Redwing, the use of medicinal cannabis is totally different to the use of recreational cannabis.
For recreational use the relevant compound is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). That is what provides the "high". When used medicinally the most relevant compound is Cannabidiol (CBD) which produces no psychotropic affect whatsoever. Depending on what ailment is being treated the relevant percentages of THC and CBD are adjusted, with CBD always dominent and the level of THC is never high enough to produce a "high" and is often as low as 2 or 3%.
Also you should note that the most common forms of medicine are consumed in the form of oil, tablet, or vapour inhalers, not as a precribed smoking product.
I would suggest that the medicines based on cannabis are likely to be far safer than the medicines based on opium, eg codeine, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone etc. Are you happy taking them?
This topic is of interest to me because my wife suffers from Meniere's disease and Rheumatoid arthritis and Cannabis oil has been shown to be very effective for the relief of dizziness and nausea and some pain relief. Not all of the other medicines she takes are completely effective and she is allergic to most opiods, though she has tolerated fentanyl patches.
Tha Australian government has very recently legalised the use of medicinal cannabis, but there are many hoops to be jumped through before a Dr can prescribe it. There is also no controlled production facility capable of producing commercial quantities, so it is all imported and very expensive. We hope that will improve over time.
There is a very informative document provided by the Queensland Dept of Health see
/www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/634163/med-cannabis-clinical-guide.pdfAll that said, I can understand why people are nervous about
accepting Medication based on a plant capable of destroying lives. But then what price the poppy?
Chas