In this article, we are listing down the top differences between Medical vs Recreational weed. But to understand the difference between the two marijuana, we must first know what marijuana is. Marijuana is also known as weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, Mary Jane and a variety of other terms is a greenish mixture of dried flowers of Cannabis Sativa.
Some people use it to smoke as a joint or a cigarette, while some also use it to brew tea and put in edible foods like brownies, cookies, or candies. Now that we know what marijuana is, let’s get into decoding the differences between Medical vs Recreational weed.
What is Medical Marijuana?
In recent times, there has been an increase in the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Cannabis (marijuana) has various medicinal benefits, irrespective of the form it is consumed in. The marijuana plant comprises over 100 chemicals which all have different effects on different body types. However, the two main chemicals used in the making of medicinal marijuana is Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which is a psychoactive compound in marijuana which is the element that produces the high and the other one is Cannabidiol or CBD which does not produce any psychoactive elements/effects.
Medicinal Cannabidiol has a higher rate of CBD oil which makes it easy to consume for patients and hence when they use it they don’t feel high, which is felt in regular marijuana. CBD oil which is found in medicinal marijuana has been proven to be an excellent remedy for several health-related conditions and illnesses. Marijuana with a high content of CBD oil has been scientifically demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and anti-anxiety properties.
What Is Regular Marijuana?
Regular or Recreational Marijuana is basically what we call pot/weed in day-to-day language. Regular marijuana has more of the THC oil in it which gives users the high for fun. Regular marijuana has no medical justification and it is not recommended for people to consume it who have severe health conditions. While the THC oil found in regular marijuana is beneficial for medical purposes, it is not ideal for patients to use it because of its psychoactive effects.
Difference Between Medical and Regular Marijuana
1. The Ratio of CBD Oil and THC Oil:
Medical Marijuana contains a higher content of CBD oil which means that when you consume it you are not high, because the CBD oil does not have any psychoactive effects, whereas, on the other hand, the THC oil is in higher number in regular marijuana which upon consuming gives the ‘high’ or stoned effect
to the people.
2. Legal Issues:
In most countries around the world, selling or consuming marijuana is considered to be a highly legal issue. This is where the difference between medical marijuana and regular marijuana comes to light. If you are caught with regular/recreational marijuana, depending on the country you are living in and the laws of the country, you can face some serious legal issues and are also expected to pay penalties in the form of fines.
If you want to enjoy a joint of marijuana/weed you will have to do it in hiding, as the consumption of the drug is illegal. In contrast to regular marijuana, many countries have started to realize the potential and need for medical marijuana which is used to cure patients of severe health conditions, and have made some exceptions in their laws regarding the selling and consumption of medical marijuana.
Despite many states and countries legalizing the use of medical marijuana, it is still pretty tough to get a hand with it. The legalized state of medical marijuana makes it more easily accessible and available.
3. Age Preference:
The next difference which is of the utmost importance for medical marijuana and regular marijuana is age preference. To buy regular/recreational marijuana in states/countries where it is legal you should be of the age of 21 or above. If you live in a state where recreational marijuana is legal and you are above 21, you can simply walk into a dispensary and get your hands on the regular marijuana showing your ID proof. If you are above 21 and your state allows, you can also get some pot and even grow it.
Similarly, for possessing medical marijuana, you should be of the age of 18 years or above. However, there are certain circumstances, in which people under the age of 18 can get a medical marijuana card. The only and most important factor to get medical marijuana is that you should be diagnosed with a severe medical condition that proves that you need medical marijuana.
The rules for getting medical marijuana to differ from state to state and country to country, so it’s better to do thorough research on the availability of medical marijuana in your state before you go searching for it.
4. Availability and Accessibility
You can buy medical marijuana from any regulated/licensed dispensary or any medical pot dispensary. Medical marijuana is legally accepted across the states and around the world, which makes its availability easy. The plant is available for those who are in dire need of it for medical purposes. Laws regarding medical marijuana have been drastically changed in the last few years, allowing it to reach its use to a wider audience.
On the other hand, laws regarding regular marijuana have only been stricter across the world. In many parts of the world, those found with recreational marijuana in areas where it is banned or illegal can face fines and jail time as well. In parts where marijuana has not been legalized, recreational cannabis is hard to find.
You can only buy recreational marijuana from dispensaries if your country has legalized the drug or you can alternatively buy it from off the streets (illegally). In contrast to medical marijuana, recreational marijuana faces a lot of legalities that hinder its availability.
5. Functional Varieties:
People always love the product that serves the purpose of more than one thing. Likewise, medical marijuana has a variety of purposes that it offers, compared to regular marijuana, which only offers one purpose. Medical marijuana is more versatile compared to regular marijuana and it helps in treating patients with severe health conditions like cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, etc.
Medical marijuana containing low THC oil and high CBD oil can be used by all age groups including the old and children, which boosts great health. Medical marijuana is even legal for children in some states due to its medical benefits.
As compared to regular marijuana, which can only be consumed by a specific age group, who are legally allowed to have it without getting too stoned/high/ distressed. Many people use regular marijuana for their fun and satisfaction, which restricts its use to one thing only. Regular marijuana is conned to a strict age limit in states that allow its use.
There are many differences between medical vs recreational weed, but in conclusion, although medical and regular marijuana comes from the same plant it’s up to you as to how you use it and gain benefits from it.