Medical Cannabis: A Checkbox or Real Care?
Let’s set the scene: you’ve tried everything. The pills didn’t work. The specialists shrugged and referred you to another specialist. You’re at the end of your rope, desperate for relief. Then, finally, your doctor mentions cannabis. For a moment, you feel a glimmer of hope—until you realize that “recommend cannabis” means sending you to a dispensary to chat with whomever happens to be behind the counter trying to sell to you, and with zero guidance. It’s like getting directions to a party but no address or time, and the party may or may not be a total waste of time & money. Frustrating? Absolutely.
For all its promise, medical cannabis often feels like it’s stuck in a bureaucratic loop. A quick visit, a fee, and a shiny new medical card—then off you go to figure it all out yourself. Dispensaries, while staffed with passionate people, aren’t equipped to replace the nuanced guidance patients need. Sure, the word “medical” sounds legit, but when there’s no real relationship between patient and provider, can we really call it care? It’s more like, “Here’s your card, good luck!”
Think about this: 91% of medical schools in the U.S. don’t teach anything about cannabis. Doctors aren’t dodging the conversation because they’re indifferent—they’re just not equipped to have it. Meanwhile, seniors and patients with chronic pain or serious conditions like Crohn’s are turning to cannabis as an alternative to medications that come with a laundry list of side effects. But without real guidance, they’re left to rely on trial and error—a process that’s neither comforting nor particularly safe.
This isn’t a rant; it’s a call to rethink what medical cannabis could be. Imagine a system where doctors and patients collaborate on personalized plans, where recommendations don’t stop at the dispensary door, and where “medical” means more than a checkbox. We’re not there yet, but we could be. And frankly, shouldn’t we be? Patients deserve better, and it’s time to start expecting more from a system that can and should work for everyone. 🌿✨
For more on the Commonwealth Project: https://commonwealthproject.org
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