Patients that are residents of North Carolina and have a qualifying medical condition will be able to obtain a North Carolina marijuana card once the bill for its legal use has been passed. If that day comes, many patients would like to know which cannabis product they could purchase in North Carolina. Although until the bill passes, it is impossible to know what types of marijuana products will be available. If we use the text of Senate Bill 711 (SB 711) as it sits in its current form as a guide to help predict the various forms of medical marijuana which could be available at North Carolina cannabis dispensaries when medical marijuana finally arrives in Tar Heel State. The North Carolina Compassionate Care Act or SB 711 is closer to passing in 2022 than it was in 2021, so patients should not lose hope. Therefore, using SB 711 as a reference and the bill has made it clear the type of marijuana that will be legal if passed.
Topical medical marijuana
If SB 711 passes in its current form, patients would be allowed to apply medical marijuana on their skin, either through “topical preparations” or “transdermal preparations.” This route of administration of medical marijuana has shown some advantages of being mild and gentle on the lungs and stomach. The dermatic application also offers the ability to provide targeted relief. In cancer patients, such formulations can be applied to the hands and feet to relieve the tingling sensation from radiotherapy treatments and for reducing pains in some common parts of the body in patients with Multiple sclerosis.
Oral routes for medical marijuana
SB 711 has also made provision for the oral administration of medical marijuana through tablets, capsules, lozenges, gummies, and sublingual preparations. With this form of administration, there will be accurate dosing of the medicine as the drug is metabolized and absorbed either through swallowing or placing it under the tongue. Oral routes of medical cannabis administration make precise dosing easier. According to Dr. Andrew Talbott, medical advisor to the Utah-based medical marijuana advocacy group TRUCE, “the effects of the orally ingested medical marijuana takes time to manifest and as a result, inexperienced patients tends to take more additional doses even before the effects of the first dose begins to take effect. This can result in taking too high of a dose and increased risk of adverse side effects. However, once patients have determined the actual dose that they need, the capsules, tablets, lozenges, and even the soft jelly will allow easy and precise dosing.
There are sublingual preparations, most commonly known as Tinctures. Tinctures are concentrated extracts from plants obtained by soaking the peels, leaves, berries, or roots of one or more plants in alcohol or some other solvent. Tinctures can also be made using an oil base. These combinations of oil, alcohol and other solvents extract the active ingredients from the parts of the plant and concentrate them into liquid form. Traditionally, tinctures are alcohol-based, and if North Carolina passes a medical marijuana bill into law, you may be able to purchase marijuana tinctures in North Carolina. Tinctures can be taken sublingually or swallowed with food or drink, so they are a versatile way of helping patients achieve accurate dosing of cannabis products.
With sublingual administration, you place the medicine under your tongue for a period of time which allows the natural medicine to be absorbed through the mouth. The principal active ingredients in the preparation are directly absorbed into the bloodstream and typically work within 20 minutes or less. Also, because tinctures are not absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract unless it is co-administered with food or drink, they may have milder effects on the patient’s stomach than other orally administered drugs. Finally, tinctures come in formulations that clearly state the CBD contents, which means they can offer more medicinal and palliative values with minimal or milder adverse effects than some other forms of medical marijuana. If North Carolina establishes a medical cannabis program, one of the huge benefits will be that patients will have confidence about what is in their medication. The proposed legislation SB 711 states that medical cannabis product contents will have to be verified by independent state-licensed laboratories.
Certain forms of Medical Marijuana are likely to be banned at least initially in North Carolina
The SB 711 legislation in its current form explicitly bans the consumption of medical marijuana either “by smoking, inhalation or vaping.” With this, one of the popular means of cannabis dosing is likely to be banned if the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act passes. A popular method of consuming cannabis is the use of inhalers or nebulizers, which involve the inhalation of active ingredients such as THC and CBD. This method has usually been regarded as the healthiest among the three and often one of the more popular methods for consuming marijuana. The inhalers and nebulizers usually avoid the residual solvents found in vaporizer oils. Many patients consider vaporizing healthier than smoking because the residual solvents are found in small quantities, and they are not actively burning plant material. However, there is not enough research on the effects of vaping, so there is no way to know if vaping is any safer than smoking. Even though the methods of consuming marijuana above will most likely be banned in North Carolina, many patients still prefer this method of administering their cannabis dose. The major reason why medical marijuana patients still opt for smoking marijuana is that these routes of administration deliver its effects more rapidly than other methods, such as pills or sprays. The faster onset of the medication allows patients to use this natural medicine at the first sign of symptoms to try and prevent them from worsening.
In addition to its quick onset of action, the natural flower form of medical marijuana is typically less expensive than other more processed forms of cannabis and also has the advantage of being more familiar to many patients. There is less cost in its production, therefore, which can translate to lower pricing at the cannabis dispensaries. For instance, in Minnesota, cannabis flower has been added to the medical marijuana market, and this decision is expected to boost participation in the state’s program. Keep in mind that Minnesota’s medical marijuana market has struggled to develop due to the exorbitant prices of the products. If you are worried about the type of medical marijuana that will be made available once North Carolina establishes a medical marijuana program & online marijuana classes, remember it is easier to expand a medical marijuana program than to create a new one. In 2021, Texas and Minnesota expanded their medical marijuana programs with ease.
No matter what medical marijuana law North Carolina eventually passes, there will most likely be adjustments, and changes as patient participation increases and North Carolina residents become more familiar with the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis. The more education that patients receive, the less likely they are to fall victim to the myths and stigmas associated with medical marijuana.
Joe Webster is a freelance writer and editor living in Illinois. He studied creative writing at the University of Missouri and is known for his vibrant stories and unique take on topics. Joe has been writing and editing for over six years and loves exploring different cultures and languages. He is passionate about making meaningful connections with readers, enabling them to grow through his writing.
