Medical cannabis can help treat various conditions, including chronic pain, muscle spasms, chemotherapy-induced nausea and seizures; and also has been found effective against posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety.
Evidence for other conditions remains inconclusive; while observational studies can appear promising, test-tube and animal research are usually more reliable.
It’s legal in some states
Medicinal cannabis has quickly gained acceptance as an effective treatment for various conditions. Although more research must be conducted, preliminary findings show promise for pain relief and improving quality of life among people living with AIDS. Furthermore, cannabis can help decrease nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss caused by chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients.
Epidiolex became widely publicized in the US when parents reported it helped control seizures for their children suffering from Lenox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. Since then, the FDA has approved it for use only among children suffering severe epilepsy; no studies are being done currently that could change this fact.
Medical marijuana comes in various forms such as pills, oils, suppositories and topical creams that must be prescribed by a healthcare provider before use. Patients must confirm policies at any facility where surgery will be performed regarding its use before consulting their primary care doctor about risks and benefits associated with this medication.
It’s not a drug
Many people turn to marijuana to treat their ailments, though its side effects range from mild to severe. Smoking cannabis may irritate lungs and increase heart disease risk; additionally it could potentially trigger psychosis and have serious negative impacts on learning and memory.
However, marijuana does not fit the mold of modern medicines like aspirin in terms of safety and efficacy testing; while aspirin has undergone such rigorous scrutiny. Meanwhile, marijuana has not yet been subject to such testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Medical marijuana can help manage symptoms related to pain, wasting syndrome associated with HIV, and weight loss from chronic hepatitis C infection. Furthermore, it has also been reported to assist with posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders. Available as oil, pills, vaporized liquid, nasal spray and dried leaves/buds dispensed by licensed health care providers who write prescriptions or certify patients as eligible patients for medical marijuana use.
It’s not addictive
Marijuana may not be as addictive as cocaine or opioids, which often require users to steal and falsify information to acquire. Yet cannabis still can lead to psychological dependence; that is, an intense desire for the drug after ceasing use that can cause cravings that lead back to drug use and potentially cause relapse with long-term health impacts.
Medical cannabis has been proven effective at relieving pain caused by conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia. Furthermore, studies have also reported its ability to help ease nausea and vomiting associated with cancer or other serious illnesses.
Consult with your doctor when considering medical marijuana. While they cannot directly prescribe it for you, healthcare providers can issue recommendations or certifications to purchase from licensed dispensaries. Medical cannabis contains various cannabinoids; researchers typically focus on two of them – delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), both proven beneficial medicinally.
It’s not dangerous
Medical cannabis has long been used as an herbal remedy, offering relief for various medical conditions. Cannabis contains chemicals called cannabinoids – with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) being its main component. Recently, Epidiolex, an Epidiolex-based drug approved by FDA has been shown to effectively treat an unusual type of seizure disorder among children.
Medicinal cannabis has long been used to alleviate pain caused by HIV/AIDS and other diseases, nerve damage, surgery or chemotherapy treatments, chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting/vomiting as well as people who lose weight due to these causes; additionally it can lower pressure in the eyes used to treat glaucoma.
Though cannabis remains illegal under federal law, many states now allow physicians to recommend medical marijuana to their patients. Although this practice can be controversial due to compromising physician-patient relationships, patients must be informed of all available treatment options.