Patients and caregivers should educate themselves about medical cannabis and understand the benefits and potential side effects of their medicine. If you are new to using medical cannabis, or are trying a new strain, strength, or route of administration, it might be best to do so when you have no other responsibilities or plans.  New routes of administration in particular may cause somnolence, or tiredness.  By being a sensible medical cannabis user and making informed decisions, you can be as healthy as possible and help change the way people think about medical cannabis use, and also limit your chances of a law enforcement encounter.

Guidelines for avoiding problems:

1. Always listen to the advice of your doctor and use good judgment when using medical cannabis.
2. Carefully determine the amount of cannabis that is right for you. Start with a small amount and slowly increase your dosage to find the proper level for symptomatic relief.
3. Be informed about the side effects of cannabis. It is important to be aware of the possible risks of using medical cannabis. 
4. Think about the benefits of cannabis and relief that its use provides you. Being able to explain your use of medical cannabis can help you be an effective advocate, and you can be an example that helps your friends, family, and community form their own opinions of medical cannabis. 
5. Avoid medical cannabis use that puts you or others at risk, such as using it while driving, at work, or in public places. Remember, you can still be arrested for cannabis use and penalties can be stiff. As with any other medication, it remains illegal to drive while under the influence.
6. Always carry your patient or caregiver registry ID card when in possession of medical cannabis.