Zia Health and Wellness Medical Cannabis Program in Albuquerque

"Excellent in EVERY SINGLE ASPECT! Julie and Emily are the absolute best. This is coming from a Combat Veteran who fought in Iraq and suffers from extreme PTSD (Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Issues, and much more), pain, and horrible headaches. I am proud to have made sacrifices knowing there are people like those three out there who legitimately care about helping their patients. Keep up the excellent work! You have my repeat business." -BHA420 via Allbud

"Helpful staff." -Frank J.

"The ladies in front are always polite and professional. I love this place." -Chris M.

*****-Jaime C.

***** -Trisha R.

***** -Tanya P.

***** -Melinda S.
***** -Mariannah C.

***** -Jonell S.
***** -Ed G.

"Zia Health was awesome! Very kind and knowledgeable about the medicine; they were very helpful to me." -brureyes, via Allbud

"Good place. I got my inital first card and my renewal there. No problems whatsoever." -via Allbud

"Friendly and helpful staff took care of everything. I interacted with several people here, all of whom were professional and able to answer any questions. Appointment scheduling was easy, and I left having learned a lot and feeling confident about my choices going forward." -toonyten via Allbud

"Helpful, friendly, competitive doctor's fees. I've gotten my card through them for years without any issues. Patrick is really knowledgeable about cannabis and Julie is super helpful and friendly when it comes to explaining the program and helping with enrollment." -M.L.

"Zia is the best place to get a cannabis card. They're always helpful and friendly. Good people, good docs, good prices." -Gilbert R.

***** -Janet D.

*****-Desiree A.

*****-Stephen B.

"This place is an amazing spot because I was able to finally get my medical cannabis card. The people there are super nice and helpful. The staff is knowledgeable and will help you get set up with an appointment to get your medical cannabis card. Overall five stars and highly recommend them to anyone looking for theirs." -Joshua J.

using the whole plant
Many of cannabis’ active ingredients are extractable into fat and alcohol. Cannabis-infused oils, alcohol, and butters can be used for making baked goods and tinctures to provide relief to those who are unable to smoke, or as a preference, complement, or alternative to smoking.

The whole cannabis plant may be efficiently utilized. The flower (“bud”) is the most potent part of the plant; therefore the bud is preferable for smoking. The leaves (“shake”) and stems are less potent and are typically not smoked. Shake is preferable for baking and tinctures since it is less costly and its potency is increased by these modes of ingestion.

Note: Edible products (cookies, suckers, oils, brownies, etc.), oils and capsules are available through many dispensaries in NM.
CBD products not containing THC may be purchased at Zia Health & Wellness.

options for smoking
Cannabis may be ground or cut and then rolled into a “joint.” We recommend using hemp or rice-based rolling papers for both health reasons and to avoid using tree paper.
Pipes can be used to avoid smoking paper
and are useful when smoking small quantities. We recommend glass pipes.
Water pipes can be used to cool the temperatures of inhaled plant matter.
Vaporizers can be used as smokeless alternatives and also provide a uniquely
“clear” psychoactive effect.
A blend of herbs that soothe the lungs can be smoked with cannabis.

View on desktop for optimal results.

(in part from: Marijuana Medicine, Christian Ratsch, 2001)

cannabis indica
Indica plants are normally shorter and stockier plants, reaching 1-2 meters in height with wide, deeply serrated leaves and a compact and dense flower cluster.

The effects of indicas are predominately physical although the relief of certain physical symptoms can have an emotional result as well. These effects can be characterized as relaxing, sedating and pain reducing. Indicas are generally best for later in the day and before bed.

Some benefits:
Reduces pain
Relaxes muscles
Relieves spasms
Reduces inflammation
Aids sleep
Reduces anxiety & stress
Reduces nausea
Stimulates appetite
Relieves headaches & migraines
Reduces intra-ocular pressure
Anti-convulsant
Reduces seizure frequency
Expectorant

The Original | Established 2009

cannabis sativa
Generally, the sativa plant is the taller and lankier variety, reaching heights of over 5-6 meters. It’s characterized by narrow serrated leaves and loose, spear-like flower clusters that can be extremely resinous.

Primarily, the effects of sativas are on the mind and emotions. In this regard they tend to be more stimulating, uplifting, energizing and creativity enhancing. These benefits can be particularly helpful for the psychological component of many illnesses. Sativas are generally better for daytime.

