Cannabis can be confusing to a novice user as there are hundreds of strains available on the recreational and medical market. Each strain contains a unique profile of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids which all act in unison to produce the effects a user experiences. It takes time to determine which strain and terpene profile works best for individualized needs as well as determine an appropriate dosage for each strain. There are three basic classes of cannabis: indica, sativa and hybrid. Each class produces distinct effects, although even these effects differ amongst different strains in the same class. It can take…

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court allowed patients using medical marijuana to legally alter their dried cannabis into oils. Before this point, it was considered unlawful as the previous regulations only allowed the vaporization of dried cannabis. Since the ruling, more waves have been made in the medical marijuana industry, and some insurance companies may even be on board with actually covering cannabis oil, due to its ability to be concentrated into consecutive doses in the form of pills, therefore leading to doses being more regulated and consistent. With all the hype currently going around about cannabis oils, you may…

You’ve probably seen hemp CBD oils sold online or even in a local convenience store. It’s not only the accessibility of theses oils but also the medicinal relief that these drugs bring in, that add up to the popularity of CBD oils. With CBD’s therapeutic benefits becoming more widely known, you may have wondered if there’s a difference between oils labelled as “hemp” and “cannabis.” A thorough knowledge of these drugs and the composition of each drug, hold significance upon its usage. It becomes important to know the composition of the oil in order to best utilize the products for…

Prevalence & Description of Cancer Cancer is the leading cause of death among Canadians. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, nearly 1 in 2 Canadians are expected to experience cancer in their lifetime, with 1 in 4 Canadians expected to die from the disease. In 2017, it was estimated that 206,200 cases of cancer would be diagnosed, with this prevalence expected to increase by 80% by 2030 than the prevalence recorded in 2005. Cancer is a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body, with this cell proliferation being what causes cancer to…

Cannabis use for medical purposes is gaining popularity in Canada as it can be used to treat a wide range of physical ailments and symptoms. Medical cannabis use extends to children and has been shown to help treat or manage symptoms of seizures, epilepsy, ADD, ADHD, autism and childhood cancers. As children are not just “tiny adults” all medical cannabis use in children should be supervised by a licensed medical professional. Under the Cannabis Act, medical cannabis use does not have an age restriction as with recreational cannabis use. Children are eligible to receive a medical cannabis recommendation that is…

The Cannabis Plant The term cannabis is used to refer to the cannabis sativa & indica plant. Though it originated in a few specific countries, the plant is now grown globally, including in Canada. Cannabis products can come in many forms, including fresh/dried herbal material, oil, chemically concentrated extracts, edibles, and more. There are two well-researched cannabinoids out of the vast amount within the cannabis plant. These are THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC THC is the chemical element that leads to the “high” reaction to cannabis, as it is responsible for the way your brain and body responds to the…

Recreational cannabis was legalized on October 17, 2018, under the Federal Government of Canada’s Cannabis Act, but there still remains quite a bit of confusion about what products are legal. CBD oil made from cannabis plants, and produced by Health Canada approved Licensed Producers are legal, both medicinally and recreationally.  Is CBD Oil legal in Canada? Recreational cannabis was made legal in Canada on 17th October 2018, while medical cannabis has been legal in Canada since 2001. It is only safe to assume that CBD oil extracted from the plant strains would be legal as well, right? Almost. There is…

Medical Cannabis has been legal since 2001, and since October 17th, 2018, recreational cannabis is now available for Canadians. Even with recreational cannabis being legalized, there are still numerous benefits to being prescribed medical cannabis through a healthcare practitioner and getting your medical marijuana license in Ontario, as opposed to self-medicating with recreationally purchased cannabis. In this post, we outline 5 reasons why you’ll still want a medical marijuana prescription, and the care and support that comes along with being a medical cannabis patient through a cannabis clinic. Medical vs. Recreational Marijuana Medical marijuana is marijuana that is prescribed by…

 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Can help treat pain, PTSD, depression, nausea, sleep related issues and much more. Depending on its percentage strength, THC strains can cause psychoactive effects.  Cannabidiol (CBD) is non-intoxicating. It can help to reduce inflammation, reduce anxiety, relieve pain & can even treat seizures & more. An Apollo patient educator will use our wealth of knowledge to help you select strains and products with the right levels of the compounds THC & CBD. Each Patient at Apollo is Unique, Just Like Each Cannabis Strain. At Apollo, our Physicians and Patient Educators are here to help you navigate the medical cannabis world….

