5 Reasons Why Medical Cannabis’ Popularity Is Surging

Medical cannabis is not a new thing. As far back as 2,700 B.C. cannabis is documented as being used for medical purposes. It wasn’t until early in the 20th century that the medical benefits of cannabis were questioned, and even then, those ‘questions’ were motivated by political views and ambitions rather than by science.

In 1996 voters in California became the first in the nation to re-legalize medical cannabis, followed by many other states and countries. Between the mid-90s and 2012, the number of medical cannabis patients in legal states increased exponentially. That trend started to change in states that legalized cannabis for adult use post-2012.

Due to various factors, not the least of which is the ongoing pandemic, states are likely to see a resurgence of people signing up to become licensed medical cannabis patients and/or caregivers. Below are five reasons why patients would benefit from becoming a registered patient.

1. Easier Than Ever To See A Doctor

Thanks to technology, and current rules governing many state medical cannabis programs, patients can participate in a telemed exam from the comfort of their own homes. Instead of having to travel to a physical office to see a doctor that specializes in medical cannabis, now patients can see a doctor virtually. All it takes is a sufficient internet connection and common computer hardware.

2. Save Money Via Lower Dispensary Prices

A major benefit for people becoming a registered medical cannabis patient is to save money. In some states, cannabis products that are purchased by medical cannabis patients are exempt from the state’s cannabis tax. In addition to tax-related savings, most reputable cannabis dispensaries in adult-use states offer lower prices to patients. For patients that make purchases often, the savings can add up quickly.

3. Increased Cultivation Limits

In some states, becoming a patient allows people to cultivate more legal plants. For example, in Oregon, any residence with an adult living there can cultivate up to 4 mature cannabis plants for adult-use purposes. A registered medical cannabis patient can also cultivate an additional 6 mature plants, for a total of 10 plants. With the ongoing pandemic limiting many people’s ability to travel frequently, the additional harvest allows people to produce more cannabis at home and lowers the need to travel to a dispensary.

4. Increased Possession Limits

Even if someone doesn’t want to cultivate their own cannabis, they can still benefit from being a registered medical cannabis patient from an increased limit standpoint via increased possession limits in some states. Just as people need to stock up on various other essential items these days, so too do they need to be able to possess more cannabis. Using Oregon as an example, medical cannabis patients can possess up to 24 ounces, in addition to adult-use possession limits.

5. Increased Product Potency Limits

Some adult-use states have different potency limits for medical cannabis edible products. Using Oregon as an example again, for some people, the current adult-use THC milligram limit in Oregon for cannabis edibles is sufficient. However, for many people suffering from one or more debilitating health conditions, the current 50 mg per edible limit is not enough. The THC content limit for medical cannabis products is twice as much compared to adult-use products, which helps patients save money, in addition to providing a stronger dosage that many patients need to treat their condition(s).