Medical Marijuana

Like most medicines, medical marijuana works by altering the way your brain perceives pain.

Our bodies have cannabis-like chemicals that affect different processes, such as pain and inflammation. Cannabis or medical marijuana acts by activating the cannabinoid receptors in our brains that are involved in these processes, helping the chemicals in our body to work better.

The effects of marijuana can vary from patient to patient depending on several factors, like diet, dosage, the strain of marijuana, way of consumption, and biochemistry.

If you are in NJ or PA you can obtain medical marijuana if you have been diagnosed with one of the approved medical conditions in each state. A designated caregiver can also get them for you.

To register in the medical marijuana program and receive your medical marijuana card, you’ll have to go through an application process. This card will allow you to get your medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary.

One of our pain doctors can evaluate your condition to decide if you are suitable for this treatment. They will guide you through this process.

Each state has a list of approved medical conditions.

Medical marijuana in New Jersey has been approved for conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, chronic pain, inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s disease), intractable skeletal spasticity, migraine, and painful menstruation.

In PA, approved conditions include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies, severe chronic or intractable pain, among others.

If you have one of the qualifying conditions, you will need to visit a medical marijuana doctor in NJ who is registered in the program. The doctor will certify that you are eligible for medical marijuana.

You’ll need to maintain a bona fide relationship with the physician. This means that the patient-doctor relationship must have existed for at least a year, that the cannabis doctor has assessed your medical condition on at least 4 visits, or that they approve the use of medical marijuana after an extensive exam.

The next step to getting your MMP card. After the approval, pay the fees. You will receive your medical card within a few days. Then you'll be ready to obtain your medical marijuana at the dispensaries.

Many patients want to learn about medical cannabis and to consider it as a therapeutic option for them. However, they often feel embarrassed to talk about it due to the social stigma around marijuana.

Nevertheless, if you are interested in medical marijuana, you should be honest with your doctor about it. If you are in NJ or PA, at Premier Pain Doctors our doctors e will be happy to guide you and provide you with all the information and answers you need.

Patients can take medical cannabis in the following ways:

Inhalation. It has an instantaneous effect since it is rapidly absorbed by the body. You can inhale medical marijuana using a vaporizer, a pipe, or via smoking.

Sublingual, using oils or tinctures. This works quickly and is a suitable alternative for non-smokers.

Oral ingestion. You can take marijuana lozenges or edibles.

Topical application. Medical marijuana can be used in the form of ointments, gels, lotions, and others.

Your medical marijuana doctor will talk to you about potential side effects. However, in most cases, benefits tend to weigh more than risks.

Some of the possible side effects of medical marijuana are dizziness, hallucinations, low blood pressure, dry mouth, slowed reactions, altered appetite, memory loss, and increased heart rate, among others. It can also affect your coordination and your judgment.

If you are thinking about starting to use medical marijuana, you should always talk to your doctor about the risks.

They won’t recommend medical marijuana if you are under 18, have heart disease, have a history of psychosis or if you are pregnant.

You should not use any of the following while you are taking medical marijuana:

• Tranquilizers
• Alcohol
• Anticoagulants
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
• Protease inhibitors

You can only get medical marijuana in licensed dispensaries. Whether you are in NJ or PA, you can find a dispensary near you.

Cannabis plants have more than 100 cannabinoids. However, the 2 most studied chemical compounds are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). CBD and THC share many of the same medical benefits.

THC is known for producing a psychoactive effect. It also has properties that are useful in the treatment of pain, glaucoma, anxiety, and other health issues.

CBD doesn’t cause any euphoric feelings. When patients take medical marijuana that is CBD-dominant, they do not feel high. It can be used to treat several medical conditions, such as inflammation, pain, and migraines.

Many patients wonder if medical marijuana can lead to addiction. Like recreational marijuana, medical cannabis can lead to abuse, but most patients can use it without producing a physical or mental dependence on it.

Marijuana dependence risks are lower than those of other substances. Cannabis dependency is estimated to be about 9%, while nicotine dependency is 32% for nicotine, and alcohol’s, 15%. The addiction risk increases, however, if marijuana is used in adolescence.

Having a family history of addictive behavior increases this risk as well.

The only allowed forms of medical marijuana products in the state of New Jersey are oils, flowers (for vaporization), pills/capsules, and ointments.

Pennsylvania allows the use of medical cannabis in the form of pills/capsules, extracts (for inhalation or vaporization), liquids/tinctures, topicals (like gels), patches, and flowers.