Safety First When Using Medical Marijuana in Your Family Home

Throughout the years, marijuana’s strict prohibition in the 50 states of America has drastically decreased, with only 11 states deeming cannabis outright illegal. Resourceful education, new medical findings and research have successfully concluded that cannabis has the potential to treat a variety of physical and cognitive issues.

With more access to cannabis in the country than ever, many families may need the proper understanding on how to approach healthy, informative conversations with family members and children on the purpose of cannabis. Like any other controlled substance, marijuana requires you to use it responsibly and safely in your home. Cannabis should be treated like any other prescription medication, and should be stored safely away from children.

Why Use Cannabis in a Family Home?

There are many reasons a parent  might incorporate the use of THC or CBD products in their routine. Cannabis has shown to alleviate symptoms of mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, in addition to various forms of pain. Unlike traditional pharmaceuticals, the alternative medicine’s appeal likely stems from its lack of serious side effects.

More and more cannabis products are being utilized in family homes to treat issues holistically. While some might consider cannabis to be purely a psychoactive drug with little to no medical purposes, marijuana has been proven to increase productivity, and reduce psychological issues. With the legalization of cannabis in medical or recreational form  in 36 states, doctors are prescribing many individuals with families prescriptions for cannabis treatment options.

There is a plethora of misinformation and fear-mongering attached to marijuana use. When used correctly, it can improve the lives of many people, including those who live in a family home environment. Although cannabis can be a great alternative to other prescription drugs, it should still be treated seriously and always be protected in a place that is only accessible to an adult.

How To Consume Cannabis Safely And Responsibly

When regularly consuming any kind of cannabis product, it is vitally important to know how to safely use and store it in the home. There have been many cases of children accessing medical cabinets or drawers and accidentally consuming prescription medications. This can happen with any drug, including THC and CBD products, making proper storage essential to your child’s safety and well-being.

• Store all marijuana products up and away from curious children. Establish an area in the home that either has not been seen by your children or is inaccessible to them to store your cannabis. Whether you have THC tablets, edibles, flower, or wax, ensure that wherever you place them it is far out of your child’s reach. This is also important when traveling in hotel rooms, a vehicle, or anywhere else with cannabis.
• Store marijuana away after use every time. Cannabis should never be left out on your counter, couch, bathroom sink, or at your bedside. Leaving out any kind of THC or CBD product can result in your child accessing it and potentially consuming it. Protecting your child from harmful substances should be of the utmost importance when using any kind of medication.
• Talk to your children about medical marijuana use. It is very important for children to know medicine safety and why you as an adult must be the only one to handle it.
• Inform guests of the presence of medical marijuana. Additionally, communicate to your guests that if they have any kind of THC or CBD products in their purses, wallets, or coats, that it should be put up and out of sight away from your children.
• Always be prepared in the case of an emergency. In the case your child has accessed any medication, immediately call the Poison Help Center at 800-222-1222. Look for signs of drowsiness, inability to balance, and abnormal behavior. Add the number to your cell phone in order to have this contact information on speed dial in the case of an emergency.

Storing harmful substances away from children should be a regular practice no matter what the medication. Accidents can occur, but implementing these regular routine practices can help prevent medical emergencies.

How Medical Dispensaries Promote Responsible Marijuana Use

Dispensaries, whether medical or adult-use, encourage safe, responsible use of medical marijuana products to their consumers. Having safe access to THC and CBD products has established more regulated marijuana programs. With the legalization of both medical and recreational use of marijuana in many states, more people are using it and fewer are abusing it. This could be largely due to the fact that proper accessibility and education is being promoted when many individuals are purchasing cannabis directly from dispensaries.

Marijuana dispensaries are a source for legal, safe, and reliable products for patients. The goal for most state-certified marijuana dispensaries is to provide insight and guidance from professionals on any given THC and CBD product. Knowledgeable employees can help advise customers on dosage recommendations when just starting out, recommend select strains of cannabis that may help with specific issues, and advise against improper abuse of marijuana. Experts will be sure to ask if customers have any previous or current health conditions that may alter their professional recommendations. The relationship between dispensary employees and customers is an empowering one that encourages open conversation, transparency, and understanding.

Having access to a professional, state-certified medical dispensary with a staff keen on improving your health, makes abuse and substance dependence not as likely to happen when every patient has been informed of the science-based evidence of marijuana.

When entering your local dispensary, a few key signs to look for are:

• Employee knowledge on the medicinal properties of marijuana
• Informative information on each product with listed benefits
• Employees ask what your goal is for using medical marijuana
• Signs warning against driving under the influence of marijuana and more.

