While US federal law does not allow marijuana use, a growing number of states, including Oklahoma, have made its use legal for medical purposes provided a strict set of rules is followed.

The regulations are designed to prevent the misuse of marijuana and stipulate how much cannabis a user can have in his/her possession or how many plants the individual can cultivate.

In Oklahoma, medical marijuana is available in a wide range of products. While smoking works fastest, other ways of consuming the drug can be more effective. An increasing number of products are available that are non-intoxicating.

While the marijuana plant contains more than 120 different types of cannabinoid molecules, scientists now think that only one – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – causes intoxication.

While THC has recognized medical benefits, the non-intoxicating molecules may also be able to achieve the same results. Research is ongoing and cannabidiol (CBD) is the major alternative that is recognized as having a wide range of benefits to health. Other molecules getting attention have a range of acronyms that you may become familiar with including CBG, THC-V, CBC, and CBN.

CBD has been used successfully to treat people who suffer from inflammation, pain, anxiety, psychosis, and seizures. It helps to reduce nausea and vomiting. It is also used to combat neurodegenerative effects. 

One particular area of scientific interest is in understanding if CBD can help sufferers of epilepsy control their seizures.

The chemical structure of THCs is like a brain chemical known as anandamide. This similarity in structure is that which allows the body to recognize THC. These molecules regulate many physiological processes including mood, memory, appetite, pain, and metabolism. 

Consuming cannabis means these processes can be impacted in ways that can be both benevolent and problematic. It is the perceived health benefits that the use of medical marijuana In Oklahoma was approved in June 2018. The risks are the reason strict regulations exist to control its use.

Before buying medical marijuana from a dispensary in Oklahoma, the patient needs a consultation with a doctor. The doctor will decide whether to allow the use based on a prudent assessment of the health benefits being sought.

The consultation takes between 10 and 15 minutes and the doctor will be able to answer any questions about the treatment, etc. This might also be a good time to discuss the differences between a product that contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – which induces a high – and one that relies upon cannabidiol for its health benefits.

An organization such as Veriheal can help by managing the entire process of an individual applying for an Oklahoma medical marijuana card. Indeed, this company offers a state-of-the-art mobile app that streamlines the process.

There is a growing body of scientific opinion that believes cannabidiol can play a part in the control of epilepsy. It is a difficult area for scientific proof, given that epilepsy describes a group of neurological disorders of which the cause is unknown. The seizures that result are controllable with medication in about 70% of cases.

While many people who suffer from epilepsy are confident that marijuana stops their seizures, scientific evidence remains patchy. In part, this is because isolating the impact of CBD is difficult and also because federal regulations have discouraged widespread studies.

However, the widespread recognition of medical benefits of marijuana means that more research is underway into how a drug formulation of CBD can help control seizures. If successful, this will be a major step forward for sufferers.