In cannabis education there are two main types of knowledge we rely on: empirical knowledge and clinical knowledge. Clinical knowledge involves a cognitive understanding of known clinical rules and principles which have a foundation in medical literature, that may include medical studies, peer-reviewed research papers and other scientific based literature.  On the other hand, empirical knowledge involves the observation of behaviours, patterns and outcomes for an individual or group over an extended period of time and is completely subjective in nature. This blog will explore both the empirical knowledge we have about cannabis for pain relief, as well as the…

Health Canada’s Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) has been in effect since August 24th, 2016. The ACMPR details the result of a Federal Court ruling that allows Canadians to access medical marijuana. However, medical marijuana is not available to just anyone. Eligibility depends on many factors. Are you eligible for medical marijuana? If you suffer from chronic pain and have tried traditional medications and therapies but to no avail, you could be eligible for medical marijuana. Many people who receive a prescription for medicinal cannabis are suffering from chronic pain symptoms that have been present for more…

Cannabis and exercise can be each used in their own ways to manage common everyday symptoms such as stress anxiety, pain, inflammation from arthritis and relaxing the mind and uplifting mood. Cannabis and exercise are also a powerful combination for those wanting to reach their fitness goals and maintain a healthy overall lifestyle. When used in conjunction, cannabis and exercise may have a more powerful effect. Disclaimer: Please consult your physician before combining medical cannabis & exercise  Many people with past injuries or arthritis turn to cannabis during exercise to help them manage pain and inflammation. Cannabis may allow an…

The discovery of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) can be attributed to an Israeli scientist named Raphael Mechoulam. This discovery came in 1964 when Mechoulam learned how to isolate delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for the first time. This led to the discovery that the Endocannabinoid System is present in all living things that have skeletal vertebrae. Mechoulam stated “by using a plant that has been around for thousands of years, we discovered a new physiological system of immense importance. We wouldn’t have been able to get there if we had not looked at the plant”. It wasn’t until 1990 that the first…

Anxiety disorders, which are characterized by excessive feelings of apprehension, worry and even fear, are among the most common mental health disorders in both Canada and the rest of the world. One of the most recent Canadian Community Health Surveys from Statistics Canada shows that more than 12% of Canadians have reported that they have been diagnosed with either an anxiety or mood disorder – the equivalent of 3.7 million people. It can be assumed that this number is likely even higher given the number of people who do not seek treatment. About Anxiety Disorders Anxiety disorders are often chronic…

You may have heard controversial stories in the news about parents giving their epileptic children marijuana to stop their seizures. In one case, a 5-year-old with Dravet syndrome was suffering from 300 seizures a week. Although traditional medications were unable to help, a high-CBD cannabis oil reduced her seizures to just 2-3 a month. In this post, we’ll explore the evidence that cannabis can help patients suffering from various forms of epilepsy.

If you’re a first time medical cannabis patient and have decided to order dried medical cannabis, you may be unsure of next steps. Apollo is here to help and we have broken down some important info you What you will need: You will need your grinder, two pieces of blank paper, a scale and your vaporizer. Grind all the Medical Cannabis from one bottle Before grinding any marijuana remember to remove the spatula from the grinder (it is usually in the very bottom level of the grinder). Using one piece of paper, empty one bottle of marijuana; you will grind…

Cannabis is now legal recreationally since October 17th 2018—but that doesn’t mean every form can be legally sold. With so many different forms of marijuana, it can be confusing to know which are regulated. In this post, we’ll walk you through what’s legal now and what could be legal in the future.

THC and CBD are two of the most well-known chemical compounds that make up cannabis and can provide medical benefits. But there’s also another therapeutic compound to know about: Terpenes. In this post, we’ll go over what terpenes are and why they matter in your treatment. What Are Terpenes? Terpenes are the oils that give cannabis its smell and flavor, but they can also have medicinal benefits. Cannabis plants can contain multiple terpenes—and the combination helps make each strain (or type) unique. This means plant breeders have many possible combinations and can grow a plant with specific characteristics in mind….

Stabbing, burning and prickling—these are the unpleasant sensations you may feel if you suffer from neuropathic pain. There are several causes of nerve pain, but it often results from an injury or illness. Although the sensations may come and go, they’re often chronic and severe. Unfortunately, neuropathic pain affects about two million Canadians. For some patients, neuropathic pain can’t be fully cured and they must instead work to manage the sensations. Luckily, many people with severe nerve pain finally find relief through medical cannabis. We’ll detail how treatment with medical marijuana works in this post. Does Medical Cannabis Work for Neuropathic Pain? Numerous studies have shown…

One of the reasons why cannabis is such a great medicine is because treatment can be personalized for different conditions.  If you look at a cannabis bud closely, you will find that it is wrapped in a sticky dusting of crystal which contains numerous therapeutic compounds, which are used for the treatment of various ailments, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and numerous mental disorders. These compounds are called cannabinoids and terpenoids. During the determination of a treatment plan for a person experiencing pain, the physician considers the balance and complimentary benefits of CBD and THC. But whatever the case may…

Feeling helpless, hopeless and losing interest in activities are just a few markers of depression. Whether you’ve just started feeling depressed or have tried treatments with no success, you may not have considered another alternative medication: Marijuana. In this post, we’ll discuss how and which types of cannabis can decrease depressive symptoms. If you want to learn how you may be able to treat your depression using medical marijuana.

If you’re someone who suffers from migraines, you know that its effects can be debilitating and difficult to treat. A migraine is a throbbing headache that is often coupled with other symptoms such as nausea and vision loss. While most of us have experienced some form of a headache, migraines can become so severe that a person is unable to work. Fortunately, if your migraines have been stubborn to traditional treatments, you have another option: Medical cannabis. In this post, we’ll explain how medical marijuana can be used for migraines—both to prevent it and treat the pain it causes.

