AI Isn' t A Substitute For A Doctor
But Here’s When You Can Turn To AI For Medical Advice
For most people these days, seeking medical advice is no longer about paying expensive doctors and waiting weeks, sometimes even months, just for a consultation with them.
These days, the “consult” doesn’t happen in a clinic anymore: it happens on our computer. With Dr. ChatGPT.
Medical marijuana users can find a wealth of valuable advice when it comes to checking with ChatGPT how much cannabis you can take to help you sleep, if it can replace a prescription medicine you’re already taking, or if you should increase your dose.
“How much of this gummy can help me go to sleep?”
“What’s the best strain for constant headaches?”
“Can weed replace my medication?”
“Is THC going to help calm down my anxiety?”
These are just some of the myriad questions that cannabis users can ask ChatGPT.
Even everyday patients are seeking advice from ChatGPT to check for medicine interactions, over-the-counter recommendations, pain relief, and so much more.
We understand: a huge part of why people are turning to AI for medical advice is because it’s just so accessible. But more importantly, especially in the field of medical marijuana, obtaining formal medical advice can be very difficult. More than that, there is still the stigma that we have to deal with, and oftentimes, many medical marijuana patients feel dismissed by traditional healthcare.
But with ChatGPT, all patients are validated.
And truthfully, AI has been very useful for medical advice. Everyone can access the latest medical advice 24/7, so it’s easy to see why it has become the first stop for medical consultations these days.
Does It Do More Harm Than Good?
Consulting with ChatGPT for using medications, including cannabis, can be useful to an extent.
That said, it might not always be safe.
AI can surely be more informative than a quick search on Google. But it is no replacement for a licensed medical technician.
For medical marijuana, AI can be valuable in making cannabis more approachable, explaining medical terms into plain language. It can easily discuss the differences between THC and CBD without complex jargon, allowing consumers to easily understand concepts such as terpene profiles, tolerance, dosage, and more. New cannabis consumers, as well as recreational users who are turning to it for medical use, can benefit from this kind of clarity while avoiding unwanted side effects.
However, there can also be some clear risks involved when self-medicating with cannabis using AI for advice.
For one, keep in mind that AI doesn’t know your body. Each human being has a unique physiological makeup, as well as medical history, which must be taken into consideration before starting any kind of wellness routine. Whereas a trained medical professional would be able to spot certain symptoms, warning signs, or other important biological cues going on in your system.
AI will confidently give medical advice, even if you provide it with incomplete or generalized information about your body.
Medicating with anything, including cannabis, can be sensitive to these types of nuances. For most people, the difference between a beneficial or overwhelming THC dose is minimal, and the same strain that triggers one person can calm another. Also, THC interacts with medications such as blood pressure drugs and antidepressants. If you have a history of anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorder, or other mental conditions, using cannabis without close supervision of a trained professional can wreak havoc.
Second, there are also behavioral risks involved. AI reinforces what it is you want to hear. If you phrase your prompts as cannabis-positive, you’ll get results that give you a false sense of safety, and even ‘researched' feedback will start to sound like they have been medically approved.
So when it comes to diagnosis, planning treatments, and managing real and potentially serious medical conditions, it’s always best to consult with a doctor.
When Is It Safe To Consult With AI For Medical Marijuana?
That’s not to say that AI doesn’t have a place for medical use. You can safety consult with AI to use cannabis for a number of situations:
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Mild symptoms that you have a basic understanding of, such as:
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Occasional anxiety
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Insomnia
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Muscle soreness
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Minor headaches
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In these situations, AI can be beneficial for understanding the benefits of CBD vs. THC for treating each case. It can also suggest a good low starting dose, and explain different formats of consumption.
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Learning about harm reduction. Asking AI questions such as:
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“How long will the effects last?”
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“Are the ingredients of these edibles low in sugar?”
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“How many do I take for a good high?”
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“How can I counter being too stoned?”
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These are among the best use cases of ChatGPT and other AI tools to reduce common risks such as getting too stoned, anxiety or paranoia, and other side effects
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You’ve already consulted with a licensed medical provider. You just need AI’s help in explaining what you were told, to compare formats, or track various effects.
You already have a solid understanding of what cannabis can and can’t do for you, given your current medical condition. Using AI for advice basically acts like a second layer of education, instead of making it the sole decision-maker.
Conclusion
AI can be a terrific ally for patients of all kinds, as we know we must continuously advocate for ourselves in the healthcare space. This is especially true when it comes to medical marijuana. When used wisely, artificial intelligence can help encourage safe use, aid in education, and help you make informed choices.
That said, it must never be used to replace real medical guidance.
Despite all the intelligence of AI, it doesn’t know your medical history nor your body. Only a licensed healthcare provider can identify symptoms or warning signs and put them all together.
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