Because I have serious lung issues I avoid smoking and am always looking for new ways to medicate. I am also trying to keep my tolerance down as I have to medicate daily for insomnia and chronic pain. Typically, I use a flower vape pen. I also use tincture and coconut oil I make. Once in a while, I'll use candy or other edibles. Recently I've had some reduced appetite issues, and, in general I do not want to consume a large object to get medicated! Recently I have heard about medicated trans-dermal cannabis patches.
I read about one brand in an Oregon-based cannabis publication. I decided to research it and give it a try. I found it listed on the menus of several dispensaries. Right away, the price was a stumbling block. In one place, it was $25 for a patch, in another, $22. Supposedly they are designed to last 24 hours (which I'll get back to). I figured, maybe if you cut the patch up it might be more cost effective. Or just use it for extraordinary circumstances, like extended travel. Certainly, the price is way beyond my daily affordability.
Still, I was curious and decided to blow $22 on the patch. I had spoken to some of the budtenders to get more info, but they, while certainly trying to be helpful, weren't sure if cutting up the patch would reduce its efficiency. I also asked if one could take the patch off or on and have it resume working. But they said it would be difficult to re-attach...losing the stickiness. So that meant, you have to keep it on as long as you want, but once you take it off, too bad, can't really use it again.
The patches come in two varieties...THC or CBD. Recently, I have realized after several attempts that high CBD, low THC medications do NOT work for my type of pain (I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis in my lower spine. Depending upon activity levels, I get sporadic sciatica flare-ups from the spinal problems.) Unfortunately, sometimes the sciatic pain is beyond the reach of cannabis. But for my typical stenosis pain, I need the distraction and relaxation of THC.
This brings me to my first concern. The THC patches do not indicate which strains they used to make the formulation, or even whether they are sativas or indicas. I usually am an indica user for its more sedating and body high effects.
My other concern goes back to the duration of patches. I do NOT want to feel medicated all day long. Part of the day, yes. I need to drive and accomplish other things with a clear head. Once I no longer need to drive or get much done, I am fine being in an altered state...which in and of itself helps reduce the pain. While I have pain some days all day, most days it builds up in the evenings.
So last night, I cut the patch in half and cut the half in half again. I cleaned my arm with the alcohol wipes provided in the discreet and securely packaged envelope. There is a clear plastic over the patch that is a bit difficult to remove with my short fingernails. I succeeded and stuck it to my upper arm. I wrote down the time I applied it. Now I had vaped some mixed indica strains about an hour before. But I could tell after about 15 minutes I was feeling a difference in my head.
Eventually the vaped medicine wore off and I could now feel the effect of the patch. It was mildly psychoactive...I could discern a bit of "patterning" and a pleasant feeling in my head. But my body didn't feel much difference. I did get a bit drowsy at one point, but it did not last. Around 11 p.m., I vaped some more indica. I went to bed around 12:30 a.m., patch still on (I had put it on at about 6:45 p.m.). I woke with my normal pain level and my mind pretty clear-headed at about 6:45 a.m. I removed the patch and noticed it was no longer sticky, so no longer usable. Plus, I felt the medication was gone. In all honestly, I did not feel much pain relief. I felt much more from vaping flower. Now maybe if I had used the entire patch, I would have had more pain relief. I don't know. I was wondering if the medicine in it was sativa.
Now I think the idea of a trans-dermal cannabis patch is an excellent one. Many people, such as myself, cannot tolerate smoke. I also do not desire the calories of eating a fattening edible on a regular basis. And, when my appetite is bad, eating anything is a challenge. The patches are also discreet and can be worn under clothing.
What I hope the makers of the patches come up with is a system that identifies whether a patch is indica, sativa, and what strain(s) are in it. I would also like to see the dosing in smaller time intervals. Maybe one could get patches for two hours, four hours, whatever. I also worry about tolerance build up if using a patch on a 24 hour basis is a regular practice.
