6 Sativa Strains to Increase Creativity

1-2 minute read

For a long time cannabis has had a stigma of making people lazy. When in reality, apart from the medical advantages of cannabis, certain cannabis strains can help boost your creativity and increase your productivity.  

The effect of cannabis depends largely on the kind of strain you use. Some strains make you feel relaxed and mellowed-out, but if you know about the right ones, you can feel more active and productive. They can expand your creative thinking and open your mind to new thoughts and ideas.  

Sativa strains, in particular, are best known for their energizing effects. So, if you feeling in a slump and need a nudge in a creative direction, check out these 6 sativa strains to give yourself a boost! 

Durban Poison  

This strain originates from Durban in South Africa and has a sweet and earthy aroma. The word poison may seem a little daunting but Durban Poison is thought as one of the best energizing cannabis strains on the market as people report feeling energetic and uplifted after use. 

Sour Diesel  

Sour Diesel is one of the most famous strains of cannabis which can have a euphoric, mood boosting effect. The strain has a zesty flavour, like citrus fruit as well as a distinct aroma of fuel. Like its unique smell, this strain can help fuel your creativity. 

Green Crack  

Don’t let the name of this strain put you off, it’s a pure Sativa strain with a tangy and fruity taste and a high THC content, which varies around 17%. Users claim it to be amazing for boosting your energy physically and mentally. Apart from making some people more active and responsive, Green Crack increases others’ creativity.   

Chocolope

Like others on this list, Chocolope is a THC dominant Sativa strain. This is the ideal for increasing energy and creativity. The strain has a sweet and earthy flavour that may remind you of chocolate (hence the name) and is known to have uplifting effects on the user’s mood, promote a strong burst of energy and creativity. Fun fact! Chocolope is created by the cross-breeding of Chocolate Thai and Cannalope Haze. 

Super Lemon Haze  

Super Lemon Haze is another Sativa strain with a high THC content which, as the name suggests, has a citrusy and tangy flavour similar to lemons. Users of this strain report it to be energizing, uplifting, and helpful for refocusing your mind and increasing creativity. 

Jack Herer 

Named after the late cannabis activist Jack Herer, known as the king of hemp, users claim this strain is energizing, uplifting and mentally stimulating. Ssaid to help you to focus on your task, and increase your productivity.  

Have you got a favourite strain to boost your creativity? Comment below! We’d love to hear from you. 

Medical Marijuana Consulting (MMC)

How to Get Coverage with Your Insurance Provider

Many major insurance companies include medical cannabis in their insurance plans. You may already be using medical cannabis and not even know that your insurer will cover it.  

Here’s a list of the most common insurance companies in Canada who include medical cannabis in their plans.  

Sunlife 

Sunlife reimburses medical cannabis if it is part of a treatment plan for cancer symptoms, multiple Sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS and individuals requiring palliative care. The amount you can be reimbursed depends on which plan you choose but coverage is also available through an Optional Coverage plan.  

The Cooperators  

The Cooperators reimburse medical cannabis patients who have had a diagnosis of chronic pain, muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS), and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Patients can access this coverage through Optional Coverage in an existing plan. 

Greenshield  

Greenshield reimburses patients for medical cannabis when they’ve been diagnosed for chronic neuropathic pain, spasticity due to multiple sclerosis, nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy. Coverage can be accessed through Optional Coverage in an existing plan. 

Desjardin 

Coverage for medical cannabis with Desjardin is available for treatments of cancer symptoms, refractory neuralgia, nausea and vomiting, caused by chemotherapy, and spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis or a lesion of the spinal cord. Coverage can be accessed through a Healthcare Spending Account.

Manulife  

Cannabis reimbursement is available for patients who have been diagnosed with stiffness and involuntary muscle spasms, Multiple Sclerosis, nausea and vomiting, undergoing chemotherapy, and chronic neuropathic pain. Coverage is available through a Healthcare Spending Account. 

If you have further questions about how to get coverage for your medical cannabis give is a call 1-844-312-5143 

Or email patientcare@medmc.ca. We’re always happy to help  

Medical Marijuana Consulting (MMC)

How to Claim Medical Cannabis on Your Taxes

1-2 minute read

You might not realise but, like any other medical prescription, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows medical cannabis to be claimed as a medical expense deduction on your federal income taxes. Provided you’re informed and prepared, it’s easy to do. Let’s have a look! 

Who’s eligible?  

If you have a receipt for medical cannabis, which you have bought from a Licensed Producer, you’re eligible! The key is to keep hold of all your receipts. You’ll need them when you’re filing your taxes at the end of your tax period.  

How much can you claim?  

You can claim on the entire amount you paid for your medical cannabis. Whether its dried flower, oils, concentrates, topicals or edibles. However, you can’t claim on accessories. For example, you can claim on a concentrate cartridge but not a vaporizer battery. This also excludes pipes, rolling equipment or items for storage.   

How do I file for my medical cannabis?    

When you file your Tax Returns calculate the total amount you’ve spent on medical cannabis in that tax period. You can then add this to amount to any other medical expenses that you plan to claim on your T1 Income Tax and Benefit Return. At the end of the tax year, submit your receipts or, if you file online, enter your medical expenses in the deductions and credits section.  

How much will be deducted? 

Your total medical expenses minus the lesser of $2,268 or 3% of your income after taxes. Every province has different tax laws and policies so don’t forget to check and follow your provincial guidelines.  

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Patient Care Team. Call 1-844-312-5143 today. They’d be delighted to help. 

