The medical cannabis stream remains in effect following the legalization of recreational cannabis. However, physicians do not recommend that patients access cannabis through recreational dispensaries for the purpose of self-medicating. As with any therapy, it should be undertaken under the guidance and advice of a physician or other prescriber. All medications, particularly controlled substances such as opioids, sedative hypnotic medications and medical cannabis should be instituted first as a trial with frequent monitoring and follow up by the prescriber. Dosing, route of administration and frequency of use should be dictated by the attending physician based on the patient's presenting illness other co-existing illnesses. Furthermore, one must always consider other medications that the patient may be taking so that potential medication interactions and potential side effects can be considered when tailoring the trial of a new therapy. If a patient self-medicates and the medication trial is not monitored by a physician or other prescriber it places the patient at a higher risk for adverse outcomes such as overdose, medication overuse and medication misuse.