Start Low, Go Slow: Starting Medical Cannabis Carefully

Getting a medical cannabis certification is one step. Using a product safely for the first time is another, and it is where many people feel least sure of themselves. The safest approach is simple: start with a small amount, give it time, and write down what happens.

Why Start Low and Go Slow

People respond to cannabis in very different ways. Your weight, age, other medicines, whether you have eaten, and the product itself can all change how strongly you feel it. A dose that suits one person can be far too much for another.

Taking too much is not just unpleasant. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that cannabis can cause dizziness on standing, which may raise the risk of fainting and falls, and that cannabis use is linked to a higher risk of injury in older adults. It also notes that research on cannabis for many conditions is still in its early stages. Starting low gives you room to learn how your body responds.

We do not give dosing numbers in this guide, because the right amount depends on you and your product. Your clinician or the dispensary pharmacist can advise. In Minnesota, for example, a pharmacist or certified consultant consults with medical patients at key points, such as a first purchase.

Going slow also applies to changes. Try one new product or form at a time, so you can tell what caused any effect you notice. Avoid mixing cannabis with alcohol, and tell your clinician about every medicine and supplement you take, including CBD. NCCIH notes that CBD has been linked to interactions with other drugs.

How Fast Each Form Works

The biggest source of trouble for new patients is timing. How fast you feel effects depends on how you take cannabis.

The key lesson from the table: with anything you eat, drink or swallow, feeling nothing after half an hour does not mean it is not working. The CDC notes that eating or drinking cannabis can take longer to have an effect and may increase the chance of taking too much.

Keep a Symptom and Side-Effect Diary

A diary turns guesswork into something you and your clinician can use. It does not need to be fancy. A notebook or the notes app on your phone works well. Each time you take a product, write down:

• The date and time, and the product name and form.
• How much you took, as shown on the label or advised by the pharmacist.
• Whether you had eaten, and any alcohol or other medicines that day.
• When you first noticed effects, and how long they lasted.
• Your main symptom before and after, on a simple scale such as 0 to 10.
• Any side effects, such as dizziness, a racing heart, anxiety, sleepiness or nausea.

Bring your diary to follow-up visits. It helps your clinician spot patterns, side effects and possible interactions with your other medicines.

When to Call for Help

Call your clinician if you have side effects that worry you, if you are not sure how much to take, or if you start or stop another medicine. You can reach Will at (218) 274-4500 to set up a call or visit.

Store It Safely

Many edibles look like ordinary candy, snacks or baked goods. The CDC warns that children who eat THC products can become very sick, and NCCIH notes that many children have needed emergency care after eating cannabis products by accident. Pets are at risk too. Use this checklist at home:

• Keep all cannabis in a locked, childproof container.
• Store it out of reach and out of sight of children and pets.
• Keep products in their original labeled packaging.
• Never store edibles near regular snacks or in the fridge next to food.
• Do not use cannabis in front of children or let them see where it is kept.
• If a child or pet may have eaten some, call Poison Control or a vet right away, and call 911 for trouble breathing.

Next Steps

If you are still deciding, learn more about our medical cannabis evaluations. Already taking other medicines? Read about cannabis and medication interactions and driving, work and drug tests. You may also find our guide to CBD vs THC helpful.