Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana. By Our Student Pharmacist, Laken Barnette.

May 16th, 2021

What is it?

Before we talk about marijuana, we first need to dive into the plant that it comes from: Cannabis sativa. Cannabis sativa or “cannabis” is a naturally occurring plant that contains roughly 540 different chemical substances including more than 100 unique chemical structures called cannabinoids.

The two most common cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

Marijuana refers to the parts or products from cannabis that contain a substantial amount of THC. Cannabis plants that have very little THC (<0.3%) are known as hemp. Since the bill signed in late 2018 removing hemp as a Schedule 1 substance, hemp-derived CBD use has skyrocketed across the nation and is expected to increase even more in the coming years. While hemp is federally legal, marijuana is not. However, 36 states, including Ohio, have either legalized marijuana for medical use only or for all adults over the age of 21.

How does it work and what is it used for?

Within our bodies, we have an endocannabinoid system where the natural endocannabinoids our bodies make bind. THC and CBD also bind to these receptors causing different effects. The two main receptors are the CB1 and CB2 receptors. The graphic below shows where in the body each of these receptors occur. CBD can only bind to CB2 receptors, which naturally occur in the gut and immune system. THC can bind to both CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and nervous system and are responsible for the “euphoria” that occurs when using products with THC.

So, what can THC and CBD do?

Below are just some of the effects that each can have on the body. When THC and CBD are used together, they create an “entourage effect”, meaning that they work together. For example, CBD can help combat some of the potentially negative psychoactive side effects of THC such as anxiety.

What are the Ohio laws on medical marijuana?

On September 8, 2016, Ohio legalized medical marijuana. Patients with certain medical conditions can purchase and use medical marijuana upon the recommendation of an Ohio-licensed physician.

Currently, there are 22 approved conditions:

If a patient has one of the above conditions and would like to enroll in the program, they need to locate and visit a physician who is certified to recommend medical marijuana (a list of these physicians is located on the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program website).

Since COVID-19, the State Medical Board of Ohio met and voted to allow telemedicine appointments instead of requiring in-person office visits. Once the physician has met with the patient and has decided that they would benefit from medical marijuana, the physician must submit their recommendation to the Patient Registry. This is where the patient can pay their registration fee and receive their medical marijuana card. After these steps, the patient can visit any of the 52 dispensaries located in Ohio and purchase medical marijuana. The recommendation is only good for one year after the date obtained and must be renewed annually with a physician who is certified to recommend.

For more information on medical marijuana and Ohio’s program, feel free to stop in any time during the month of May and I will answer any questions you may have! You can also email me: barnette.31@osu.edu

Links to resources:

Quick Reference Guide: How to Obtain Medical Marijuana

https://medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/Documents/PatientsCaregivers/Ohio%20Medical%20Marijuana%20Control%20Program%20-%20Patient%20and%20Caregiver%20Quick%20Reference%20Guide.pdf

Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program

https://medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/

Sources:

Berke, J., Gal, S., & Lee, Y. J. (2021, April 14). Marijuana legalization is sweeping the US. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.nl/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1?international=true&r=US

Cannabis (marijuana) and cannabinoids: What you need to know. (2019). National Center for

Complementary and Integrative Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cannabis

marijuana-and-cannabinoids-what-you-need-to-know

Desjardins, J. (2019, March 11). Comparing THC vs. CBD: What’s the difference? VisualCapitalist.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/thc-vs-cbd-difference/