Medical Marijuana Consulting (MMC)

How to Decarb Cannabis in Your Oven

1-2 minute read

So, you’ve decided you want to make homemade edibles, maybe you’re making brownies or gummies. Well, the first step is always to decarboxylate your cannabis. Luckily you can do this at home and you don’t necessarily need any fancy tools to do so, in fact, you can easily do it in your oven! 

So, why do you need to decarb your cannabis? 

Heat is essential to activate the cannabinoids in your cannabis which give it its symptom relieving potential. In the same way that you light a joint or put cannabis in a vaporizer, you’re heating up the cannabis to activate it. Essentially, without heating you won’t feel any of the medicinal effects of cannabis.  

If you don’t wish to decarb your cannabis in you oven, as it can produce a smell of cooked cannabis, there are over ways you can decarb your cannabis at home. You can buy machines like the Nova which will decarb your cannabis with reduced smell. Or, if you’re decarbing to make canna-butter, you can use a Magical Butter Machine.

But if you fancy doing it the old fashion way, here’s a step by step guide on how you to decarb cannabis your the oven.

What you will need  

• A baking tray or glass dish 
• Aluminium foil or parchment paper  
• Cannabis, dried flower (if you’re making canna-butter use 1 oz) 
• Oven 
• Grinder or scissors  

Time

• 2-5 minutes prep 
• 25-30 minutes bake 

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 220°F. 

2. Remove the stems from your cannabis and carefully break it down using a grinder, scissors or your hands to about the size of a grain of rice. Try and avoid breaking it down too fine as you don’t want it to burn.  

3. Spread your foil or parchment paper onto your oven proof dish and carefully layer your ground, dried flower on top. Place the dish in the oven on the centre rack for 25-30 minutes.  

4. Check on your cannabis frequently while it’s in the oven but try to not open your oven door too much. You can gently mix it to ensure that it doesn’t burn. Over time the colour of the cannabis will change and turn a darker brown-green.  

5. When it’s done it will be light-medium brown and very dry. If it isn’t pop it back in for a few more minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool. When it is cool transfer it to a storage container.

Now you have decarbed your cannabis you can make all the edibles you desire. Find out how you can now make your newly decarbed cannabis into cannabis butter here.

Happy Decarbing! 

Medical Marijuana Consulting (MMC)

Why Should I Buy Medical Cannabis When Recreational Cannabis is Legal?

3-4 minute read

We hear this question all the time, and it’s one of our favourites to answer. There are many benefits to being a medical cannabis patient versus self-medicating. Here are a few of our favourite reasons.  

1. You can get medical cannabis costs covered  

When you’re a medical cannabis patient there are a few different ways you can get the cost of your medical cannabis covered.

Tax Returns  

You can claim medical cannabis on your tax returns. Just like any other medical prescription, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows medical cannabis to be claimed as a medical expense deduction on your federal income taxes. 

Compassionate Pricing  

Some Licensed Producer’s, such as Aphria and Aurora, offer compassionate pricing. A discounted price on medical cannabis products is offered to low- income individuals and people who are a part of programs such as the Ontario Disability Program Support (ODSP). 

Insurance Provider

Many major insurance companies include medical cannabis in their insurance plans. Whether you are eligible for coverage depends what plan your on and what medical conditions you are using medical cannabis to treat. To find a list of the most common insurance companies in Canada who include medical cannabis in their plans, read our blog How to Get Coverage with Your Insurance Provider. 

2. Medical products are cheaper 

Most companies operating in the cannabis market offer medical cannabis products, on their secure website, and recreational cannabis through channels such as OCS.ca or in retail stores. 

Sometimes you can find identical products in medical and recreational but the branding is different, which means directly comparing medical vs recreational products can be very difficult if you don’t know the companies. 

We find that products available for medicinal use tend to be about 10-15% cheaper than similar or identical products sold for recreational use. 

Here are some examples: 

Foray Peach Mango 5mg Soft Chews Edibles 

On the OCS, Foray Pineapple Orange Soft Chew Edibles are $6.65 whereas from Medical Cannabis by Shoppers they’re $5.99.   

Tweed CBD Softgels, 20mg CBD 

On the OCS, Tweed CBD softgels are $42.95 for 15 capsules ($85.90 for 30 capsules). While on Spectrum Therapeutics medical site, the exact same capsules can be found under the Spectrum branding at $72 for 30 capsules.

3. You get a wider variety of CBD products   

CBD is the non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis known for its anti-inflammatory effect. Medical cannabis products with high levels of CBD can help patients with a spectrum of conditions including anxiety, depression, acne and heart disease. Research shows that people with anxiety and poor sleep are calmed by high levels of CBD, which improves their sleep after just one month of use. In the medical market you can buy a wider variety of CBD dominant products. These products are available in rapid on-set formats not available in the recreational market.  

4. When you’re treating a condition it’s safer to buy medical cannabis

The recreational market is meant for, just that, recreational use. If you’re looking for a product to target a medical condition it can be hard to navigate. For example, the recreational market focuses on promoting high THC products, which might not be suitable for your needs. 

When you’re buying a product for medical use it’s important to go through a medical channel to buy it. Speak to a professional and experienced Healthcare Practitioner and get guidance on the most suitable treatment for you. 

This is where a clinic like MMC can help. By obtaining a medical cannabis prescription, your treatment will be supervised by one of our specialized Nurse Practitioners. If any of your practitioners want to be kept updated on your treatment, we’re happy to send them informed with reports and ordering is all done online, with the products being shipped directly to your door by Canada Post or Purolator.

 Find out more about how to become an MMC patient today and book an appointment with one of our experienced Nurse Practitioners today.

Medical Marijuana Consulting (MMC)