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Ways Of Medical Marijuana Consumption: New York Edition

Ways Of Medical Marijuana Consumption New York Edition

Cannabis has transformed into a lifeline for quite a few people. But the usually progressive New York has been quite far behind in adopting this herb. As state after state legalizes cannabis, New York continues to push it to the next legislative year.

But it is not all dark and cloudy here in New York. There is a Medical Marijuana Program, but instead of cannabis flowers, they specialize in pills, tinctures, and vapes. Which is what we are going to be understanding today, how each one of these three methods works.

But first, we need to figure out how to get medical marijuana in New York.

Access To Medical Marijuana

In New York, the rules are pretty stringent regarding who can or cannot get a card. Which is also why you will not come across too many cannabis cardholders in the state. There is some amount of free will that products that contain CBD have, but even those have a sad story attached to them.

When CBD first got legalized in the state, the whole market saw an influx of CBD infused products. Drinks, chocolates, coffee, tea, you name it, and it was there. However, before that could come to fruition, the city swooped and banned all those products. CBD is still available in liquid form but in a much smaller spectrum of products.

How To Qualify

Before you make your way to a friendly physician, you should have a light idea if your condition qualifies for medical marijuana under the New York law.

So, if you want to qualify for a medical marijuana card, you need to have one or more of these conditions:

  • Cancer
  • HIV/AIDS
  • ALS
  • MS
  • Parkinson’s
  • Epilepsy
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Neuropathy
  • PTSD
  • Huntington’s Disease
  • Chronic Pain

The New York laws are very clear about their qualifying conditions. A common disorder for which marijuana is commonly prescribed “anxiety” was not included in the list.

This is another reason why millennials aren’t very happy with the laws governing New York medical marijuana.

After you are sure that your condition is on the list as a qualifying condition, you can go down two paths. Either make your way to a doctor or apply online at one of the various portals. Be careful, the market in New York is relatively new, and so there are various caveats to the process of getting a license.

In California, anyone with a medical license has the ability to recommend cannabis. In New York, you need to be a physician registered in the state health department’s medical marijuana program.

Only after you get a card can you make your way to the dispensaries. Once you reach here, there are three options that you can avail of either tincture, capsules, or vape cartridges. These are the three options at your disposal.

So, where do you go from here? Let’s have a look.

Tinctures

Out of the many methods available for cannabis consumption. This is the one that provides the exact dosage. Tinctures have been around for years. Available in a glass bottle with a dropper, tinctures are perfect no matter who you are: a newbie or a seasoned cannabis user.

Tinctures use alcohol as the base. Manufacturers decarboxylate the cannabis and then soak it in alcohol to create a potent medicine. If you are an edibles person, then this is the closest you are going to get to them in New York. ( at least at the time of publishing)

There are three ways to consume tinctures.

  • Orally
  • Infuse them with meals
  • Sublingually

They are faster acting than your standard edibles, so that is a good sign. If you compare tinctures to smoking, they are a better option as they are not coming in contact with your lungs. It is a discrete form of consumption. It is also the method of choice when giving minors cannabis.

Tinctures also have a great shelf life and are available in a variety of flavors and combinations. This directly targets your issue.

Vaping

This method has been getting a lot of negative coverage in recent months. For that, one should try and only buy from reputed sources and double-check all the seals before buying the cartilage.

Smoking is one of the most favored ways to consume cannabis. But New York does not allow users to smoke. So, the closest you can get to smoking is via vaping.

Vaping allows you to smoke without the potentially adverse respiratory effects of smoke. It is more than just a convenient way to consume cannabis. When cannabis combusts, it creates various carcinogens that can lead to lung infections. In the case of vaping in New York, you can only use oil to vape. That means you get an irritant-free inhale every time you vape. Vaping is also an easier way to get CBD in your system.

Pills and Supplements

This is an extremely convenient way to consume cannabis. You have it just like you would any other medicine. A pill eliminates all the respiratory side effects and keeps you safe from issues like bronchitis. They are usually reserved for an older audience as they prefer traditional channels of consumption, instead of the fancy vaping and tinctures that we so adore.

The pills and supplements work the same way edible works. Depending on the rate of metabolization of your liver, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours for the effects to set.