Dispensaries should also provide a wide variety of both THC and CBD products. Some of these products include: salves, flower, edibles, beverages, tablets, and concentrates. Every person is different, thus dispensaries should offer a wide range of dosing options and strains. Every product should entail warnings against misuse and to keep out of children’s reach.

Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use

The responsible use of cannabis is absolutely essential no matter the setting, but especially so in a family home environment. With children present, it is incredibly important to take into consideration your first priority which is the safety and protection of your children. This might mean microdosing only when another parent is present, or waiting to utilize your THC products till after your children have gone to sleep.

When an individual has consumed an abnormal and unadvised amount of marijuana, significant failures in judgment can occur resulting in serious repercussions. It is never wise to consume cannabis alone with your children; in the case of an emergency having another adult present will be necessary as it is unsafe to drive while using marijuana. Like many stronger pain-relieving medications, it is always safer to have another adult present when using something that can alter your state of mind.

Some key factors to remember when using any kind of THC or full-spectrum CBD products are:

• Adult use only. Cannabis consumption should be exclusively for legal adults only. There are many activities that are suitable for young people, however, the use of cannabis is not one of them. Cannabis should be kept away from children; out of sight and out of reach. It can be difficult if you learn of your child who is using marijuana underage. Like any substance that is illegal to consume underage, having a transparent conversation as to why it can be harmful to your child when used improperly and illegally is necessary.
• In absolutely no circumstance should you drive. Getting behind the wheel while using cannabis is illegal and incredibly unwise. Not only is it putting your life in harm’s way, but also the lives of others who are also on the road. Although cannabis has been said by experts to be safer to drive on in comparison to other substances such as alcohol, by no means is it a suggested alternative or viable option. It is both illegal and unsafe.
• You often hear the terms “set and setting” when consuming cannabis. “Set” usually refers to a person’s purpose in consuming cannabis; perhaps that might be to reduce anxiety, fall asleep, increase appetite, and other various reasons. “Setting” refers to the person’s physical and social circumstances that could potentially affect the experience. For example, an individual who consumed cannabis who finds themselves in a loud, crowded environment might feel more anxious.
• Resist overconsumption. Unless prescribed by a doctor, marijuana should be used moderately. In some cases doctors will utilize microdosing schedules; however, overuse of cannabis can create substance dependence. Many social wars have been raging over whether or not marijuana use is actually addictive, but regardless, overconsumption of any kind of medication is not healthy or recommended.
• Respect other people’s wishes of marijuana use. In the case you have a family member or fellow parent who is uncomfortable with the presence of marijuana in the home or knowledge of general use, it is best to respect their wishes. It is wrong to violate the rights of others, which is why conversations before playdates and social gatherings are necessary.
• Don’t mix cannabis and other prescription drugs or alcohol. The mixing of multiple substances in the body can intensify your experience and the side effects of other medications. This can lead to serious repercussions.
• Be wary of responsible use of edible consumption. Responsible cannabis consumers do not overindulge in marijuana edibles. It is recommended to only consume a single serving at a time, which is typically around 5-10 milligrams of THC. Because of every person’s unique body chemistry, the physiological and psychological factors of edibles can be stronger than that of other consumption methods. When operating in a family home, it is wise to take very small doses of an edible due to its potent nature.

Provide Open, Honest Conversations About Marijuana Use

Consuming marijuana can be done safely in a family home when used responsibly. It can be a beneficial substance to parents who are suffering from issues like anxiety and depression. Having transparent conversations with your children at the right time and age can help remove any preexisting stigmas that they might have heard otherwise. It’s important to keep an open mind and answer questions honestly when prompted.

Questions you can prepare for are:

• Why do you use marijuana?
• Why can’t they use it or have some?
• What does marijuana do?
• Do other people use marijuana?
• Is using marijuana bad?

Addressing each question honestly and transparently will help remove any negative associations with cannabis. Provide as much information as necessary that will help your child understand. The biggest points you will want to address is why it is an ‘adult-only’ substance, and that it should not in any circumstance be tampered with. As children grow older, it is important to have the conversation about not driving with anyone else who has been using marijuana. It is also a great time to make clear to them to never use another person’s medication for any reason. Marijuana, for all its medicinal purposes, is a controlled substance. When keeping it in the home, it is essential that it is stored up and out of sight of your little ones. This precaution is necessary due to a child's sensitive and vulnerable nature.

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