Cannabis for medical purposes: Choosing a cannabis product
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Content of a cannabis product
Cannabis products can contain:
- mostly THC
- mostly CBD
- some combination of both THC and CBD
Cannabis products can also contain other cannabinoids and terpenes.
Terpenes are the substances that give cannabis its taste and smell. The types and amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes vary depending on the product.
Always read the ingredients on the label to make sure you’re not allergic or sensitive to any of them.
Cannabis product for your health condition
Currently, there isn’t enough scientific information for Health Canada to recommend which cannabis product to take for any specific health condition. You and your health care provider will have to use trial and error to determine which cannabis product works best for you.
There’s important information on product labels that may help you understand which product to choose for your specific symptoms, such as:
- percentages, concentrations or amounts (mg/g or mg/ml or mg) of CBD, THC or other cannabinoids in the product
- how the product is formulated (for example, dried cannabis, capsule or oil)
- this affects how you absorb cannabinoids into your body
In general, consuming higher amounts of THC, CBD or other cannabinoids is associated with a higher risk of certain side effects.
Depending on your health condition, your health care provider may recommend 1 or more types of cannabis products. Some patients take more than 1 product to relieve their symptoms.