Cannabis often receives praise as a natural remedy for helping with many health issues. Green and grown in soil, it is difficult to ignore its organic qualities. Because it’s associated with nature, many people wrongly categorize cannabis use for illness or injury as homeopathic care. But bud research and acceptance in society as a treatment puts weed on the level of medicine. Medical weed should not be classified as homeopathy because medical marijuana is different than homeopathy. It should receive consideration as a legitimate medicine which may work more efficiently than homeopathic approaches. In the end, it all comes down to federally accepted science. Here’s why medical marijuana is different than homeopathy— and better.

What Is Homeopathy?

In a National Institute of Health Survey done in 2012, around 5 million adults and 1 million children used homeopathy as a treatment. It is a natural and gentle system of treating and healing the body. This restorative and safe method uses natural medicines or “remedies” made from natural sources like plants and minerals. These treatments strive to include cruelty-free and environmentally-friendly processes and ingredients.

Homeopathic medicines contain a combination of ingredients. Manufacturers make these products from plants, minerals, and animal products, like the venom of a snake or the ink of a cuttlefish. Remedies are found online, in drug and grocery stores, and in specialty pharmacies. In general, many people consider these products affordable and safe for most to use.

All over the world, this type of treatment seems to help people their health issues. Just recently, the Swiss government released the first report on the subject.

Because the country found benefits to these treatments through their own research, it hopes to include it as a part of their country’s health care program.

The Pros and Cons of Homeopathy

Though many people praise homeopathy, other scientific research claims it isn’t so ideal. These mixed reviews could come from the conflict between homeopathy and science. Its key facets and the central concepts of chemistry and physics don’t agree with each other.

For example, science can’t explain how a remedy can cause an effect if the active ingredient is unknown. Also, this type of treatment is individualized. And providers don’t use the same standards when prescribing these treatments. What one provider suggests, another may suggest the opposite.

Not to mention, manufacturers often dilute these products at unknown ratios. Homeopathic “provings” control what a remedy has in it. They also decide how much it is diluted. But this biased method doesn’t seem very unscientific.

The effects of the homeopathy may result simply from daily life. Meaning, it isn’t possible to tell if these treatments cause progress or just something else. Also, it isn’t known how much of the active ingredient a patient actually gets with these drugs. This is due to different levels of dilution. As a result, the treatment will vary every single time.

Also, these natural drugs often come with their own side effects. In another study done in 2012, a review of case reports looked at the use of certain treatments. They looked at those treatments containing heavy metals as a replacement for regular treatments. The study showed switching to homeopathy from these conventional, science-based and approved ways could cause negative results.

But medical weed isn’t homeopathy. Medical marijuana is different than homeopathy. It’s a natural drug currently undergoing tests for its health benefits by the scientific community. And what they’re finding shows that weed works for a number of issues. Science can prove it.

A Major Difference: The FDA

Right now, the US government defines cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug. As a federally controlled drug, it isn’t regulated. But in states where weed is legal, they can regulate it. And in states with medical weed, licensed doctors prescribe the drug. These professionals tell the patient the right dosage and method to use the drug.

Unlike weed, homeopathic medicines must meet FDA regulations. These drug products must follow the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices. Also, they must meet the standards in the US’s official homeopathic manufacturing manual. But while the government supervises these drugs, the exact ratios and make-up of them is unknown.

But medical marijuana is different than homeopathy. In states with weed prescriptions, exact amounts and effects of the strains are known. In this way, medical weed stands as a more controllable, reliable, and effective treatment than homeopathy.

Final Hit: Why Medical Marijuana Is Different Than Homeopathy— And Better

Medical weed has shown to be a worthwhile choice for many when it comes to treatment. Now thanks to science, the FDA may soon re-classify weed. Helpful for a wide variety of issues, medical cannabis has gone through many research trials to prove how effective it is as a pain-reliever and more. It aids seniors facing pain from aging. It works as a miracle to those with seizures, It’s so accepted as a medicine, even nurses may soon be able to give it to patients.

It’s undeniable that medical marijuana is different than homeopathy. Rather, it is now a scientifically-backed treatment. Knowing the growing amount of research on medical weed as well as the control it gives patients, it is clear why it trumps homeopathic practices.