After obtaining any certification, license or marijuana card, there’s a level of responsibility that comes along with having them. As a new driver, the lives and safety of people in neighboring cars, and pedestrians crossing the road, fall partly on the driver. As a certified medical marijuana card holder, a responsibility is involved as well.

Card holders can’t just dive into the marijuana world headfirst. The next step after obtaining a marijuana card is to become familiar with the numerous products that can aid in helping and healing the body. The excitement and sense of relief of having a card can quickly change to feelings of being overwhelmed and confused. How does a new card holder begin?

Being an advocate for one’s own physical, mental and spiritual health is somewhat like going to a physician for treatment, which will most likely include a prescription drug. There is often a trial and error process when finding the exact medicine and dosage. The same is also true for finding the right marijuana strain and product.

There are decisions that need to be made when choosing marijuana as a medicine. How will the medicine get into someone’s system? Will the marijuana be smoked, eaten, applied topically or will it be drops of oil under the tongue? A marijuana dispensary has many options available, so decisions can be made that fall into the patient’s comfort zone.

Not only must it be decided how to take the medicine, but the choice of marijuana strains will include a trial and error period. Sativa strains are good for boosting energy, but should be taken with caution for people suffering from stress and anxiety. Indica strains are best for those who suffer from anxiety, stress and chronic pain. Indicas can cause sleepiness, so again caution should be used when choosing this type. There are many strains that combine Sativa and Indica components. These are called hybrids and can be very effective, offering the benefits of both without the extremes of just one.

This process of finding the right medicine can be difficult, however there is information available to help ease the process. Earth’s Healing offers new patients a tracking sheet where they can enter information regarding strains and how they worked or didn’t work. By using this tracking method, the time it takes to find the right product can be reduced, rather than trying numerous strains randomly.

It’s a big job to be an advocate for individual healthcare. The rewards are many, however, once methods of use and specific products are identified for treating disease and illness in a natural, plant-based way.