It’s Time to Turn Over a New Leaf
Does the idea of turning over a new leaf for 2021 sound appealing? If your answer is “yes,” then here’s one particularly amazing leaf to turn — it comes from the cannabis sativa plant, which is the source of both CBD, hemp and medical cannabis products.
Information on the benefits offered by this plant has been held up for basic reasons such as legalities and social stigma. But, it’s also been due to the fact that the bodily system upon which cannabis acts has only been discovered in the last 40 years! Now, however, research shows us that we have an extensive endocannabinoid system. “Endo-” meaning internal and “cannabinoid” relating to the family of molecules that work within this system, whether plant or human derived. In other words, your body is already producing it’s own cannabinoids!
Much like how endorphins activate our opiate receptors, internal substances like anandamide, 2-AG, etc. act within the endocannabinoid system. For example, the mild elation, mental clarity and pain-killing effects of the classic “runner’s high” is now being attributed to endocannabinoids.
What overall role does this endocannabinoid system play?
In a very simplistic sense we can think of it as a natural check on our nervous system, and as such, it has far-reaching effects. From a psychological standpoint, these are effects as reducing pain, insomnia and seizure threshold. Physically, it translates to reduced inflammation, benefiting our digestive tract, immune system, joints, cardiovascular system and more.
As a pharmacist it has been quite eye-opening to learn more about just how beneficial cannabis can be. Learning from reading is one thing, but hearing the phrase “life-changing” from patients multiple times each day is so impactful!
The Mental Impact
Patients’ major hesitation towards using medical cannabis is that of not wanting to feel mentally or physically altered in a way that affects their everyday life. So, that becomes the goal: helping people find relief while not feeling mentally impacted.
This is made possible by a few key factors. First, it is important to note that there is a spectrum of effect. This means that the dose of medical cannabis needed to control the symptoms is ideally less than a dose that will produce unwanted psychoactive effects. Also, because the medicine is made up of more than just THC (tetrahydrocannabidiol), the substance in the cannabis sativa plant associated with the mental “high” that marijuana is known for. The cannabis plant contains over a hundred cannabinoids and terpenes which, together, impart a synergistic and therapeutic effect. Understanding the role of THC can help you determine which form of cannabis may be most beneficial for you — over-the-counter CBD or medical cannabis.
Approved Conditions for CBD in Utah
One may find that over-the-counter CBD and the family of identified cannabinoids are beneficial in providing the needed relief for many conditions, ranging from pain and insomnia, to any number of inflammatory issues. When they do not provide the desired effect, and the issue falls under any of those listed below, medical cannabis may be beneficial instead. Medical cannabis may even allow for the discontinuation of other pharmaceutical agents.
Conditions Approved for the Use of Medical Cannabis in Utah:
Chronic pain (Can be especially beneficial if there is a nerve component)
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Ulcerative Colitis / Crohns
Cancer (Can be beneficial in alleviating symptoms such as nausea & loss of appetite)
Alzheimer’s Disease
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
HIV
Nausea
Cachexia
Autism
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Epilepsy
In Conclusion
Alpine Apothecary offers a selection of quality full-spectrum or isolate-derived CBD products which meet the stringent specifications set forth by the Utah Department of Health guidelines for cannabinoid potency. These are also required by federal law to contain less than 0.3% THC and are therefore not psychoactive.
If you feel your needs may be better met by a medical cannabis product, check in with Deseret Wellness. They have been helping patients in Provo since September and will be opening a Park City pharmacy in February 2021. Until then, you can find useful medical cannabis information on their website or search for @deseret.wellness on Instagram and Facebook.
To be notified of virtual help sessions on obtaining a cannabis card, or for any specific questions, email Karin Carestia at kcarestia@deseret-wellness.com. To apply for a card, please visit the Utah state website here.
This AlpineRx Blog article was guest written by Karin Carestia, PharmD, of Deseret Wellness.