Medicinal Marijuana vs. Recreational Marijuana vs. Street Marijuana

By Rodney C. Brunson, DO, FASAM 

(Originally Posted November 30, 2018 in the Cape May County Herald)

What is the smart choice to make when considering where to purchase cannabis?
First, let’s look at NJ dispensaries for MM (medicinal marijuana).
•     MM may only be prescribed by a physician for medical reasons. Unlike regular prescriptions, it’s prescribed online.
•     The cannabis found in dispensaries is grown in that particular dispensary. The ingredients of the product are clearly noted and indicate percentage of THC and CBD, and perhaps terpenes found in the package. The state government will periodically test the product for accuracy of information so that you will know the purity of what you purchase. Marijuana is not allowed to be transported across state lines and can only be grown indoors in NJ.
•     One will need a MM card to make a purchase and therefore should have a qualifying diagnosis.
•     The purchase amount is limited to two ounces. The maximum THC percentage is limited to a large percentage.
•     The cost of the product may seem prohibitively high, but there are no extra charges.
•     Only NJ residents may purchase MM. Currently some residents are allowed a 20% discount on the product and up to an 80% discount on the cost of your card.
•     NJ physicians provide users instructions on safe use of MM, and will steer you toward the correct species for your particular problem.
Now, let’s look at recreational marijuana, which isn’t legal in NJ yet.
•     Cost – It will cost more than MM, likely due to surcharge (currently 10%, which is low compared to other states) and retail tax – both leading to an average cost of about 27% more than medicinal.
•     Purchase amount and strength – As in other states, recreational marijuana will be limited to a much lower quantity per transaction. This makes sense because if visitors do not use all of it, will they be allowed to leave the state with product? But if they are residents, should they have the same restrictions as out-of-state visitors? The THC concentration will be lower in recreational compared to MM. The only method of controlling this, in my opinion, is by limiting the choices of the strain that recreational users can purchase. Ordinarily, medicinal and recreational should be basically the same, but there are strains of MM with genetically very high THC percentages, and marijuana genetic variations with lower amounts of THC, naturally.
•     Purity – Recreational should have the same purity as medicinal because it is sold out of a government-sanctioned business or facility. Recreational is also only grown inside in NJ.
•     Prescribing – A card may not be needed (not sure about that). Purchasers must be 21 years old or older and have ID (speculation). It will likely have to be smoked indoors. This is an interesting point because if one is not a resident, then where will they be allowed to use it? On the beach? On a boat? Maybe we will build (or use some of the old) casinos just for marijuana smokers! What about a coffee house? (Like in Holland.) They would have to be built and serviced. Job creation!
Finally, street marijuana. This should not be such a category, but it is.
•     Lacing – This is a very big concern with street marijuana. MM and recreational marijuana do quality control and assurance on their products. This isn’t done on street marijuana. This means that what you’re purchasing may have contaminants or adulterants. To make the THC stronger in the oils and extracts, harmful butane may be used and there may be residue of it in your purchase. Harmful heavy metals found in the soil where marijuana grows can leach into the plant. Pesticides and fertilizers can be used to make the potency stronger and plants grow more robustly, and can end up in the marijuana, too. Glass shards may be found in the marijuana made into the street edibles. Fungus and bacteria can grow on the plant due to poor storage of the product. 
•     Chemical Lacing – PCP is used to add more psychoactive properties to the marijuana. PCP can lead to hallucinations, delusions, confusion, aggression, neurological effects, etc. Heroin and maybe fentanyl lead to severe sleepiness, lethargy or relaxation. Opioids as we know can lead to breathing problems and overdose. Embalming fluid, cocaine, laundry detergent (improves the smell) and LSD – just about anything that increases the appeal of the product – might be used. Generally, if your marijuana does not provide any psychoactive, pain relieving, anxiety or sleep benefits, then you may be smoking inert material only. If there is too much psychoactivity seemingly uncharacteristic of marijuana, your product may have dangerous drugs added.
•     Medicinal and recreational bought from the street is commonly obtained through mail from states where both are legal, or from NJ MM patients. However, I believe now that NJ has its own medicinal and soon recreational products (maybe), the need to participate in this activity will no longer be necessary and cease.
General Differences
MM will be stronger than recreational in most cases. Street marijuana may be just as strong as medicinal, but you may not be able to find out the strain or the ratio of THC to CBD until you try it. Or, street marijuana may be weaker than the medicinal and may not help your problem. For decades now people have been buying street marijuana. It has been known in the past to be laced. Nothing new here. Just that now there are some powerful substances to lace it with.
MM is assuredly free of lacing. No contaminants or drugs mixed. No fungi or molds. The same goes for recreational marijuana. Not all street marijuana is laced, but can you tell or are you going to risk it?
Cost differs, too. Medicinal may end up being the least expensive. Recreational may end up being the most expensive. Street? Anything goes. Most users of recreational and street marijuana only want to get high, so the details may not be so important. It should be different with medicinal because these users are using it to treat something medical. You’re allowed to purchase higher quantities of medicinal, speculatively a lot less recreational, and presumably as much street marijuana as you want (which is not a very smart activity to be involved in). If you are unsure of what you purchased, don’t use it or maybe return it or complain about its quality to the dispensary.
For more information, call (609) 484-7000 or visit drbrunsonrecovery.com.
Taken partly from The American Addiction Centers and Abbey Hutmacher; This article is not meant to be medical advice; The author recommends procuring marijuana from government regulated facilities only.