Some benefits:
Reduces depression
Relieves headaches & migraines
Energizes & stimulates
Reduces awareness of pain
Increases focus & creativity
Stimulates appetite
Reduces nausea
Supports immune system
Expectorant

About Medical Cannabis

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active ingredients
Each strain of cannabis contains different ratios of cannabinoids, natural drug components which work synergistically to provide its therapeutic effects.
The main active ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC has euphoric, anti-emetic, anti-inflammatory, appetite stimulating, bronchi dilating, hypotensive, antidepressant & analgesic effects.
High-potency cannabis contains at least 15% THC.
Cannabidiol (CBD) lessens the psychoactive effects of the THC and has sedative & analgesic effects. Cannabichromene (CBC) promotes the analgesic effects of THC and has sedative effects.
Cannabigerol (CBG) has sedative effects and antimicrobial properties and lowers intra-ocular pressure. It is the biogenetic precursor of the other cannabinoids.
Cannabinol (CBN) is a mildly psychoactive degradation of THC; its primary effects are to lower intra-ocular pressure and it is antiepileptic.

strain crosses
indica x sativa ~ sativa x indica
Hybrids are the result of cross-pollination of various strains. The characteristics and effects of one strain will usually be dominant. For example, indica-dominant crosses are good for pain relief, with the sativa component helping with energy and activity levels. Sativa-dominant crosses are good for stimulating appetite, with the indica component helping to reduce body pain and increase relaxation.

modes of ingestion
Self-titration is easiest with smoking cannabis. The effects are usually felt within 30-60 seconds and develop fully within 5-15 minutes. These effects may last from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Take 1-2 puffs and wait 15 minutes in order to find the right dosage.
The effects of ingested cannabis may be felt within the first 30 minutes to 2 hours (if the stomach is full the effects may take longer) and may last for 2-8 hours.
Effects from baked goods vary depending on what strain is used for the preparation, but tend to be somewhat more sedative and considerably more psychoactive. Due to strength, cannabis preparations should be eaten by starting with a small bite, waiting an hour or two, and if needed, increasing the dose very gradually throughout the day.
For tinctures, take 3 drops and wait 1 hour. Increase or decrease as needed. Tinctures may also be taken by drops under the tongue for an effect similar to smoked cannabis. They are made with various strains.

strain selection & dosage
The efficacy of cannabis is directly related to strain selection, therefore we recommend care be taken in selecting appropriate strains to meet your needs. Potency varies with strains. In terms of dosage, the ideal is to smoke as little as possible in order to reduce costs & respiratory irritation. You will need to smoke less of a high-potency cannabis to reach the desired effect. If you find yourself needing to smoke greater quantities more often to achieve the desired effect, reduce
or stop intake for a time.
Changing the variety of
cannabis normally used
will also help you to return
to a minimized effective
dosage level. Ask your favorite dispensary for assistance regarding strain selection.

side effects
There are some effects of cannabis that are not therapeutic and can be mitigated through awareness:

Cannabis may cause dizziness upon standing due to lowered blood pressure.
Initial increase in heart rate and/or blood pressure may be problematic for those with heart conditions or severe anxiety.
Cannabis may cause a decrease in coordination and cognition, and short-term memory loss when medicated.
There are no significant withdrawal effects when cannabis use is ceased or decreased. However, symptom relief will also be decreased.
Effects vary from person to person.

using cannabis safely
Do not drive or operate heavy machinery if impaired by cannabis. (Indicas can be especially sedating.)
Cannabis mixed with alcohol may cause nausea and vomiting.
Those receiving digitalis or other cardiac medications should use cannabis under careful supervision by a medical doctor.
Heavy smoking with no harm reduction techniques (i.e. smoking small amounts of high-potency organic cannabis) may lead to respiratory irritation.
Hold shared joints and other shared smoking implements so as not to touch your lips to them.
Cultivators should properly dry the cannabis to minimize molds & fungi. Stems should break easily making an audible snapping sound.
Know your rights and take
precautions to avoid the
harmful effects of arrest,
cannabis seizure,
imprisonment and
criminal record.
Choose organic cannabis
whenever possible to
minimize exposure to
radioactivity and chemicals. This is especially important for people with compromised immune systems.