With medical cannabis becoming more popular across the state with every passing quarter, it is not unusual for us to field questions regarding the conditions it can treat. People frequently ask about medical cannabis and arthritis. Is cannabis an effective arthritis treatment?
The first thing to know is that, as a cannabis pharmacy in Utah, Beehive Farmacy is only licensed to dispense medical cannabis. We are not a certified medical facility, nor do we have doctors and nurses on staff. Medical questions, other than those that would be appropriate for a licensed pharmacist, are better left for your medical provider.
Utah’s Qualifying Conditions List
The second thing to know is that Utah is extremely specific about the conditions for which medical cannabis can be utilized as an arthritis treatment. Arthritis is not one of those conditions, per se. However, both chronic and acute pain are on the state list.
This suggests that an arthritis patient suffering with chronic pain as a result of the disease could qualify for medical cannabis with the recommendation of a medical provider. The decision to recommend is ultimately left to a doctor, NP, or PA, so there are never any guarantees. Arthritis patients can only consult with their providers to see what they say.
More About Arthritis
Arthritis is a fairly common disease. Actually, it is a group of diseases that affect primarily the joints. It is a painful disease as well. It can make daily life extremely uncomfortable even under the best of circumstances. In the worst cases, arthritis patients are left debilitated by their disease.
There are multiple types of arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. The most common of all is osteoarthritis. This form of the disease is the result of normal wear and tear on the joints. Most people will experience it, at least to some degree, in their lifetimes.
Osteoarthritis is the result of cartilage deterioration. As a person ages, their body produces less cartilage. Meanwhile, existing cartilage is lost as cells die and are not replaced. If you know that cartilage provides a layer of cushioning between two bones in a joint, you probably understand why the disease causes pain.
Cartilage loss allows the bones to make direct contact. They grind on one another, which is what causes the pain. Most unfortunate is the fact that medical science hasn’t yet figured out how to naturally replace lost cartilage. So once osteoarthritis presents itself, a patient is stuck with it for life.
Ask Your Doctor About Cannabis
As an arthritis patient yourself, your pain may be minimal enough that you can manage it with over-the-counter medications and exercise. But if the pain is more serious, you might want to ask your doctor about using medical cannabis.
If your doctor is not a qualified medical provider (QMP) in the state of Utah, they can only recommend medical cannabis to up to 15 patients at a time. If your doctor has reached the limit or does not want to help you, there are plenty of QMP’s available throughout Utah. They can recommend cannabis to more than 1,000 patients at a time.
Just be aware that medical cannabis is not a cure for any form of arthritis. Rather, it is a medication that could help you manage pain. Getting the pain under control might also help you get your life back.
To purchase medical cannabis at Beehive Farmacy, you will need a valid state-issued medical cannabis card. You can get that card after visiting your doctor or QMP. After that, then you can register as a patient with Beehive Farmacy. For more information, check out the state’s medical cannabis website.
