The quarterly newsletter from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers a variety of helpful information, including program updates. In the most recent newsletter, HHS even offered tips on finding the right medical cannabis dose.
As longtime medical cannabis users know, doctors don’t write traditional prescriptions for products like gummies, vapes, and tinctures. That can make things a little difficult for visitors to our Salt Lake City and Brigham City pharmacies. Put another way, how can patients know which products to buy and the correct dosage for each administration?
3 Suggestions From HHS
The staff at both Beehive Farmacy locations are more than happy to help patients figure things out. More on that in a minute. But first, HHS offers three suggestions in the latest newsletter. Here they are:
1. Talk With Your Providers
The first suggestion is to talk with your providers about your medical condition, symptoms, and goals. HHS specifically mentions two providers: your doctor (or advanced practice nurse) and the pharmacist at the local medical cannabis pharmacy. Both are licensed and medically qualified to offer you sound advice.
The state recommends asking their advice on the types of products you should look at and how much to try with each dose. Always bear in mind the ‘low and slow’ approach, an approach that suggests you use the least amount possible that the lowest frequency to find the symptom relief you are after.
2. Keep a Tracking Journal
Next up is keeping a tracking journal. Although the state publishes a free PDF journal that you can download from their website, you can create your own journal as you see fit. In this journal, you will write down:
- The date and time you medicated.
- The type of product you used and the dosage.
- How it made you feel, including any side effects.
Keeping the journal day-by-day gives you a running record of how medical cannabis is working for you. You can use that information to make adjustments to your medication plan.
3. Combine the Two
HHS’s third suggestion is to essentially combine the first two suggestions by sharing your tracking journal with your medical providers. The information can help your doctor and pharmacist understand how medical cannabis is working for you. With that advice and answers to the questions they might ask, they can give you more sound advice on dosage and delivery method.
Also bear in mind that delivery method could impact dosage. For instance, you might experience more relief using vapes at lower doses as compared to gummies at higher doses. That is something for you and your medical providers to work on together.
Our Team Is Here for You
Finding out how you can most benefit from medical cannabis is likely going to be a journey rather than a one-off experience. We want you to know that the Beehive Farmacy team is here for you. Do not hesitate to ask questions or consult our pharmacist for qualified medical advice.
State law requires that we have a pharmacist on-site whenever our doors are open. Each of our pharmacists are licensed to practice pharmacy in Utah. They have also been certified by the state to distribute medical cannabis. They are the most qualified individuals to help you figure out the best dose and delivery method for you.
If you are new to medical cannabis, welcome aboard. Both of our locations stock a full selection of medical cannabis products available with a valid medical cannabis card. We are here to help you make the most of your medical cannabis journey.
