Medical marijuana is used for medicinal purposes. Recreational cannabis is mainly used for adult leisure. The key differences when comparing medical to recreational are potency, age, purchase and possession quantities, tax rates, and the legal quantity of plants allowed for cultivation. CBD to THC Ratios Medical marijuana tends to have higher amounts of CBD compared to recreational marijuana.
This is purposely so that the patient does not feel “placed”. The high you feel after using marijuana is the result of the presence of THC in the substance. THC is a psychoactive element, so it gives you the “high” feeling. Recreational weed is usually exactly the same, the main differentiator between cannabis products being the levels of THC, CBD and the presence of terpenes.
Different forms of marijuana, such as edibles, tinctures, smokable flowers, high-potency concentrates, topicals and more, will also produce varying effects. In California, a medical card allows consumers to purchase up to eight ounces of cannabis at a time, as long as it is in a compliant marijuana container. The card is obtained after an evaluation to determine that you have a qualifying condition that would make you a suitable candidate for medical marijuana. Medical marijuana should be administered in metered doses and you should be careful to choose a strain with the right active ingredients.
Therefore, common medical marijuana strains have lower levels of THC and higher levels of CBD, since CBD is not psychoactive, but still offers medicinal benefits. This identification card can be presented at any state-licensed dispensary to purchase medical marijuana products. Medical vs Recreational PricesYou also want to review California's recreational versus medical prices before you go out to get your dose. As we've mentioned, medical marijuana is legal in 36 states, unlike recreational weed, which is currently legal in 18 states (and even fewer have operating 26-licensed adult-use dispensaries).
Medical marijuana has been shown to help cure many ailments, including multiple sclerosis, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress and anxiety, nausea, vomiting, Crohn's disease, pain, muscle spasms and loss of appetite, to name a few. For more information, read Vermont Medical Marijuana Sales Tax and Related Paraphernalia. And medical marijuana users may be as young as eighteen, while recreational users must be 21 years of age or older. Laws governing medical marijuana have been extensively relaxed and changed over the past decade to allow for wider use.
A medical marijuana card is necessary, especially if the consumer is interested in growing more cannabis, buying more cannabis per day and paying less taxes. One thing to keep in mind about medical marijuana is that you are allowed to plant more, and this means that you can plant an amount that can sustain you for a long period of time without the need to buy from a dispensary. Medical versus Recreational Quality The second consideration you may have for medical versus recreational California is quality. In fact, there are differences between medical and recreational cannabis that you might want to consider, especially if you've been a medical user and are planning to move to recreational use.