What Is Medical Marijuana And Which Conditions It Treats?
In the past few years, masses have started to explore and recognize medical marijuana for different issues. At present, every state has established laws to dictate the use of medical marijuana, but over two-thirds of the US states have already legalized its usage. Many more states are already considering bills to follow suit.
There is no denying that this increased legalization of medical marijuana will open the doors for more research into the substance’s effectiveness. Existing research has already shown positive results in the treatment of several disorders.
Keeping all that in mind, this article discusses the five health conditions that medical marijuana can help in treating.
- It May Help in Managing Alzheimer’s Disease
While medical marijuana is certainly not the cure for Alzheimer’s or dementia, it has proven effective in controlling the symptoms. As such, Sativa can considerably improve the quality of life for the people who have the disease.
Studies pointed out that medical marijuana can improve the patient’s behavior, sleeping patterns, and mood. Furthermore, other common symptoms like aggression and agitation can be counteracted by the impact of cannabis and its components.
Minnesota has become the latest state to join thirteen other states to let people with Alzheimer’s disease use medical marijuana for treatment. In Alzheimer’s patients, a protein, namely amyloid builds up in the brain. Laboratory studies show that the components of medical marijuana helps in getting rid of this protein from the nerve cells of the brain.
- It May Support Treatment Of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a common issue that impacts millions of people countrywide. It is a broad category that might include a standalone condition such as fibromyalgia or stem as a symptom of some other disease like Parkinson’s.
This high number of individuals suffering from pain has led to the opioid epidemic, which means more people become addicted to prescription meds for treating chronic pain. It has made the medical community look for alternatives to standard drugs.
It makes many people rely on medical marijuana to treat pain as their main disabling condition or as the symptom of some other condition. Unlike the opioids with considerable side effects, cannabis is a comparatively safer option because any risk of a fatal overdose is really low. Though more research is still undergoing in this area, the preliminary findings and the reports from users suggest that cannabis can aid people in dealing with chronic pain. But don’t forget to consult your doctor if you consume corticosteroids, celecoxib, fluoxetine, tramadol or other anti-pain medicines.
Well, Shatter is a THC extract of marijuana with a large terpene profile. It is a potent concentrate derived from the trichomes of cannabis flowers. Like wax, budder, and BHO, shatter is made through a complex extraction process that uses solvents like butane or CO2. Unlike other concentrates, shatter has a transparent amber appearance and can shatter like glass. Shatter Stores have been the Largest Supplier of Extracts in all of Canada .
- It Can Cure Insomnia
With the increase in stress and tension among people, insomnia has become very common. It is a sleeping disorder found in many people with neurological issues, health problems, hectic work schedules, and mental disorders.
While 10-30% of citizens in the USA suffer from insomnia disorder, about 50% of them show the symptoms. Though there are medications, using them every day can have side effects. Research shows that consuming medical marijuana can be helpful as it helps people restore their sleep cycle naturally.
In a study of 2018, 409 people who have insomnia took part, and they consumed medical marijuana every day. After two weeks, they reported about a 4.5% reduction in the sleeping disorder. It also boosted the quality and time of sleep in stage 4.
Moreover, marijuana has varieties of terpenes like terpineol, terpinolene, and limonene, which can boost sleep quality Phytol and pinene can help you fall asleep faster.
- It Can be Effective in Treating Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are becoming more common these days. Studies have stated that more than 264 million people worldwide suffer from these. Consumption of medical marijuana can control your moods and emotions owing to the presence of naturally occurring compounds like cannabidiol, THC, and terpenes.
Serotonin is responsible for depression and anxiety. If it is low, people will feel more depressed, whereas if the serotonin level is high, both depression and anxiety will remain under control. CBD monitors the brain’s chemical receptors that lower serotonin level, which in turn controls depression. Studies have also proven that cannabidiol comes with anti-stress and anti-anxiety effects.
- It May Help Relieve Nausea Induced By Chemotherapy
Clinical trials involving humans and animal experiments have shown that cannabinoids and cannabis effectively relieve vomiting/nausea and several kinds of pain, along with stimulating appetite. This is because it reacts with the serotonin receptors of the brain.
Cannabinoids have more effectiveness than older medications like antihistamines and phenothiazines. Research showed that Sativex, a drug containing both THC and CBD is very effective in controlling the nausea and vomiting occurred during chemotherapy.
Medical marijuana has been popular to aid in cancer treatment in several ways. It can soothe anxiety and relieve the pain associated with various forms of cancer. Thus, marijuana has benefits on the treatment of several symptoms of cancer at the same time. The fact that it has no evident side effect is also an added advantage to its use.
Summing Up
Medical marijuana has shown positive results in the treatment of several severe health conditions, as discussed above. In any disease that marijuana can treat, there is an extreme need for more significant research and clinical trials. The initial findings have been hopeful, but more concrete evidence is necessary to make medical marijuana widely accepted.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
