Standards for medicinal vs. recreational cannabis, what’s the difference?
Consumers deserve the highest safety and testing standards for cannabis across the board.
For those who are new to the cannabis industry, things might be confusing initially. For instance, is there a difference between medical and recreational cannabis? The answer is, yes and no. There are some distinct differences in use, affect, cost and in the standards related to cultivation, labeling, etc., but there is also some crossover when it comes to usefulness and application from a health and wellness perspective.
I think, however, it’s important to establish one thing. While there are some differences between medical and recreational cannabis, the standards for both should be the same. When it comes to regulations, safety, testing and anything else that impacts consumer satisfaction and well being, the industry and all of its players, should treat them both equally. Otherwise, you are doing a disservice to the industry as a whole.
The cannabis industry already has trust issues, some legitimate, some not. We have to build that trust. Products have to be tested, and claims have to be validated. We have to remove all contradictions, ensure transparency and clarity in labeling, and do anything and everything we can to ensure consumers know what cannabis can do for them, and that it’s safe.
I’ll hop off my soap box for a moment, however, to share some of the current differences between medical and recreational cannabis. In states where cannabis is legal, you need identification to procure it, whether it’s recreational or medical. Anyone over 21, with a few exceptions, can purchase recreational cannabis with a valid ID. In certain medical circumstances a patient under the age of 21 can be awarded a medical cannabis card if they show good cause. But you do need a doctor’s prescription to procure medical cannabis, even though the FDA has not yet recognized the cannabis plant as medicine.
Medical vs. recreational
Of course, there are differences in the effects for medical and recreational cannabis — that’s a whole other article — but there is also some crossover from a healing perspective. The differences are mainly in the strain. But the healing is real.
Cannabis can trace its roots back to China around 2737 BC. It has been used to treat the body for a very long time. It was medicine for everything from absent mindedness, to constipation, rheumatism and gout. Fast forward to today. Cannabis is still used to treat a variety of ailments such as: appetite loss, Alzheimers, Crohn’s disease, cancer, eating disorders, mental health issues, muscle spasms, chronic pain, nausea, and the list goes on.
Cannabis has more than 100 natural chemical compounds, and each cannabinoid has a different effect on the body. There are two main cannabinoids, however, THC and CBD. Medical cannabis typically has less THC and higher CBD. So, there is less of a psychotropic effect and in some cases zero.
Recreational cannabis typically has higher THC, but I believe that all cannabis is medicinal in some way. I know that’s a bold statement, but like the medical cannabis consumer, isn’t the recreational user using cannabis to relieve or to enhance some physical or mental state?
THC gives you a “high,” CBD does not. Studies have shown that higher CBD actually reduces the mind altering effects of THC, and that CBD is a viable treatment for certain mental illnesses. It’s effects depend on what you want to use it for, and what effects you want to experience, but whether recreational or medical, cannabis is a healer.
Quality counts
In addition to the quandary over which is of higher quality, there is also some debate over whether or not medicinal dispensaries should be obligated to provide higher quality cannabis than recreational. But again, I posit that “higher quality” cannabis is an esoteric concept. All cannabis should be consistently high quality. Meaning, it should be free of toxins, reliable, accurately represented and easy for the average consumer to understand and select. Where consumers acquire cannabis is irrelevant. If it’s sold legally, there should be absolutely no questions over safety.
Now, I do believe that a medical dispensary has an obligation to provide more information on a particular strain’s effects for a particular ailment. For me, that is where the real debate lies. However, that’s not always an easy thing to do. Dispensaries have to rely on a cultivator’s information to know what a strain does. The cultivator has information on the strain’s specific qualities, purity and ratios along with its ability to treat a particular condition. That’s very important for medical cannabis patients, who often need to find a reliable and consistent strain.
My contention that all cannabis is in some way treating a condition also applies to its effects. The consumer, whether he or she is a patient or a recreational user, still expects cannabis to provide a safe, consistent and reliable desired “effect.” Unlike alcohol, where the desired effect is to get buzzed or drunk, depending on the strain and the method of ingestion, cannabis can have a number of desired effects.
Which leads neatly back to the quality concern. Ultimately, consumers’ desire for consistency and quality is why I think that all dispensaries, recreational or medical, should be obligated to provide clean, consistent, toxin free reliable chemical compounds of THC, CBD, terpenes, etc.
The cultivator’s responsibility
The desire for quality begins at the source, or the cultivation facility. Every state has different rules and regulations that apply to medical vs. recreational cultivation. These rules can be arbitrary, and they can have an effect on the end user. The industry is evolving though. Not so long ago, most states had a significantly lower testing standard for recreational than medical cannabis.
However, to be truly satisfactory, for me, across the board cannabis ratios — THC and CBD — need to be more accurate, the labeling needs to be more concise, and the purity/toxicity held to higher standards. Fortunately, as competition scales higher, the industry is changing. Many cultivators are stepping up their game in states where recreational cannabis is legal, and state testing requirements are increasing accordingly.
Standards are rising
I’m not alone in thinking that all cannabis should be held to a higher, universal standard. Yes, there is a difference in testing requirements in different states, and medical cannabis receives more scrutiny, but that does not mean that recreational cannabis is inferior. It comes down to trust — can consumers trust specific brands?
Cultivating consumer trust is as critical as cultivating effective cannabis strains. Cannabis, like any other product, has to be subject to stringent testing to ensure safety, and to ensure that any claims made have been properly validated. But whether its recreational or medical cannabis, the standards should be the same — and these standards should be high. Otherwise the industry as a whole will suffer.