Another audience that prefers pills over smoking is the people who were previously smokers and now want to avoid any further damage to their lungs. Exact dosing and no smell are two of the most lucrative benefits of having a supplement.

These are all the ways you can consume in the state of New York. On the question of how to get medical marijuana card in New York. The process remains straightforward. Get a consultation, a card, and then make your way to a dispensary. Simple Enough.

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Buzzing Questions About Marijuana in New York Answered

Buzzing Questions About Marijuana in New York Answered

When one talks about Marijuana in New York, they are hard-pressed to find any clarity on how and where the legislation stands on the issue. This is extremely dangerous, especially for medical users who are managing their pain via means of medical marijuana. There is also a long-standing question on how people are allowed to consume cannabis. You are not allowed to smoke marijuana, but the laws do allow for the consumption of edibles and vaping.

There is a lot of uncertainty on the extremely confused stance that allows for the consumption of marijuana. There is a bill that has called for the “decriminalization” of marijuana, but the full effects are still to be seen.

Let’s examine the burning question regarding marijuana usage in New York.

What is the stance on recreational marijuana?

2019 brought with another year of no recreational marijuana for the citizens of New York, but then people were expecting it to be legal last year too. There is an expectation that there will be more attempts to do so. Why has there been such a fuss? It has been tough to come up with a middle ground that takes into account the minors who are the victims of the ongoing drug wars. Then there is the question of how the government handles the sale and distribution of marijuana. Should counties be allowed to refuse to sell, or should homegrown plants be allowed?

In case marijuana is deemed legal, who should be allowed to sell it.
This is the question that was the reason behind the death of the mandate last year as well. A significant number of advocates have accused the current administration of favoring the larger companies for the production and sale of marijuana.

Advocates are pushing for a three-tier system that is the alcohol companies have been utilizing, as this system effectively separates the manufacturing, retailing, and wholesaling in most cases.

On the Social front, advocates are also hoping for the legalization to help counties affected disproportionately by criminal enforcement. This is why the legalization bill last year was welcomed.

What about growing your own marijuana?

Another question that is acting like a big hindrance is the question of individual freedom to grow marijuana. The initial plan did not allow for home growing.
However, later proposals did show a particular leaning towards the possession of up to 6 plants for personal use.

Because of what energy-intensive process marijuana is, this does not seem to be something that the legislation would approve.

What does decriminalization mean?

There are two parts to this bill. One reduces the penalties for possession significantly; the other was the clearing the records of low-level convictions.

The charge for being in possession of cannabis has changed from a misdemeanor to a violation. This translates to a fine and not criminal charges. The second one would automatically lead to 500,000 people getting their records expunged.

One needs to understand that decriminalization is not the same as legalization. Marijuana remains illegal, and growing and selling it is punishable by law.

What about CBD?

This was easily answered at the beginning of the year. But now it is muddled, as products containing CBD are not allowed, but that is still hazy. So edibles containing CBD are illegal, but this does not apply to topical oils, patches, tinctures, or other users. Medical Marijuana is also still allowed, but only for a particular list of issues.

So, there is a lot of shuffling taking place when it comes to the laws regarding marijuana usage in New York. The biggest issue that legislators are going through is the absence of a people’s mandate that usually helps the legislators in the creation of a bill allowing the use of marijuana in the state.

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New York Weed Legalization – Everything You Need to Know

New York Weed Legalization

If you are about to get a medical marijuana card, it is imperative that we go through the New York weed legalization laws.

Cannabis has proven to have strong medicinal properties, especially for people suffering from chronic issues. There are two primary ways that marijuana is used. One is the doctor recommended medical use, and the other is a personal choice for recreational purposes.

But the question that must have come to your mind would be beyond just consumption preference are there any more differences between the two?

Well, there are. Today we will go into detail about the differences that exist between the two and what is the one that you can get in New York.

New York Weed Legalization

Medical Marijuana

Traditionally it was the whole cannabis plant with all of its cannabinoids that were propagated as medical cannabis. As research has broadened into this subject, medical marijuana has become a much more concentrated field.

Cannabis functions through a synergy effect brought along by the active chemicals ( THC and CBD) and Terpenes present in the plant.

