Most people believe that the difference between medical and recreational strains of cannabis is that one is used to treat certain health conditions or illnesses while the other is used recreationally to get high. However, the actual differences have more to do with the person smoking them than the strain they’re smoking. Whether it’s used for medicinal or recreational purposes, we’ve witnessed a growing popularity in balancing the cannabinoid profiles in question.
6 Ways that Medical Marijuana differs from the Recreational Strains
That being said, the following is an outline of the primary differences between medical and recreational cannabis. There are practical distinctions involved when there is a common market for both strains. These include:
- Accessibility – generally speaking, recreational marijuana is less accessible than its medical counterpart. For instance, more states in the US have legalized the medicinal strains versus the recreational ones. Furthermore, you only need to be 18 years of age to get a prescription for medical marijuana whereas you must be 21 to purchase the recreational varieties.
- Consumption – one area where we see a very clear distinction between the two strains is the method of consumption. Even though you can smoke cannabis in whichever way you feel best facilitates your needs, those individuals classified as medical cannabis users will most likely use fewer traditional methods.
- Effects – the higher the concentration of THC, the much stronger the resulting effect will be. For individuals who desire or need regular treatment, recreational cannabis may be inappropriate. Unlike recreational cannabis, the more balanced medicinal strains will not inhibit your ability to live your life in normal fashion.
- Potency – the medical cannabis that is being produced today is somewhat less potent than the recreational strains. In this case, “potency” isn’t referring to the cannabinoid content. It refers to the THC content. The reality is that the recreational strains typically have a lower concentration of other cannabinoids. Thus, it might be easier to get high when you smoke for pleasure.
- Quality – in some instances, medical cannabis is a higher quality strain. Whether this means that it was exposed to fewer pesticides, grown more carefully under stricter conditions, or subject to more quality control, the quality of medical cannabis tends to be a higher quality product because of how highly regulated it is.
- Variety – since the market’s definitions of medical marijuana is limited, so too is the variety of the strains that a user is likely going to find in dispensaries compared to that of the recreational strains. Even then there is a wide variety of options and flavors that you can try.