A recent Politico article discussed the issue of non medically trained "Budtenders" recommending specific strains of cannabis and cannabis products vs doctors, pharmacists, and other medically trained professionals making those recommendations. I actually think on average a Budtender is going to be a better fit for patients; please continue reading for my complete opinion on the matter.
In my opinion, Cannabis, including both Marijuana and Hemp should be viewed more like a supplement than a drug. Formulations of supplements vary, as do strains of cannabis, and humans response to both vary greatly. A medical professional says try this supplement, it may help, gives them a list of precautions, and then patient then starts the journey of figuring out if it works and what works best for them by speaking to friends and looking on the internet, potentially trying multiple products before settling on if it works and which one works best. I see no problem with this being exactly the same for cannabis, and to the contrary, I even see it as a necessity, more so than for most other supplements due to the vast variety of cannabis plants and product formulations..
Cannabis isn't a one size fits all solution and probably never will be, and though we should strive for consistency in specific products and their labeling, a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, nor a budtender know exactly how each patient will react to a specific product until the patient tries it. That doesn't mean they don't have insight into what will work because they do based on the vast amount of user reviews and reports for each specific strain as well as the general classification of each strain as indica, sativa, and hybrid.
Bud tenders are there to get people started by getting them familiar and comfortable with the terminology and getting them some options to try. Patients should be researching the strains available to them to see what other users say about those strains, particularly in relation to the issues they are trying to address. Patients should try a variety of strains and the bud tenders simply give them a starting point, and later perhaps further direction based on their feedback.
For those who haven't been to a dispensary, bud tenders are not telling people, you have this condition so this product will cure it. They give you a general idea of how their products are being used by other patients, how it affects them(the budtender) personally, and what you could try first. For the most part that system is working well as it has been for years. I've found that a pharmacist or medical professional is often the worst person to be making strain recommendations for two primary reasons, first they lack the experience and second hand knowledge that other users and budtenders have, and second their opinion(and that's all they can give) is taken with too much authority by the patient while the bud tender's recommendation is viewed by patients as more of an opinion with the idea it may take some time to find the best solution.
If my pharmacist hasn't used at least 100 different types of cannabis themself, then I don't really think they have enough of an understanding of cannabis to be recommending anything more than the local bud tender with no medical background but who has read user reports from the products they sell. A budtender who has sampled over 100 different types of cannabis and socializes with others who have also, will have a better understanding of the uniqueness of both the variety of plants and the individuals responses to them. Pharmacists and doctors give specific answers to specific questions and most patients take those answers as law, but that's not how cannabis works, a good bud tender will assist people on their journey of finding the best answer for them which will be specific and personal to each patient.
This article is In Responce to:
The budtender will see you now
"There's a lack of scientific evidence right now for anyone to be able to state exactly how much dosage an individual needs," said Dominick Zurlo, who directs New Mexico's Medical Cannabis Program. Given barriers to robust science, he said, it's the people working in the medical marijuana field and acquiring experience who "are going to be the people who have the best information."
2,500-year-old tomb offers earliest evidence of humans using cannabis to get high
An excavation of a 2,500-year-old tomb in western China has revealed the earliest clear evidence of humans using cannabis for its psychoactive properties.
Commentary: Those who follow us probably know by now we are strong supporters of home-grow rights for medical marijuana in Florida for the following reasons:
- Affordability: Patients are currently paying about 4 times the price for Medical Marijuana in Florida than they do in Colorado. For some Florida patients this comes to $1500+ per month. Many patients have low or limited income and growing their own could be the only way they could afford this potentially life saving medication.
- Availability: With 100s of popular Marijuana strains out there, and only a subsection available in Florida, there is no guarantee they will be available consistently to patients. In fact limited availability is a fact of life in the Florida Medical Marijuana market, products sell out, patients have to try another product or another form which may not work as well for them, at premium prices no less. Home grow will allow patients to grow their own consistent supply of the specific variety of Marijuana that works best for them. One example, Trulieve is the only place to offer Strawberry Tangie, and they have not had it available for more than 6 months and we don't know if they ever will again.
- Juicing: Believed to be one of the safest most effective methods for using medical Marijuana for Cancer treatment and prevention while delivering an array of nutritional and health benefits, Juicing requires fresh plant material on a daily basis which can best be achieved by allowing patients to grow their own at home. Juicing done properly does not get the patient "high" and carries a lot of beneficial substances you lose out on from other forms of processed Cannabis. I compare juicing marijuana to wheatgrass on steroids and believe in the future it will be vastly popular with mainstream users who are not looking to get high but more generally to improve their own health, especially with your "Health Nuts" and "Gym Rats".
Enter the Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee, which has multiple members who support the patients right to grow their own marijuana, including a Doctor that advocates juicing as the most effective cancer preventative for some patients; as he has testified to in court. While it does seam they have put the foxes in charge of the hen house, the board's purpose is to expand patient access and improve the states policies in relation to Medical Marijuana and this is a highly educated pro medical marijuana group that could push for policies that really benefit Floridians.
Nikki Fried names doctors, lawyers, patients to new 'Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee'
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has released the names on her newly-created Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee, which will "help improve the state's medical marijuana policies," she said in a statement. "I'm proud to establish the advisory committee to help expand patient access, and to advance and modernize policies to move Florida into the future of medical marijuana," Fried said.
Opinion: Florida is in the lead for hemp, but New York is pulling ahead on Adult Use Marijuana legalization. Residents in both states need to push your representatives to pass comprehensive legislation that allows home growing, allows a path for those caught up in the drug war with Marijuana to be able to have their records cleared and participate in the industry, as well as easier access for smaller businesses to get involved. It seams the New York bill addresses these issues.
New Marijuana Legalization Bill Introduced in New York
Lawmakers in New York announced plans to introduce a new marijuana legalization bill in the state legislature, according to media reports. The new bill comes after an effort to include a cannabis legalization plan in the state budget failed to gain enough support earlier this year. Democratic Sen.
Federal Study: THC-Positive Drivers Not More Likely To Be Involved...
Drivers who test positive for the presence of THC in blood are no more likely to be involved in motor vehicle crashes than are drug-free drivers, according to a federally sponsored case-control study involving some 9,000 participants. The study, published Friday by the United States National...
Thank you to all the wonderful people who participated with us while in Colorado.
Please excuse the delay in growth. As with many things Cannabis related, this project is an ever evolving work in progress!
Our trips to Denver, CO to kickoff filming for Reefer Rising™ 3D were highly successful. Photo galleries, trailer, and much more coming soon!
We were blown away by our first view of Colorado's retail marijuana industry, we would like to thank the Denver businesses owners that helped us realize our goals for kickoff filming. Everyone at the 3D Cannabis Center retail marijuana dispensary, along with Bob Eschino and the exceptional cook team at Incredibles, Medically Correct LLC cannabis infused edibles, as will as all the other people we interviewed and spoke with, we cannot thank you all enough for your participation. We look forward to returning to Denver in the future and hope to see some familiar faces!
We would also like to thank everyone with HIGH TIMES U.S. Cannabis Cup for their support with full access to their event in Denver in 2014; being the first held in the US that was open to the public as well as our first Cannabis Cup experience. This event was so much more than we ever expected!
Contact Us: info@ReeferRising.com