Important information about medical cannabis
Important information about medical cannabis
Before using medical cannabis, it’s important to know how it works, its side effects, and if there are any safety concerns.
Ask your medical provider or a pharmacist if you have questions about using medical cannabis.
What is medical cannabis?
Medical cannabis is a medical treatment that uses the cannabis plant. The cannabis plant has many chemicals called cannabinoids that can be helpful to treat some medical conditions. The 2 most common cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
What do I need to know about medical cannabis?
How do I know what dosage and products to use?
Your medical provider and the medical cannabis pharmacist can help you decide which products to try and how much to use at a time. Follow these guidelines to figure out the products and doses that work best for you:
- “Start low and go slow” with medical cannabis. Start with a low amount of medical cannabis and add more slowly over time, until you reach a dose that works well for you.
- Buy small amounts the first few times you visit a medical cannabis pharmacy until you learn which products work best for you.
- Write down the products you use and any side effects you have. Share these with your medical provider or the medical cannabis pharmacist. You can use a tracking journal to track the products you use and their side effects.
What are common side effects of medical cannabis?
Medical cannabis does have common side effects. Most of them are mild and only last a few hours. They include:
- Feeling anxious
- Feeling dizzy
- Feeling tired
- Feeling lightheaded
- Mild nausea
- Dry mouth
Follow these guidelines when dealing with side effects:
- Write down the products you use and any side effects you have. Share these with your medical provider or the medical cannabis pharmacist. You can use a tracking journal to track the products you use and their side effects.
- The cannabis product you use, the amount you take, and other medications you take can change your side effects.
- Talk to your medical provider, a medical cannabis pharmacist, or call the Utah Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 if you have questions about side effects.
Can medical cannabis interact with other medications?
Always tell medical providers and pharmacists about other medications you use. They will tell you if medical cannabis could interact with your medications.
This is especially important for some specific medications:
- If you are getting anesthesia or sedation, cannabis can increase the amounts of anesthesia or sedatives that you need.
- You need to work closely with your medical provider if you take medical cannabis with some medications, like Warfarin (Coumadin) or anti-seizure medications.
- Do not take medical cannabis with Cilostazol (Pletal), Citalopram (Celexa), Clopidogrel (Plavix), Clobazam (Onfi or Sympazan), or valproic acid.
- Do not take medical cannabis with anything that makes you feel tired, such as alcohol, sleep medicine, or allergy medicine.
You can use a drug interaction tool to check for interactions between your medications and cannabis.
Are there risks to using medical cannabis?
Can I become addicted to medical cannabis?
Some people become addicted or dependent on cannabis. This is called Cannabis Use Disorder.
These factors put you at higher risk for Cannabis Use Disorder:
- You’re younger than 21 years old.
- You use products with high amounts of THC.
- You use cannabis every day.
- You’ve been diagnosed with a substance use disorder in the past.
Will I have withdrawal symptoms if I stop using medical cannabis?
Some people have withdrawals if they cannabis every day and then stop suddenly. Talk to your medical provider or pharmacist if you have questions about cannabis withdrawal.
Withdrawals symptoms can include:
- Anxiety
- Feeling angry
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
Will medical cannabis make me sick?
Some people get sick if they use high amounts of cannabis regularly. This is called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Stop using medical cannabis and talk to your medical provider right away if this happens to you.
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome symptoms include:
- Severe nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
Is it safe to smoke or vape medical cannabis?
Most people shouldn’t vape unless your doctor recommends it for your specific medical condition, especially if you’re younger than 21. Vaping can increase the risk of lung injuries, especially if you use a vape cartridge or pen instead of whole cannabis flower.
Smoking cannabis is illegal in Utah.
How can I be safe with medical cannabis?
What does it mean to “start low and go slow”?
“Start low and go slow” means to take a small dose of medical cannabis at first and increase the dose slowly over time, until you find what works best for you. This can limit side effects like dizziness, panic, and a fast heartbeat.
Write down the products you use and any side effects you have. Share these with your medical provider or the medical cannabis pharmacist.
You can use a tracking journal to track the products you use and their side effects.
Wait to drive after using medical cannabis
It’s not safe to drive after using cannabis because it slows down your motor skills, reactions, and attention. Wait at least 8 hours after using medical cannabis before driving.
Learn about why you need to wait to drive after using cannabis.
Store it safely
Medical cannabis needs to be stored safely, just like any medicine. This will keep your family, friends, and pets safe.
Follow these safe storage guidelines:
- Keep cannabis products in their original packages that are child-resistant and have warning labels.
- Store it in a child-proof container that is out of kids’ sight and reach.
- Store it in a different place than the rest of your food.
- Put it away right after using it.
- Call Utah Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 in an emergency.
Don’t share your medical cannabis with others
Do not share, sell, or give away medical cannabis. You could face criminal charges, fines, and lose your medical cannabis card.
Follow medical cannabis laws
Follow the laws about using medical cannabis. These include:
- Only use medical cannabis you’ve bought from a Utah medical cannabis pharmacy.
- Do not smoke or burn unprocessed cannabis flower (it is legal to vape).
- Do not vape medical cannabis in public (indoors and outdoors) unless it’s a medical emergency.
When is medical cannabis not a good treatment option?
Medical cannabis may not be a good treatment for everyone, especially if you have some other health conditions. Talk to your doctor before you use medical cannabis if you also have one of these conditions.