Medical marijuana is not just for people. Treats and treatments derived from hemp and cannabis are becoming more popular with pet owners. As medical and recreational marijuana is legalized at the state level in more states each election cycle, humans who perceive medical benefits to the federally illegal drug are trying to pass those benefits on to their furry friends.There is a significant difference between human recreational and medical edibles and some of the treats commercially available for veterinary use, said Anthony Franciosi of Honest Marijuana Co. in Oak Creek, Colorado. ìVeterinarians are using cannabidiol, derived from hemp, and really anyone can buy that online,î Franciosi said. ìThere’s a million products. Cannabis has been bred for a millennia for its unique characteristics, which hemp has not. Although it seems like they are getting results from hemp-derived CBD, cannabis-derived CBD has more impact medicinally.îThe maladies that veterinary medical marijuana allegedly treats are similar to those in the human population. ìThere are reports that marijuana based CBD treatments can be effective in addressing a variety of conditions, including anxiety, stress, chronic inflammation, appetite stimulation, pain, dementia and even cancer,î said Dr. Jeff Werber, a Los Angeles-based veterinarian who has hosted pet health shows on Animal Planet and PBS.Veterinarians are not legally allowed to prescribe marijuana. The Colorado Veterinary Medicine Association does not have an official position on marijuana and pets at this time, said Maren Williams, communication and outreach specialist for the CVMA. Williams referenced the American Veterinary Medical Association’s statement on the issue: ìThey note that even in states where medical marijuana is legal, it is still a Class 1 narcotic under federal law, which means vets are legally not allowed to prescribe it to their patients.îìAlthough veterinarians cannot legally prescribe CBD, if a veterinarian believes in the potential usefulness of treatment with CBD for a pet, he or she is free to express that opinion and recommendation,î Werber said.Adding medical marijuana derivatives to pet care options is unlikely to have a significant impact on the overall legalization debate, Franciosi said. ìI don’t think it will play a major role in changing minds, but it may shine a positive light on the industry,î he said. ìPeople who already use it or are in favor of it are probably more inclined to use it with their animals.îWhile CBD oils, edibles and other infused products are available side-by-side with edibles for humans in dispensaries, it is important to make sure a pet gets the right medicine and dosage. ìCBD is not psychoactive, meaning it won’t get you ëhigh,íî Werber said. ìIt is responsible for the medicinal value of the plant. Most people ingest THC for the high. When a pet gets hold of some of that product, the psychoactive properties it delivers can result in the need for emergency care.îìAs a pet owner, you have to be cautious about human edibles, especially if it’s a THC-laden product,î Franciosi said. ìThe dog or cat doesn’t know it’s being fed a psychoactive ingredient. Dogs can be paranoid, and cats are just anxious anyway. And they wouldn’t have knowledge of what’s coming next, and that would cause them a lot of stress.îAccidental THC consumption by pets has resulted in a large increase in emergency visits for toxicity, said Caitlin Kinney, spokeswoman for Trupanion, a pet insurance company. ìIn fact, in the first two months of 2015 alone, Trupanion received twice as many claims as the entirety of 2013, and has paid over $24,000 in marijuana toxicity cases,î Kinney said. ìColorado and Washington have seen the biggest claim increase per capita since marijuana was legalized in 2014.îPet owners interested in trying CBD treatments for their pets can find information on the Internet and from fellow pet owners. ìThere is information available online, including articles by veterinarians and references to studies related to the use of marijuana in treating human ailments,î Werber said.ìAs a pet owner, you need to start slow and at a low dose,î Franciosi said. ìFor a 50-pound dog, compared to a 150-pound human, you’d want to be in the one-to-five milligram range, and see if you get results.îQuality control and contamination could be an issue with cannabis-based treatments targeted toward animals, instead of humans. ìIf you’re going to be using cannabis extracts, try to use a company known to have organic and probiotic practices,î Franciosi said. ìIf you’re going through the effort to buy this expensive stuff for your pet, you should take the effort to make sure it’s organically grown.î
