Medical vs Recreational Marijuana: A Face-Off Guide

What is medical marijuana?

In the last two decades, more benefits of marijuana are coming to light. People are using the therapeutic properties of the plant to help them combat various physical and psychological ailments. Besides that, plenty of studies and research proves the medicinal properties of the plant. There are hundreds of different chemical compounds called cannabinoids in marijuana. Among them, CBD and THC are the most prominent. CBD or Cannabidiol is a medicinal and non-psychoactive compound, whereas THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol can induce a high. The cannabinoids can communicate with the endocannabinoid system to alter bodily processes and help fight ailments.

What is recreational marijuana?

As the name suggests, recreational marijuana is nothing but using the herb for your own enjoyment. The cannabis plant can affect and alter one's consciousness to induce a euphoric state. The cannabinoid THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol is a psychoactive cannabinoid that can induce a high. People have been smoking marijuana or ‘weed' (as it's often called) to calm the mind and body.

Medical vs Recreation Marijuana - How are they different?

Now that you know what medical and recreational marijuana is, let's find out how they are different from one another. Here are some pointers to help understand the difference:

1. Potency Limit

When it comes to the effects of marijuana, it depends upon the number of cannabinoids that are present. It is also known as the potency of the marijuana plant. People often believe that qualified patients for medical marijuana need more potency than recreational users. Higher amounts of CBD and THC can help them get much-needed relief from their ailment, be it physical or mental. While high CBD might help with pain and nausea, THC present in marijuana may help combat anxiety, insomnia, and stress. So, marijuana available at the designated Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) may be more potent than what you get from a local dispensary selling recreational marijuana.

2. Legality

When it comes to marijuana, legality is the biggest concern. Due to the laws governing the use of both medicinal as well as recreational marijuana, the herb has been in the grey area for too long. With more and more people using the herb to enjoy its health benefits, many states are legalizing medicinal use. They have set up official dispensaries and a complete system to ensure people get access to medical marijuana.
For some states, the legal status of marijuana is still a farfetched reality. It is not allowed to use marijuana, especially for recreational reasons, and can incur legal actions.

3. Quality

There is a stark difference in the two types of marijuana. The way the plant is grown, cultivated, and then processed can decide whether it can be used for medicinal reasons or recreational. Experts use a more controlled environment, and then the marijuana goes through a thorough process to ensure it's for medical reasons. They also keep a close check for pesticides. There are chances that cultivators can be a little careless when it comes to recreational marijuana. Here, medical marijuana can have an advantage and be cleaner and pure.

4. Costy

Another difference between the types of marijuana is cost. Although the actual cost is more or less the same, the only thing leading to price difference is taxation. The dispensaries selling medicinal marijuana get tax concessions compared to their recreational counterparts. So, you can get much more economical marijuana if you are a medicinal user, rather than a recreational one. Alternatively, one can try a Weed Budder for starters and achieve a cost-effective solution.

5. Access

If you think you can just go out and get marijuana, you are mistaken. There are proper rules and regulations that must be followed to buy the herb, whether it's for recreational reasons or medicinal. The laws governing the use of marijuana can also control accessibility.
When it comes to legal medical marijuana, you can access it by obtaining a medical marijuana card. However, recreational users cannot access the designated dispensaries and have no other way to access safe marijuana. The plant is readily and legally available primarily for those with medicinal uses, and not for leisure.

Final Verdict

In the last decade, marijuana is emerging as the ‘it' thing. From people using the herb to enjoy the high and relax after a tiring day to users adopting it as an alternative treatment, marijuana is transforming the lives of many. You can also get your hands on the best marijuana today, and enjoy its goodness.