To get a medical cannabis card, a medical doctor must determine that medical cannabis would be an effective treatment option for a medical condition you have. To do this, the physician must decide that medical cannabis could make an improvement in your day-to-day life to control your medical condition.

When it comes actually to purchasing medical cannabis, once you have your card, your doctor will give you a recommendation. As medical cannabis is still relatively new, there may be a bit of trial and error in finding the right product and dosage. 

1. Know Why You Need It

Before you head down to a medical marijuana dispensary, it is essential to know what you want the cannabis to help you with. Working with your doctor, you should write down any relevant information about your medical condition and the symptoms associated with it. Know which of the symptoms you want to treat with cannabis.

This will make it easier for you to find the right product when you step inside the dispensary. You will be able to tell the budtenders the conditions or side-effects you want help with, and they will be able to find a product that meets those needs.

2. Consider the Consumption Method

Second, it is essential to consider how you want to take your medical cannabis. A classic method is to smoke dried flowers; it is an easy-to-access method that doesn't cost much to get started. You can smoke using rolling paper or a pipe. However, this isn't a great method if you have breathing issues.  

Vaporizing is a more discreet method and doesn't have some of the same health consequences as smoking. You do have to invest in more equipment with this method. However, it can also impact your lungs and can be detrimental if you have a breathing condition. Talk to your doctor if you are considering smoking or vaporizing as an intake method. 

You can also eat edibles, such as gummies, which are easy to transport, discreet, and don't require you to purchase any additional equipment. You can also get more controlled dosages this way.

There are also topical methods you can use, such as creams or oils. This is great for treating things such as localized pain and inflammation, but these methods will not help with things such as nausea or sleeping issues.

3. Be Careful with Dosages

When you first start to use cannabis, be careful with the dosage. You don't know how your body will respond to each product or what your body will need. 

That is why it is best to stick to a lower dosage to start with and give any product you try a few hours to see how it impacts your body. Then, adjust the dosage upwards until you get the relief that you are looking for.

With medical cannabis, you can work together with your doctor and the budtenders to find the right products and dosage to treat your condition. Know what you want the cannabis to help you with, choose a consumption method that works with your lifestyle, and be careful with the dosage.