California

Medical Cannabis vs. Recreation Cannabis In California

Medical Cannabis vs. Recreation Cannabis In California - Marijuana Packaging

Gone are the days when Californians would go to a “doctor” to get a medical marijuana card to treat their “stress” or “backache.” Recreational cannabis joined the medical side years ago. No longer do consumers have to exaggerate phantom conditions to enjoy cannabis legally. Given that, why do Californians still need medical marijuana options? What are the differences between recreational and medical marijuana?

For starters, medical marijuana benefits patients with various ailments, like glaucoma, appetite loss, anxiety, and seizures. Because different strains can have other effects, the medical provider, seller, and patient can determine which strain best suits the patient’s need.

Recreational marijuana is for consumers to enjoy the feeling of being high without the need for any medicinal qualities. For them, consulting with a budtender helps determine which strain will achieve the appropriate effect – increased creativity, productivity, or unwind.

Recreational marijuana typically has a higher THC percentage than medical marijuana.  The higher CBD levels for medical consumers are due to the medicinal benefits of CBD. The priority is on health and wellness and not necessarily on being high. In many medical circumstances, psychoactive effects are unnecessary (and often unwanted).

Sometimes, medical marijuana cards provide access to specific products unavailable to recreational consumers. Some of these cannabis products are crucial to alleviating certain medical conditions.

The amount you can purchase is more for medical marijuana patients. In California, a medical card allows consumers to buy up to eight ounces of cannabis at a time as long as it’s in compliant marijuana packaging. Recreational consumers are limited to one ounce of flower and eight grams of concentrate per day. Similarly, medical cards allow patients to have up to twelve immature plants (more if specified by a physician). Recreational consumers can grow up to only six plants.

One of the more obvious differences is cost. Typically, it’s less expensive to purchase medical marijuana than recreational marijuana. Taxes on medical cannabis are markedly lower than for recreational cannabis. And, medical marijuana consumers can be as young as eighteen, while recreational users must be 21 or older.

Aside from differences in pricing and THC percentages, there is nothing that makes medical marijuana better, per se, than recreational marijuana. A medical marijuana card is necessary, especially if the consumer is interested in growing more cannabis, buying more cannabis per day, and paying less in taxes.

The same infrastructure exists for obtaining a medical marijuana card. But, not every doctor is eager to provide one. Many medical institutions specialize in providing medical marijuana cards, and there are many online sites a Google search away. Often, you can meet virtually with a doctor who will provide a medical marijuana card for the appropriate medical conditions.

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