5 Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Practitioner about Cannabinoids

Are plant-made therapeutics an option for you? Ask your healthcare practitioner these questions to find out.

Canadians have been able to legally access medical cannabis for two decades. Today, more than 350,000 Canadians are registered with Health Canada to access medical cannabis. Interested in joining the growing number of Canadians who use medical cannabis and its cannabinoids as a therapeutic option? The right place to start is with your healthcare practitioner (HCP). We spoke to Dr. Lionel Marks de Chabris, Chief Medical Officer of ZYUS, a Canadian life sciences company focused on the next generation of phyto-therapeutics, to find out the key questions to ask your HCP about cannabinoids.

1.  Are cannabinoids an option for me?

Cannabinoids may not be for everyone as individual responses differ from one person to another.

“Discussing the full range of therapeutic options with your HCP is important so they can tailor a  personalized management strategy for your condition,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris. Your HCP will have insight into your medical history that will help them make an informed decision to determine if a trial of cannabinoids is an option for you.

2.  Now that cannabis is legal, why do I need a prescription/authorization?

Though dispensaries are prevalent in Canada, very few dispensary staff (i.e. “bud tenders”) possess formal medical training and they do not have access to your medical history. Therefore, it is beneficial to make the extra effort to access medical cannabinoids through your HCP. “Your HCP is in a much better position to assess the possible benefits and risks associated with cannabinoids and determine if this is an appropriate option for you,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris.

3. How do I choose a reliable medical cannabinoid provider?

In Canada, a federal license is required to grow, process, and sell cannabinoids. All license holders are approved by Health Canada and are held to the same standards as defined under the Cannabis Act.  However, some license holders voluntarily exceed these standards. It is important to look for a reliable provider that is committed to producing high-quality products that undergo rigorous testing to ensure precise and consistent therapeutic formulations.

4. Will cannabinoid-based therapeutics interfere with any other medication I am using?

When starting any new treatment, make sure to ask your HCP whether there could be issues with other medications you are taking. “Interactions between any two medications can be problematic,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris. “However, at therapeutic doses, clinically significant interactions between cannabinoids and most prescription medications are unlikely to occur. There are some exceptions and it is worth investigating those with your HCP to ensure cannabinoids are a good choice for you.”

5. How do I find out more information about cannabinoids?

“This is a key question,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris. “Your HCP may not be aware of the cannabinoid options currently available. Be willing to open a conversation with your HCP and if either of you are unsure, ask if they could help you find more resources. They may wish to refer you to another HCP or to a trusted source for credible information.” Even though medical cannabis has been legal for 20 years in Canada, science is just starting to scratch the surface of the medical uses and health benefits of cannabinoids. If your HCP isn’t able to give you the information you need to make an informed decision, “you can always ask for a second opinion,” added Dr. Marks de Chabris.

Ready to learn more about cannabinoids? Start an open and honest dialogue with your HCP and build on that relationship to create the best environment for improving your well-being.

Visit www.zyus.com to find out more.