In the United States, hemp is lawful only if it contains less than 0.3% THC by weight.

Hemp extracts are not considered to be prohibited substances, therefore they can be legally traded across state lines (so long as they are legal within the states where they are being bought and sold). Hemp is the primary source for the vast majority of CBD oil sold in the United States.

Because of its greater THC level, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. That implies that CBD and other cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant remain illegal under federal law.

However, cannabis and hemp are regulated by separate statutes that are drafted and implemented at the state level. Because of this, Louisiana maintains its medical marijuana program and has strict laws regarding CBD extracted from hemp.

The Effects of CBD and Medical Marijuana Are Distinct

We’ve discussed what the laws say about hemp and marijuana, and you’re familiar with the differences in the plants that define CBD and medical cannabis products.

Understanding of Cannabinoids

Both cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are chemical components found in cannabis. The primary cannabinoid in hemp is cannabidiol (CBD), while in marijuana it is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

However, researchers have discovered what they estimate to be over a hundred different cannabinoids in cannabis. You could have come across items labeled as containing CBC, CBG, CBN, or Delta 8. These are three different types of cannabinoids, just as vitamin K, vitamin-A, and folate are three different vitamins you can get from eating a healthy salad.

How Does Cannabidiol (THC) Work in Medical Marijuana?

Only delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been linked to intoxication in humans. Euphoria is a frequent way to describe an emotion, however, it might vary depending on the strain’s interaction with other cannabinoids.

THC is effective as an analgesic, can ease stomach distress, lessens stiffness, and may even aid psychiatric issues. The medical community is beginning to agree on which symptoms and ailments can be alleviated by THC.

What Is the Purpose of CBD?

In other words, CBD will not give you the munchies. Truly, it has minimal and minor adverse effects. People usually don’t notice any major differences, although they do report feeling better.

In addition to reducing inflammation, inducing relaxation, and potentially even eliminating seizures, CBD also has some other useful properties. It is the primary therapeutic component of Epidolex, an anti-epileptic medicine licensed by the Food and Drug Administration.

Can I combine CBD oil with medical marijuana?

Absolutely! The “entourage effect” occurs when various cannabinoids are mixed. This relates to the fact that the sum of its components is more than the total of its components. The effects of CBD vary per person. The effects of THC vary by user. As a group, you benefit from both their separate and combined advantages.

CBD’s ability to mitigate medicinal marijuana’s inebriating effects is a plus in the eyes of some users. It’s fine to take your medicine with gusto, but it might be difficult to balance when you also have other obligations. When combined with THC-infused edibles or a tincture, CBD can make you feel focused and productive.

Conclusion

CBD and other medicinal marijuana products share the cannabis plant as their source. While scientists debate the topic, state and federal legislation make it plain that hemp is not the same as marijuana.

But both medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) are fantastic options for your natural health and wellness in the state of Louisiana, where they are both lawfully available. The euphoric “high” associated with medical marijuana is typical, but cannabidiol (CBD) may help you unwind without feeling out of control. The synergistic effects will be amplified when taken jointly, and CBD may mitigate the psychoactive effects of THC.

Medical marijuana requires a doctor’s recommendation, but anybody over the age of 18 can buy CBD from a certified merchant.

Louisiana Medical Marijuana Doctors: Your One-Stop Resource

Here at Louisiana Medical Marijuana Doctors, we want to make sure you have all the resources you need to make educated decisions about your health and the health of your loved ones. For this reason, we update our blog frequently and offer excellent patient assistance.

If you have any inquiries, would like to schedule a consultation, or are seeking a medical marijuana recommendation. To schedule a medical marijuana evaluation, you can also go online.

You should always be at your best. Get the best possible health by working with one of our experts to determine the best products and dosages for you.