While recreational and medical dispensaries all have the same kind of business model and both offer cannabis products, there are actually a lot of differences between recreational and medical dispensaries and products. Below we’re breaking down some of the key differences between the two in terms of things like pricing, cannabinoids and quality.
What is Medical vs. Recreational Weed?
Medical weed, also known as medical cannabis or medical marijuana, is weed that comes from medical-only cannabis dispensaries. Medical dispensaries are licensed with the state and require people to have a doctor’s note or a med card to enter or shop at the dispensary. The flower and other THC/CBD products found at medical dispensaries are usually more potent than recreational products since they’re designed to be strong enough to be used as alternative therapies to debilitating medical conditions, and come recommended by doctors.
On the other hand, recreational weed comes from recreational dispensaries, which don’t require any type of special documentation other than a valid ID that says you’re 21 years or older. The cannabis products found here are similar to the ones in medical dispensaries, but extracts and edibles may have potency caps on them based on laws in certain states.
Medical Vs. Recreational Weed: Key Differences
While they both offer cannabis products, there are a few differences in pricing, potency, cannabinoid content, legal limitations, quality, and the overall shopping experience. Here’s everything you need to know:
Legality
The number one difference between medical dispensaries and recreational stores is the red tape around them. Medical marijuana is typically regulated and only purchasable by patients with a doctor’s recommendation or med card. Recreational weed, on the other hand, is legal to adults age 21 and older with a valid ID. In most cases, cannabis can be grown at home for medical or recreational use, but how much you’re allowed to grow and possess for either reason depends on the laws in the state you live in.
To take it a step further, the legal stuff surrounding cannabis can make it a little tricky to access or use. In some places, recreational weed is still illegal and people have to find and use weed illegally. This can lead people to serious fines or jail time in places where weed is still illegal.
In other places, medical cannabis programs are extremely limited and only available to people undergoing end of life care, so it can be hard for people to obtain recommendations to purchase, use or possess weed legally. They may also face fines or jail time if they disobey the laws. However, medical laws are becoming a lot more relaxed, so medical cannabis tends to be a little more accessible than recreational weed.
Price Difference
One of the most obvious differences between medical and recreational marijuana is the price. Generally, medical cannabis tends to be more affordable as it tends to be taxed a little less and priced to be accessible to people who need it as medicine. Recreational cannabis, on the other hand, is usually taxed higher and priced differently on things like potency and quality. Recreational dispensaries are also a little more expensive to run since there are often stricter regulations and quality control measures.
Cannabinoids like THC vs. CBD
THC and CBD are the two most prominent cannabinoids found in cannabis. CBD is non-intoxicating so it won’t cause you to feel high, but evidence suggests that it has anti-inflammatory and anxiety-reducing properties which make it a good addition to medical cannabis products tailored to people with anxiety disorders, sleep-related conditions, or chronic pain.
THC on the other hand causes people to feel euphoric and high. While it’s a fun feeling for recreational users, it also plays a role in medical cannabis since evidence suggests that it might help with pain, sleep, appetite and depression, which are common symptoms of a variety of medical conditions that qualify patients for medical marijuana.
All that is to say that medical and recreational weed can differ in their THC and CBD ratios. Medical marijuana strains and products usually contain both THC and CBD, but you can also find CBD-only products. Evidence suggests that THC and CBD work better when they’re taken together, so medical products usually contain THC-to-CBD ratios to target specific medical symptoms and conditions. Evidence also suggests that CBD might mellow out some of the effects of THC, making it feel less intoxicating but still allowing it to help.
On the other hand, recreational weed products are made to focus mainly on the high, not the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids. They normally don’t contain much CBD and contain high levels of THC to provide people with a more potent and fun type of high.
Strength
While both recreational and medical dispensaries offer strong products, the types of cannabinoids used and products made make a difference. For example, medical marijuana is often cultivated with specific strains and genetic profiles tailored to address various medical conditions, so many of the strains may have a good mix between THC and CBD, but err on the side of the non-intoxicating but therapeutic CBD. They may also have more potent edibles or extracts than you can buy at recreational dispensaries to help with medical conditions. On the other hand, most products at recreational stores focus on strains that produce lots and lots of THC, which causes people to feel high. The products found here may not have CBD at all, and only have potent THC products. They might also have stronger types of recreational products, like cannagars, that you won’t find at medical stores.
Quality
While quality always varies from dispensary to dispensary and greenhouse to greenhouse, medical cannabis is subjected to rigorous quality control standards and testing to ensure safety and consistency. With medical weed usually being grown indoors with more attention to detail and rigid practices, many people believe that medical grade weed is higher quality than recreational weed. The people want clean medicine, after all!
However, recreational dispensaries also face testing and quality standards, though they may not be as rigid. For example, recreational weed can be grown indoors or outdoors using all sorts of different methods so there may be some differences in consistency and quality per batch and harvest. Just keep in mind that in a free market, recreational dispensaries need to stand out from the crowd by growing better smelling and tasting products that have the potency to boot. There’s some really incredible recreational weed out there that sometimes surpasses medical grade weed. So at the end of the day it really comes down to your preferences for things like potency and pricing.
Purchasing Experience
Buying weed at either type of dispensary is pretty different. Medical dispensaries will require you to show your ID and your doctor’s note or med card before you can enter the actual store. They also usually only allow one person in at a time so the budtender can help them find the right products for their specific needs. While they can’t give out medical advice, they usually undergo training and take a more educational approach in a one-on-one setting to help their patients find something that can help them. Medical dispensaries usually offer a much more personalized experience compared to recreational dispensaries.
On the other hand, rec stores are all over the map. All they need to see is your ID, and you can start shopping. There are usually other people in there at the same time as you, and some of them can be very busy with a huge selection of products. Seriously, some rec stores look like an Apple store, and others have aisles of inventory as far as the eye can see, so it can be a little overwhelming if you’re not used to it. Rec stores usually give you a chance to browse as the budtenders there expect you to know what you like and what you’re looking for. You can always ask for help if you need it, but you won’t get the same one on one attention that you’d get at a medical dispensary.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, while medical and recreational cannabis are pretty much the same thing and come from the same plant, they’re still pretty different. Medical cannabis is designed to address specific medical conditions and undergoes stricter quality control measures, offering patients tailored strains with varying THC-to-CBD ratios. Recreational marijuana, on the other hand, is typically cultivated for higher THC potency and caters to adult consumers without medical requirements, focusing on a normal retail experience. The pricing, legality, and purchasing experiences are also different depending on where you live and how these markets operate in your state. With that said, don’t forget to do your homework and familiarize yourself with the laws, taxing regulations, and legal limits in your state to help you make the choice between getting your med card or shopping at a recreational store.
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