Right now, at $22 to $25 a patch it is way too highly priced. Even cut into smaller pieces, it still is too expensive...and for me...not especially effective.
I hope in the future these delivery devices will become more precise and less costly.
I read about one brand in an Oregon-based cannabis publication. I decided to research it and give it a try. I found it listed on the menus of several dispensaries. Right away, the price was a stumbling block. In one place, it was $25 for a patch, in another, $22. Supposedly they are designed to last 24 hours (which I'll get back to). I figured, maybe if you cut the patch up it might be more cost effective. Or just use it for extraordinary circumstances, like extended travel. Certainly, the price is way beyond my daily affordability.
Still, I was curious and decided to blow $22 on the patch. I had spoken to some of the budtenders to get more info, but they, while certainly trying to be helpful, weren't sure if cutting up the patch would reduce its efficiency. I also asked if one could take the patch off or on and have it resume working. But they said it would be difficult to re-attach...losing the stickiness. So that meant, you have to keep it on as long as you want, but once you take it off, too bad, can't really use it again.
The patches come in two varieties...THC or CBD. Recently, I have realized after several attempts that high CBD, low THC medications do NOT work for my type of pain (I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis in my lower spine. Depending upon activity levels, I get sporadic sciatica flare-ups from the spinal problems.) Unfortunately, sometimes the sciatic pain is beyond the reach of cannabis. But for my typical stenosis pain, I need the distraction and relaxation of THC.
This brings me to my first concern. The THC patches do not indicate which strains they used to make the formulation, or even whether they are sativas or indicas. I usually am an indica user for its more sedating and body high effects.
My other concern goes back to the duration of patches. I do NOT want to feel medicated all day long. Part of the day, yes. I need to drive and accomplish other things with a clear head. Once I no longer need to drive or get much done, I am fine being in an altered state...which in and of itself helps reduce the pain. While I have pain some days all day, most days it builds up in the evenings.
So last night, I cut the patch in half and cut the half in half again. I cleaned my arm with the alcohol wipes provided in the discreet and securely packaged envelope. There is a clear plastic over the patch that is a bit difficult to remove with my short fingernails. I succeeded and stuck it to my upper arm. I wrote down the time I applied it. Now I had vaped some mixed indica strains about an hour before. But I could tell after about 15 minutes I was feeling a difference in my head.
Eventually the vaped medicine wore off and I could now feel the effect of the patch. It was mildly psychoactive...I could discern a bit of "patterning" and a pleasant feeling in my head. But my body didn't feel much difference. I did get a bit drowsy at one point, but it did not last. Around 11 p.m., I vaped some more indica. I went to bed around 12:30 a.m., patch still on (I had put it on at about 6:45 p.m.). I woke with my normal pain level and my mind pretty clear-headed at about 6:45 a.m. I removed the patch and noticed it was no longer sticky, so no longer usable. Plus, I felt the medication was gone. In all honestly, I did not feel much pain relief. I felt much more from vaping flower. Now maybe if I had used the entire patch, I would have had more pain relief. I don't know. I was wondering if the medicine in it was sativa.
Now I think the idea of a trans-dermal cannabis patch is an excellent one. Many people, such as myself, cannot tolerate smoke. I also do not desire the calories of eating a fattening edible on a regular basis. And, when my appetite is bad, eating anything is a challenge. The patches are also discreet and can be worn under clothing.
What I hope the makers of the patches come up with is a system that identifies whether a patch is indica, sativa, and what strain(s) are in it. I would also like to see the dosing in smaller time intervals. Maybe one could get patches for two hours, four hours, whatever. I also worry about tolerance build up if using a patch on a 24 hour basis is a regular practice.
Right now, at $22 to $25 a patch it is way too highly priced. Even cut into smaller pieces, it still is too expensive...and for me...not especially effective.
I hope in the future these delivery devices will become more precise and less costly.
