Medical Cannabis:
Strains and Doses
Hailie Rondeau and Rachel Hughes | RN Care Specialists, HumanaCare
Cannabis is a plant that has been
used by humans for centuries to
provide nourishment (such as
hemp hearts), create materials
(paper, cloth), and as a religious,
recreational, and medicinal drug.
In Canada, physicians are able
to prescribe diff erent strains of
cannabis for various medical
conditions, and anyone over the age
of 18 can purchase it for recreational
use. Although research on this
drug is still in progress, signifi cant
evidence suggests that cannabis is an
eff ective treatment for pain related
to arthritis, cancer, neuropathy, and
more. It may also be an eff ective
treatment for anxiety, depression,
OCD, and panic attacks by increasing
the amount of serotonin in the brain.
Some research also suggests that
THC in cannabis can help slow the
advancement of Alzheimer’s disease
by decreasing beta-amyloid protein
buildup in the brain.
24 | arta.net
Many Canadians are seeking
prescriptions for cannabis to
treat pain and have also started
self-medicating by frequenting
government-regulated dispensaries.
Regardless of an individual’s
reason for using cannabis, it is
essential to consider the facts
before consumption.
The two active components of
cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The
amount of each of these substances
varies with each strain of cannabis.
The main strains are Sativa, Indica,
and Ruderalis, which can be pure or
hybridized varieties. Each variety is
identifi ed by a name, often chosen
by the grower. An example is
Charlotte’s Web, which is a variety
named for the young girl with a
rare seizure disorder that it was
grown for. Most strains have a mix
of THC and CBD. THC causes the
psychoactive eff ects of cannabis, and
CBD causes the anti-infl ammatory
and anti-anxiety eff ects. Cannabis
strains with higher concentrations
of CBD are most eff ective for pain
relief due to its natural analgesic and
anti-infl ammatory properties. The
eff ects of cannabis vary according
to dose, strain, individual biology,
tolerance, medical condition, and
use of other medications.
Cannabis may have an “opioid-
sparing eff ect,” which means that
individuals who regularly use
opioids like Oxycodone see pain
relief with signifi cantly lower
doses when also using cannabis.
The anti-infl ammatory properties
of cannabis may be more potent
than steroids and non-steroidal
anti-infl ammatory drugs like Advil.
Cannabis not only successfully
provides pain relief, but can also
help reduce unpleasant eff ects
associated with pain, such as