As one of the earliest founded medical dispensaries in San Diego, Mankind knows the importance that cannabis plays for our medical patients. The Compassionate Care Act passed in 1996 and one of its main incentives was
“To ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes in the treatment of cancer […] or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.”
The industry is quite different now but one thing at Mankind has always remained the same, which is to provide a collection of high quality medicinal products that our community can rely on during their time of need. We honor the many cancer patients that heralded this law into place, as well as, those who have continued to help make it easier to obtain medicinal cannabis products that render therapeutic support.
This year for Breast Cancer Awareness month, we knew it was important to understand the role we are currently playing as a dispensary in the local community and what we can do to improve. Often when seeking cannabis as alternative medicine, it’s hard to figure out where to start. The Internet can offer a slew of information regarding cannabis but it also can inundate many people who are unfamiliar with certain terms or products.
That’s where we come in. We don’t want the unfamiliarity to slow you down, which is why we have created a list of products to make this step a little bit easier. We do not always have all of the answers but we definitely have a foundation to share with you.
To begin, we would like to start by maintaining that “marijuana is not a treatment for breast cancer [and] its’ intended use medicinally is to ease the side effects of treatment and pain.” With that in mind every experience will be different and it is important to consult any major decisions you make with your doctor.
A valuable resource we like to use is Project CBD. There, you will find compiled documentation of research studies and reliable sources that can introduce you into anything you may be unfamiliar with. For instance, there is a Beginner’s Guide to CBD, you can also search your condition in their database, as well as, dig into the countless news articles provided.
Once you know which products you are interested in using-whether it be CBD, THC or both-you can find some of our favorite targeted products below.
THC OIL
If you are experiencing high levels of pain many medicinal users will seek THC oil. There are a few different options that we carry but we highly recommend ABX 1000mg Soft Gels and Outco High THC Full Spectrum Oil 1000mg to provide you with the intense relief you may need. High THC options are great for reducing, nulling and sedating pain, but also can become adverse for inexperienced users. It is important to build your tolerance before using a high dose.
To support this process we also offer THC oil that you can ingest at a lower dose and gradually work your way up. One of our most popular throughout the years has been Papa & Barkley Releaf Tincture. Papa & Barkley uses a whole plant fusion process upon preparing their oil to get the full essence of the plant. This means each drop of THC oil is not only thoughtfully processed and meticulously tested, it is also the medicinal benefits of the cannabis in plant form.
EDIBLES
Non-smokable cannabis products such as edibles offer extended relief for longer periods of time. Your body processes smoke and edibles differently, therefore many medicinal patients will seek out edibles for their long-term effectiveness.
All of our edibles will offer different ratios to support your personal needs. Kiva Petra Mints are a 2.5mg mint that you can use throughout the day at a low dose. They are great for maintaining mild relief and can be taken sublingually which is great for immediate results.
Another mint that packs a punch are Breez Mints 1:1 Relief 500mg CBD/500mg THC. These are perfect for reducing high levels of pain without inducing lethargy. The equal parts of THC and CBD allows a synergistic effect to incur, which is the most effective way to ingest cannabis.
Also, many people liken this high to smoking a joint. Medical patients that are used to smoking but are looking to cut down will love the side-effects that Breez has to offer. We also offer Breez Oral Sprays as an immediate way to get the same side-effects you love- more expediently.
If you wish to delve on the sweeter side, Kiva Munchies Chocolate Bar is a perfect pick-me-up. A little sweet, a little salty and a super fun twist on their award winning chocolate bar is a great way to uplift your spirits and enhance your mood.
SLEEP AID
Sleeping is very important to allow your body to naturally heal, though it doesn’t not always come easy to everyone during this time. Camino 5:1 Midnight CBN Gummies and Plus Products Sleep Cloudberry are two edible options we have that contain the powerful sleep aid CBN offering specific therapeutic ratios to fit your personal needs.
What is CBN? CBN is “a non-intoxicating compound that is best known as the cannabinoid created when THC ages.” This cannabinoid induces a wonderful night’s sleep without the “weed hangover” effect many suffer from conventional edibles.
If you are looking for a non-CBN option to sleep we love Dreamt Sleep Tincture 150mg to cast you into a wonderful night’s rest. Scientifically formulated, this tincture also includes melatonin, Valerian root and Green tea extract to naturally put you to sleep. Zero grams of sugar, with effects lasting up to 8 hours.
TOPICALS
Last and certainly not least are our topicals. Topicals have been such a powerhouse for medicinal users that we cannot stress their efficacy enough. Also, you CANNOT get high from using topicals so this is always a great option for anyone looking to use cannabis, but not looking to get “stoned.”
The only topical that has psychoactive properties is our Mary’s Medicinals Transdermal Compound. The effects are minimal but should be mentioned beforehand. It is really one of our favorites as relief is felt immediately as it is absorbed through the skin. It is the only transdermal product we currently have that has garnered a substantial following as more people experience its unique and powerful side-effects.
Papa & Barkley 3:1 CBD Releaf Balm is a Mankind staple and can be used directly on your skin’s surface for pain and inflammation but can also be used for a variety of other ailments such as stress or anxiety. We love rubbing it onto our temples and into our feet to reduce any negative feelings we may be experiencing and to induce relaxation. The high CBD formula is great for inflammation and is absorbed into the skin without any mess. We recommend to use this product sparingly as you will eventually build a tolerance to topicals, as well.
There are a plethora of different ways to use cannabis medicinally but we hope this offers a start for some areas you are interested or unfamiliar in. We will continue to strengthen our medicinal product selection, as well as, continue to offer our CA medical patients discounts every Monday. We rely on our community during the toughest times and situations, and at Mankind, we want you to know that you can always rely on us.
We want to include a special tribute to all of the beautiful lives that have been lost battling breast cancer. Their memories will never fade and neither will our passion. The Kind Team understands the enormity of this month as we have all been affected by our own stories or the ones you have shared with us. We remember them and we will continue to be there with you every step of the way.
Written by: Renee Smaldino
Sources
2020 Breast Cancer Statistics
BreastCancer.org
Healthline
LATimes