Medical Marijuana has a higher CBD content; typically, this is not to say that THC isn’t an essential part of medical marijuana. But for people taking it for medicinal purposes, THC can act as a hindrance in their day to day functioning.

Recreational Marijuana

Cannabis used with the purpose of primarily getting high is recreational marijuana. There is absolutely no medical justification behind using cannabis, and this kind holds no other value apart from getting high.

A big misconception is that marijuana is a byproduct of the counter culture of the 60s, that is, however, not the case. It has been around in the traditional fold of medicines for centuries.

Lets now understand the subtle differences that exist between recreational and medical marijuana.

The Shopping Experience

This experience of just shopping itself is more or less the same, but the treatment at both can vary vastly depending on the dispensary.

Both recreational and medical shops have qualified personnel known as the Budtender, who will be able to guide you pick the right strain depending on the effects you are searching for.

In case of medical dispensaries, you have to own a medical marijuana card in New York and a valid id, whereas, in a recreational dispensary, all you need is a valid ID that states that you are of legal age.

Medical dispensaries also, at times, extend the courtesy and provide them with waiting rooms where they can wait and maintain privacy.

If you are a medical patient, it is essential to understand that recreational shops would provide you with cannabis but won’t be able to give you medical advice.

There are, however, a few shops that are dual licensed and would be able to provide you with the requisite cannabis.

When you are going to a dispensary, the relationship that you need to form is no less than what exists between a doctor and his patient. You would never go to a lousy doctor. Similarly, ensure that you try out multiple dispensaries until you find the perfect fit.

State Wise Perks

In the US, there exists a different set of perks that can be enjoyed by medical card holders i.e., users of medical marijuana vs. their recreational counterparts. Some of these perks include

  • Reduced cost of the product
  • A significant tax break
  • Allowance to carry larger quantities
  • Minors allowed to use in some instances (e.g., epilepsy)
  • Permission to plant a higher plant count

What Are The Uses Of Medical Marijuana?

Because of the ban on federal level research into cannabis is still in its formative years and there are hardly any long term conclusive studies, but there are some initial findings which have been promising,

Another point to note is that medical cannabis is not a treatment of problems, more like a handler of the symptoms.

Here are some of the uses of Medical Marijuana:

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Pain
  • Epilepsy

HIV/AIDS

A study consisting of 10 people who were HIV positive and smoked cannabis was conducted to come to the conclusion that those who consumed marijuana were sleeping better, eating better, and having fewer mood swings.

A different study also pointed towards a reduction in neuropathic pain.

Alzheimer’s

Cannabis in patients suffering from cannabis acts as an appetite enhancer and calming agent. This helps the patients who display agitated behavior, which is a cause of the problem.

Cancer

There are animal studies that have shown promise in killing specific cancer cells. Some studies have gone as far as saying that it may stop cancer growth completely.

Studies in Mice have shown that with THC, the impact of chemotherapy on the cells improves. It is also a preventer of nausea that accompanies chemotherapy.

Chronic Pain

Here both human, as well as animal studies, have been shown to highlight a substantial analgesic effect. Over centuries this is the one thing for which marijuana has been significantly effective.

Many conditions have chronic pain as their leading symptom, and with cannabis, patients have the ability to alleviate pain and live a relatively healthy life.

Epilepsy

Extracts from medical marijuana have been found to reduce the frequency of certain seizures up to 50% in both adults as well as children.

Beyond these, there is also ongoing research into various other diseases like Glaucoma, schizophrenia and muscle spasms, and a lot more.

Medical Marijuana in New York

In New York, marijuana is highly regulated in New York. In terms of how it can be administered, the only way is vapourization, which has to be administered via inhalers or through oral capsules.

Here are the qualifying conditions which includes:

  • HIV/Aids
  • Cancer
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • MS
  • Parkinsons
  • Glaucoma
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Cachexia
  • Epilepsy
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Lupus
  • Crohn’s disease
  • IBD
  • Huntington’s
  • PTSD
  • Arthritis
  • Neuropathy

Furthermore, there is a restriction on growing cannabis for any purpose, as well.

This, of course, as usual not a very exhaustive list as it is continuously evolving. At this point in time, there are rumors that have hinted towards the legalization of recreational marijuana too, but what is going to happen remains to be seen.