.png)
Cannabis can be consumed in many different ways. You can roll a joint the old-fashioned way, put it in your vaporizer, or even eat it (those space brownies are delicious!). There are also differences in the types of cannabis you can use. There’s sativa and indica cannabis, each with different effects. But that’s not all. Ultimately, there’s also medicinal and non-medicinal cannabis. We’ll explain exactly what the differences are below!
For years, people from all over the world have visited (and continue to visit) Amsterdam’s coffee shops to enjoy this delicious herb with its miraculous effects. Now it seems that more and more places around the world are beginning to legalize cannabis. And that growing popularity is also raising more questions. One of the most frequently asked questions is what exactly the difference is between medical cannabis and non-medical (or recreational) cannabis.
Read also: 4 North American psychedelics that are becoming increasingly popular
Medical cannabis
The answer is relatively simple. Medical cannabis is essentially the same as recreational cannabis, but it is used to treat symptoms of illness rather than to get high or stoned. Many believe cannabis is useful in treating symptoms of various physical conditions and as part of treatment therapies, but it is also frequently used to treat conditions such as eating disorders, mental health disorders, nausea, and pain.
For example, the Dutch Ministry of Health states that medical cannabis can be effective for various conditions, such as pain, muscle cramps, and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) or spinal cord injury. It is also effective for nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, or weakness associated with cancer and AIDS, pain, muscle cramps, and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) or spinal cord injury, as well as pain caused by nerve damage, phantom pain, facial pain, or chronic pain that persists after shingles has healed.
Medicinal cannabis does not currently play a role in curing the conditions mentioned. However, it can help reduce the symptoms associated with these conditions or the side effects of other medications.
Read also: Study: A joint after work is totally harmless!
Recreational cannabis
Recreational weed or cannabis is produced and consumed in exactly the same way as medical cannabis, but for different purposes. When distinguishing between medical cannabis and recreational cannabis, the key difference is simply what the user is using the drug for. If it is used to treat symptoms resulting from an illness and is officially prescribed and obtained, then it is medical cannabis. However, if it is consumed to get high, whether obtained legally or illegally, it is recreational.
Read also: Study: A joint after work is totally harmless!
Reimbursement for medical cannabis
In 2006, the new Health Insurance Act came into effect. Since then, the reimbursement status of medical cannabis has changed for a number of health insurers. The decision to reimburse medical cannabis lies with the health insurer. Therefore, check with your health insurer about their reimbursement policy to see if you are eligible for reimbursement for the purchase of medical cannabis.
Taking Medical Cannabis on a Trip
Are you currently using medical cannabis and would you like to take it with you on vacation? If so, you must apply for an official statement for this purpose. In many countries, the possession and use of opiates are strictly prohibited, and violations of the Opium Act carry severe penalties. Medications covered by the Opium Act cannot simply be taken abroad. This applies to, among other things, sleeping pills and sedatives, strong painkillers, medications for the treatment of ADHD, and therefore also to medical cannabis. For more information on this, visit the CAK website.
