Treatment principles to reduce harm.
| Prior to starting medical herbal cannabis |
| Treatment goals and objectives should be realistic and clearly specified. |
| An assessment for substance use disorder must be documented. |
| Patients should be well informed about the adverse effects associated with cannabis use. |
| Drug preparations, route of administration, and dosing |
| Inhalation through a vaporizer has a rapid therapeutic effect, whereas oral ingestion has a slower but more sustained effect. Both routes of administration are preferred over smoked cannabis. |
| Cannabis with a low THC content (maximum 9%) and higher CBD content is preferable. |
| Total daily dose should not exceed 3 g. |
| The drug can be used regularly or on demand. |
| Assessment of side effects and efficacy |
| Followup 4–8 weeks after initiating the drug |
| Followup every 3 months thereafter |
THC: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; CBD: cannabidiol.