Dosage for medical marijuana versus hydrocodone

Hello @jerseygirl926, thank you for starting a new discussion about medical marijuana. We have a large amount of members discussion marijuana on Connect across many conversations. A few members have specifically talked about New Jersey and the New York area, although no one has specifically mentioned marijuana versus hydrocodone this may be a good place to start the conversation.

I would like you to meet @medic7054, @tonyc55, @upnorthnancy, and @chefbrown who have all talked extensively about the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of chronic pain as well as other ailments.

@jerseygirl926, have you discussed weaning off of hydrocodone by using medical marijuana with your medical provider? Does he or she advise this as a viable option?

Take vaping and 60%thc and 40%cbd and will get you off the opioids

Normally, the higher the level of THC the more pain control is seen. Vaping is instantaneous, but edibles are less psychogenic, so have less mental/cognitive side effects (less of head high). You can take the cannabis oil from the vape pen and use it as a base for cooking and making edibles if you desire.

I get medical MJ in NY, but they only offer a mix of indica and sativa, no choice of strains. I use a medium dose THC:CBD (7:1) vape pen and use as needed to take the edge off my pain. The only issue is cognitive side effect. Hard to get stuff done if you are "high" all day.

I never used opiates long term as they make me very irritable, and weren't too effective for my type of neurological pain. Friends I have that became addicted to opiates had good success with Nalaxone to get off the opioids period. It blocks the receptor so the opiates do not work.

mcpucho, welcome to Connect. Thank you for jumping in to this conversation and giving a thorough response about medical marijuana. It is also helpful that you are from NY.

@jerseygirl926, does this answer help with your initial question regarding medical marijuana, vaping or smoking?

@mcpucho, you mentioned that you use medical marijuana to take the edge off of your pain, if you are comfortable would you share what causes your pain?

Taking 50/50 THC/CBD since august. In Minnesota they make a pleasant tasting oil solution or vaping. I also have a 100% THC oral spray for breakthrough pain which I seldom have to use. I chose the oil solution and oral spray over the vaping. The pharmacist said they are trying to get approval in pill form. I love the results I have received.

medic7054 thank you for your input regarding medical marijuana. I live in MN also and I am looking for a provider to get a card from so I can go to a dispensary. Would you be willing to share yours or do you have any suggestions for me?~

First you need a referral from your reg. doctor sent to:
Advanced Spine and Pain Clinics of Mn. ( there are several locations, but I used this one due to location).
7373 France Ave So.
Suite 606
Edina, Mn. 55435
612-207-7463
They will call you to set up an appointment with a MD or PA to determine IF you would benefit from Med. Cannabis. (cost $250)
You then determine which of their several dispensaries is most convenient for you.
At the dispensary a pharmacist will determine what blend of THC & CBD would be best for your level/type of pain. ( pharmacist cost $250 for evaluation).
A tech will then fill the prescription and bill you for the meds. (cost varies, but mine is about $250 for a month's supply.
There are no more fees for service, only for the meds.
After this, you return to the dispensary monthly to pick up the goods. They cannot mail it as it is still illegal to mail MJ because the use has not been legalized nationally. PLUS, you need either cash or a debit card. I am not sure about checks as I rarely use them myself.
There is another company that does the same thing, but this is just the one I chose.

Good luck and keep me posted as to results or problems.

Here in Oregon, there's also an annual expense for the green card from the state of $200. And the physician visit is annual, too.

Thanks so much for your reply. Sorry for my delay in replying but it was a busy month of December and I hadn't gone on my chat boards in a while.

I have spoken to my Rhuematologist and my internist about "lessening" the amount of drugs I am taking and using medical marijuana because of the natural properties versus synthetic drugs. The good news is I have stopped using my sleeping pill at night and I sleep wonderfully using a strain called blueberry krush. It has thc, thca, cbd, cbda, cbn. It does make me sleepy and I am actually dreaming again!

Not as much luck finding something for daytime use. The strains I have tried make me too groggy to function during day and don't relieve the pain enough. I am currently vaping because only one dispensary (2 hours away) has oral losengers and creams. My husband is driving me there today so I can buy some to try to use during day. I can tell you that my prescription for hydrocodone lasted me 10 extra days this month. A big achievement!

Thanks so much for sharing such good info!!!

Thanks for your input!