Even when marijuana is legalized, it still may be beneficial for you to seek treatment from a medical marijuana doctor. This post outlines three major reasons why getting a medical marijuana doctor could be in your best interest. What Is Self-Medicating? The term “self-medicating” is used to describe someone who takes a medication—without a prescription or medical advice—to relieve symptoms of a physical or psychological condition. People don’t always know that they are self-medicating. For example, using cannabis after work to help with stress may actually be a way to self-medicate for anxiety. If you’re already using marijuana to self-medicate,…

With cannabis dispensaries popping up across Canada and frequent raids featured in the news, you may be wondering if these stores are legal. You’ve probably heard that dispensaries operate within the “grey area” of current Canadian law. But what does that mean? Is it true? In this post, we’ll explain in simple terms the legal issues surrounding dispensaries. Are Dispensaries Legal? In short, dispensaries are not legal in Canada. Currently, to legally sell marijuana, a company must meet the following requirements.

Arthritis—characterized by joint pain, swelling and stiffness—is a very common disease with over 100 different types. When someone is diagnosed with arthritis, their treatment will be focused on pain management. Unfortunately, some of the medication doctors prescribe can have serious side effects. Whether you have osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cannabis may help you control your discomfort and inflammation with fewer side effects. In fact, about two-thirds of Canadians who use medical marijuana do so to treat their arthritis symptoms, according to the Arthritis Society.

If you’ve heard of CBD oil, it’s probably because you read an article about a parent giving it to a child who suffers from seizures. Although you may be skeptical about children consuming cannabis products, CBD oil is safe and effective for various conditions—adults and children alike. CBD (Cannabidiol) oil is a potent cannabis extract that has a variety of medical uses. The cannabinoid CBD is the second most commonly present compound in marijuana out of over 113. Many cannabis oils contain the psychoactive chemical THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). However, because CBD oils typically contain little amounts or no THC, they do…

As doctors struggle to contain the opioid crisis in Canada, a new study on chronic pain suggests that medicinal cannabis may offer alternative relief. Funded by Toronto-based Apollo Applied Research, it tracked the experiences of more than 300 chronic pain patients over a period of three years. More than one- third of participants had been prescribed a regimen of opioids, such as oxycodone and fentanyl, which come with a high risk of addiction and potentially fatal overdose. Dosages and delivery mechanisms varied for each patient, but surveys of participants in Apollo’s study — observational in nature rather than experimental —…

Medical Cannabis has been a legal medical treatment option for Canadians since 2001, and both studies and anecdotal evidence indicate that Medical Cannabis can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions, such as chronic pain. If you have been suffering from persisting pain such as nerve pain, back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia and have had limited success with traditional medications, you may want to consider Medical Cannabis. For many people who suffer from both daily and intermittent pain, quality of life can be greatly impacted by their symptoms. Medical Cannabis is an alternative or supplementary treatment option…

Many people tend to underestimate the almost magical-like powers of various herbs on both your health and happiness levels. When people aren’t feeling well, whether physically or mentally, they tend to consult their doctor first and foremost. While traditional medicine certainly has its place, it does not always produce the kind of results you want. Traditional medicine is also known to produce a wide variety of side effects and can cause additional problems. This is not to say that traditional medicine should be avoided; on the contrary, traditional medicine is highly important and you should always consult your doctor first….

Roughly ⅓ of Canadians suffer from poor sleep. They either have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at least some of the time. The problem is that poor sleep—sleep that is not long enough and sleep that is poor quality—is linked to many health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, injuries, depression, reduced well-being, and all-cause mortality. Did you know that improving your sleep can be as beneficial for your happiness levels as winning the lottery? Research has proven it. When it comes to how much people should be sleeping every night, it is recommended that adults between…

Cannabis edibles are cannabis-infused products that you can eat or drink. Virtually any food can be infused with cannabis, from baked goods like brownies and cookies to hard candies to hot and cold beverages. As such, edibles offer a delicious way to consume marijuana in comparison to that of smoking. In fact, edibles are becoming the most popular method of consuming marijuana. Of course, it’s not hard to see why! Cannabis edibles are typically made by infusing cannabis with cooking oil or butter, making canna-oil or canna-butter. These can then be used to make a variety of edible foods. With…

On July 1st, 2018, recreational cannabis will be legalized in Canada. Perhaps you have been wondering how to get a medical cannabis card in Canada, and what the potential ramifications are for cannabis in the workplace. When medical cannabis is prescribed to a patient, it is considered in the same class as any other prescription drug. If you were given antibiotics for an ear infection, you would take them as directed. If you were given medication to control your blood pressure, you would also only take it as prescribed. The same goes for medical cannabis. However, when you are on…

If you’ve decided that you’re ready to try medicinal cannabis, we welcome you. We know that for some of you, it may have been a long road of pain and suffering to reach this point, and we are here with open arms to make your journey using cannabis based medicine, easy, educational and as comfortable as possible. For those looking into medical cannabis for the first time, it can often seem overwhelming and confusing to figure out how to actually become a legal cannabis patient. This article will go over everything you need to know about how to obtain a…