Medical and recreational THC are two very different categories. Medical cannabis may have a very high THC concentration, which is used to manage some rare diseases. Licensed specialists can only prescribe medical cannabis or THC. Medical cannabis is only approved by the UK MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) after its health benefits have been proven in clinical studies.
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Recreational THC, as the name suggests, is not meant for medical use or to treat health conditions. Of course, this does not mean it has no health effects. However, manufacturers of such products, like legal THC vape producers, are not allowed to make health claims.
Understanding Medical Cannabis
Cannabis extract is well-proven to have health effects, and can be used to treat some severe medical conditions. Medical cannabis is grown under license in the UK with the sole purpose of producing medicines.
Not every doctor can prescribe medical cannabis. Its prescriptions are strictly controlled, and only selected specialists are licensed to prescribe them.
Medical cannabis is only sold in pharmacies and is a prescription drug. For approval, it undergoes years of clinical trials. Further, manufacturing sites of medical cannabis are approved by the UK MHRA. Overall, the process of obtaining this approval is quite challenging and takes 5-10 years to ensure patient safety.
Some of these products have very high THC content. Thus, for example, Sativex, a drug used to control MS (multiple sclerosis)- related spasticity, contains 27 mg of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and 25 mg of cannabidiol in each millilitre. To compare, a regular THC vape pen can have a maximum of just 1 mg of THC in a container, which is generally used over several days.
Recreational use of THC vapes in the UK
There is only one kind of recreational THC available in the UK, which is in the form of whole-spectrum CBD products, like THC vape pens. Basically, these products mainly contain CBD or cannabidiol, and only small amounts of THC, which is naturally present in them.
These products, though called recreational, do not cause euphoria, and that is why they are legal. 1 mg of THC is too small to cause any mind-altering effects, though it does contribute to the vaping experience and overall health effects of CBD vape pens.
Moreover, it is worth understanding that people use these vape pens for several days, which means that one can get just a few micrograms of THC a day by vaping legal THC vapes.
So, why are they called THC vapes? Well, for a simple reason. Though their primary component is still CBD along with minor cannabinoids and terpenes, but mentioning THC raises awareness. It conveys the right message to consumers, saying that this specific product also contains some THC. Hence, those looking to enjoy rich cannabis flavour often choose these products.
Medical THC has much higher dosages of it; thus, naturally, its sales are strictly controlled, and it is reserved for those living with specific ailments. Some form of recreational THC, like those in legal vapes, can be readily procured, though it has a very low THC concentration, just enough to experience some of its effects without the side effects.