Top 5 Sources of Cannabis Help and Why None are Your Best Choice
There are many people interested in using medical cannabis, but because of how confusing and overwhelming it can be, they just don't know where to start. Or, they make an effort to try it on their own, and it either doesn't work or they have a negative experience and are hesitant to try it again. When it comes to cannabis information, there are some obvious choices, but whether those choices will be of any help is questionable.
CANNABIS COACHING
2/17/20247 min read
Online
The internet is one of the greatest sources of information on cannabis you will find. That is both a blessing and a curse.
For one thing, there is A LOT of information. Unless you have the time and energy to do the necessary research, and enjoy weeding through piles of information (pun intended!), it can be overwhelming.
For another, it is hard to know what to trust online. A vast majority of sites are geared towards recreational use, and you may be misguided into either using too much or products that are not going to be of much benefit to you. Sometimes the information is too vague to be of any help, and sometimes it is so complicated you won't even know what to do with the information.
If you are up for some reading and researching on your own, one excellent source for a wealth of cannabis information is FeedSpot. Check out their site for one of the most comprehensive collections of blogs, podcasts, news websites, Youtube channels and RSS feeds related to cannabis that you will find. We sincerely appreciate One Love Cannabis being named one of their Top 60 cannabis blogs in Canada!
Doctors
Unfortunately most doctors know very little, if anything, about cannabis, yet they are the ones the government has trusted to be the primary point of contact for medical cannabis patients.
Usually, they will simply authorize the use of medical cannabis, meaning they confirm you meet the requirements to use medical cannabis, and will do little more than setting the maximum amount you are allowed to purchase monthly from a medical dispensary based on the severity and progression of your particular condition. They seldom provide any information about what to use or how to use it.
Despite the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) being the master control system for all other systems in the body, very little is taught in medical schools about the ECS, so many doctors do not fully understand the hows and whys of cannabis's effectiveness at helping so many conditions much less what to use or how to use it. In their defense though, the cannabis industry is rapidly evolving, and even if they likely did receive some basic training, it is unlikely they would be able to keep up on the ever-changing landscape of the cannabis industry. Because it is not a primary focus of their practice (though it should be), there is also little incentive for them to fully educate themselves.
It is similar with traditional pharmaceuticals too though. Doctors may know the standard drugs prescribed for certain conditions, but if you want all of the nitty gritty information about things like dosing, reactions, interactions, when and how to take your medication properly, new drugs on the market, alternative options if what you are on is not working, etc., your pharmacist is often better equipped to answer your questions than your doctor. Unlike a pharmacist, cannabis coaches don't dispense the cannabis, but we still usually have the best understanding of the intricacies of its use because we have received extensive training, are are often users of the plant ourselves and have dedicated ourselves to continually learning about cannabis so we stay on top of new and emerging products and health information.
Medical Cannabis Clinics
One good resource is the services of nurse practitioners or other health specialists at a medical cannabis clinic. Some of these clinics are free of charge through provincial government programs, and others charge a fee.
While they are a great starting point to get information and guidance on using medical cannabis, the drawback is that they tend to be more consultative in nature.
They can provide information on the difference between THC and CBD, a good starting dose, a general overview of how and why cannabis works in the body, and other very valuable information, but if you want to truly understand cannabis, the interplay of various chemicals in the plant, and how to choose products on your own for yourself and your unique needs, as well as have ongoing support to help you as you experience cannabis and its many benefits (and sometimes side-effects too), the level of care and attention from a clinic may be just that - too clinical.
Friends and Family
Friends and family are certainly a trustworthy source, but chances are they will only be able to make recommendations based on what worked for them, without having the knowledge to tailor things to your unique needs, and even more problematic is that you are not them.
For example, if they have been using it for a long time and have built up a tolerance, they might tell you that they are taking 20mg of THC and it is working well for them, but if you are a beginner who has never used cannabis before, taking a 20mg dose of THC the first time out is likely going to lead to you having a pretty bad experience, as it is about 10 times the recommended starting dose for newbies. It is important to understand the ins and outs of cannabis and learn how to make it work for you, not just go with what works for someone else.
Dispensary Employees
There are several problems with speaking with a "budtender" in a retail environment. While they certainly have the experience of working hands-on with the product...
*The employees may be too busy to discuss cannabis in great length, so you may not be able to receive sufficient information or have your questions answered.
*Employees are likely to only discuss the particular products sold in their store. Even if they make a great recommendation, without knowing anything about what they are suggesting, it makes it challenging to tweak things if need be or be able to purchase something similar from another store.
*Dispensaries are recreation-focused so employees will often just steer you to popular options for getting as high as possible.
*It is illegal for budtenders to make any medical recommendations, therefore they are not properly trained on the medicinal aspects of cannabis use. Most will steer clear of anything medical-related to err on the side of caution to ensure they do not say something they should not, but many will still try to answer medical-related questions in a round-about way, and because they lack the knowledge and training, the information may not be accurate.
So, where does that leave you?
With a relatively new but invaluable service - cannabis coaching. With cannabis coaching you get the benefit of one-on-one support, have ample time to have your questions answered, and will be guided by someone who has received extensive training in the cannabis plant and its use, the endocannabinoid system, risks, side-effects, and most everything else you need or want to know about using cannabis.
The caveat is that like other forms of coaching, such as life coaches or business coaches, cannabis coaching is largely unregulated and anybody can call themselves a cannabis coach or sell classes at a cannabis "school". If you don't want to end up with someone whose sole education in cannabis has been smoking it in their mother's basement for the last 10 years, look for a professional who has received training from a reputable training organization such as the Cannabis Coaching Institute who are well respected in the industry and offer a 6-month intensive training program including a robust curriculum combined with a practicum component. If the only training someone has is a cheap (or free) certificate of completion from an online 'training academy' like Teachable, Udemy, or Coursera, you are probably better off just taking the same course they did. Those types of learning are great for basic education, but someone who is going to be your guide through a very important process that will significantly impact your health should have actual training.
Even better will be someone with additional education and training in a related area, such as health coaching, psychology, pain management, alternative health modalities, or any other education or credentials that show the practitioner has devoted their career to physical and/or mental health and wellness and didn't just get totally baked one night and decide they want to teach others how to get baked too. Bonus tip when finding a cannabis guide to work with...review their website and social media posts to see how they talk about cannabis, and make sure it is something you are comfortable with. Those focused on the serious medical use of cannabis will usually refer to the plant as 'cannabis' unless making the odd joke or comment about weed, ganja, etc. (fun fact, both hemp and marijuana are actually cannabis plants). They will also focus on the medicinal effects rather than getting stoned, baked, ripped, wasted, bombed, etc. Recreational users tend to use a lot more slang and are geared towards getting you high with an obvious favour towards products with higher levels of THC. If that is your jam, by all means go that route, but if you are looking for someone who takes a more therapeutic approach, consider how the source talks about cannabis.
Contact
onelovecannabis@outlook.com
Subscribe to our newsletter
Disclaimer: The thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this blog site are solely those of the author. They are not meant to be a substitute for professional medical and mental health guidance. Before following the advice given, it is always advisable to consult with your healthcare team to ensure no possible adverse affects or interactions with other treatments you may be using. Should you make the choice to use cannabis products, you do so at your own risk and assume all responsibility of a health or legal nature. The author does not encourage use of cannabis is those under 25 years of age, individuals in area where they do not have access to legal cannabis, or in individuals with pre-existing conditions that could be negatively impacted as the result of cannabis use.