Is Medical Marijuana Real Medicine?
This past weekend, the Ohio Medical Marijuana Physicians Association (OMMPA) hosted a panel of physicians to discuss the topic, “Is Medical Marijuana Real Medicine?” Specializing in medical marijuana treatment consultations since 2020, Duber Medical has worked with more than 8,000 patients across 10 states – our physicians have seen first hand the benefits of cannabis as a medical treatment option. Dr. Morris, CMO of Duber Medical, participated as a panel member and shared her insights, experiences and thoughts on the future of medical marijuana treatment.
State Program Insights
Ohio, like many other states with medical marijuana programs, has more than 20 qualifying medical conditions. Many of the same conditions are found on each state qualifying condition list. Several state programs even offer discounted or waived state fees if patients receive government assistance funds such as Medicaid, WIC or are a Veteran.
- The Most Accepted Condition for Medical Marijuana Treatment: Malignancy
- Most Frequently Cited: Chronic Pain, PTSD
- Top Medical Categories for Qualifying Medical Conditions Include:
- Neurological
- Psychiatric
- GI / GU
- Orthopedic
Clinical Indications (AKA Patient Benefits)
Duber Medical has a diverse patient population, both medically and demographically, and still – most patients report positive benefits of medical marijuana treatment with minimal side effects. Why can it be so effective? There are a few reasons:
Cannabis has three strain types: Sativa, Indica and Hybrid. Each of these strain types offer different medicinal benefits; doctors who specialize in cannabis treatment can offer personalized recommendations based on the conditions and symptoms a patient hopes to treat. This is done by adjusting ratios of CBD : THC, as well as which form of administration to use and when for best effect. Forms of administration include:
- Topicals
- Tinctures
- Inhalation (Vaporizing)
- Edibles
Some of the commonly reported patient benefits include:
- Better Symptom Control
- Secondary Symptom / Condition Treatment
- Improved Quality of Life / Patient Outlook
- Less Adverse Effects than Traditional Medications
- Range of Products / Routes of Administration
Physician Perspective
While marijuana as a treatment option has made great strides in recent years, one major hurdle that Dr. Morris noted in her panel discussion was the continued stigma associated with its use, even with positive clinical findings. She believes patients deserve increased access to their medicine, as well as the delivery forms offered:
“With proper physician supervision, properly selected patients can have substantially positive effects from medical marijuana products with a large safety margin and a general ability to titrate down or off traditional pharmaceuticals.”
More than 35 states now offer medical marijuana programs – still have questions about how to get started or whether it’s right for you? Give us a call at 833.977.2424 and we’ll be happy to help!
