Are you a medical cannabis patient? If so, are you taking other medications as well? Medical cannabis is no different than any other pharmaceutical therapy in the sense that patients should be careful when using it alongside other prescription medications. Indeed, here is the one thing you should know about it: medical cannabis can interact with other drugs.

It’s Not Harmless

We have pushed so hard to legalize medical cannabis over the last 30 years that some on the pro-cannabis side have given the impression that it’s harmless. Nothing could be further from the truth. Medical cannabis may not pose as big a threat as something like opioids, but it is also not a drug people can use indiscriminately while expecting no harm.

Most of the claims that cannabis is harmless stem from decades of illicit recreational use. But your grandfather’s marijuana is not modern cannabis. Today’s cannabis products are likely to contain more THC. And in a medical setting, THC concentrations can be much higher.

Drug Interactions Are Real

Interactions between cannabis and other drugs are real. Remember that medical cannabis users derive symptom relief from either THC or CBD. Here’s what you should know about that: THC is known to interact with nearly 400 prescription medications; CBD interacts with some 540 drugs.

In addition, approximately 28 of the interactions between THC and other drugs are considered major. The remaining 372 are considered moderate. Medical cannabis is known to interact with:

  • Sedatives
  • Anti-anxiety medications
  • Antidepressants
  • Certain pain medications
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Anticoagulants

The mechanism of interaction varies from one drug to the next. For example, some interactions result in the secondary medication being not as effective as it otherwise would be. Other interactions can amplify the effects of the secondary drug. Both scenarios are problematic.

It’s Better to Be Cautious

Given the potential impacts of any drug interaction, it’s better to be cautious than carefree. Adopting a cautious approach means paying attention to every medication you are taking. It means taking medications only as directed and immediately consulting with your physician or pharmacist should you have an unexpected reaction.

Caution is something they urge at the Beehive Farmacy medical cannabis dispensary in Brigham City, Utah. Pharmacy operators urge patients to always speak with their doctors or pharmacists about potential interactions. They encourage patients to be upfront and honest about all the medications they are taking, especially when asking for a medical cannabis recommendation for the first time.

Note that in Utah, patients must consult with a medical provider before they can obtain a medical cannabis card. Utah is a medical-only state. But in Colorado, where both medical and recreational cannabis are allowed, patients might choose to self-medicate by purchasing on the recreational market. They should still sit down with their doctors to discuss the potential ramifications, especially when other medications are involved.

Negative Interactions Can Be Avoided

The majority of medical cannabis users won’t experience any significant negative impacts. Any drug interactions they may experience will be minor. But among those patients who might experience serious interactions, the thing to remember is that such interactions can be avoided.

Being open and honest with one’s doctor allows the doctor to better manage all the medications the patient is taking. Good management is the key to preventing negative interactions.

Medical cannabis may not be as dangerous as some of the other drugs available to consumers by prescription. But it is also not harmless. To believe otherwise could put a patient in danger. That’s why it’s so important that patients talk with their doctors about other medications and potential interactions.