Since marijuana has become legal in most parts of the world, the medical marijuana industry has grown tremendously. Long before marijuana was legalized for recreational use, it was first legalized for medical use in California in 1996. Since its legalisation, there have been many benefits that have been discovered from assisting with pain relief to anxiety to helping treat side effects of chemotherapy treatment like nausea and vomiting. Marijuana for medical use really is proving to be revolutionary. If you want to learn more about medical cannabis, here is what you should know to help you understand it more:
Are there several types of medical marijuana available?
Because marijuana has always been criminalized, medical cannabis remains a controversial topic. There are 2 main types of this herb: indica and sativa. Indica induces sleepiness, relaxation and relief from muscle spasms while sativa produces energy that can be used for creativity or focus. Depending on the types of marijuana you use and the condition that you are using it for, the benefits on your health will vary. For example, if you have chronic pain from an injury or illness then it might help with the pain as well as the anxiety that comes with it because weed reduces stress levels in people who are regular users.
To get medical marijuana you need a written recommendation from a licensed doctor where it is legal. Acquiring it depends on where you live, but the accessories to consume it have become easy to find, especially since they are now online, at online retailers like Smoke Cartel. The dosage will depend on the condition and the doctor will know how to accurately dose you according to what you want treated. Once you have a prescription you can get it at a dispensary.
How does it treat pain?
Medical marijuana is known to treat multiple forms of pain from nociceptive pain to neuropathic and central pain. This happens when the THC in the herb interacts with the body’s natural cannabinoid receptors and reduces pain signalling and pain perception. Cannabis also has an anti-inflammatory effect as well and helps with different types of pain, some of which include:
- Neuropathic pain
- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
- Pain from chemotherapy
What conditions does it treat?
Medical marijuana seems to be a wonder drug that treats a multitude of conditions. Some of those conditions include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Appetite loss
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Eating disorders
- Epilepsy
- PTSD
- Multiple sclerosis
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Pain
- Seizures
- Reduce anxiety
- Reduce inflammation
The CBD compound in medical marijuana shows signs that it is neuroprotective in Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. CBD also shows to modulate the immune system, promote neuroplasticity and emotional and cognitive modulation including learning and motivation, appetite, vascular function and digestive function.
All of these conditions and symptoms that cannabis treats shows why it is beneficial. If consumed in a safe and healthy way, this herb can really benefit you and alleviate some harsh symptoms.
Precautions
Everything in life has a balance of good and bad. And with the good, there are some things that you need to watch out for. Medical marijuana is no different. There have been a few side effects reported including:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Fast heartbeat
- Hallucinations
- Low blood pressure
Marijuana can also affect your judgement and coordination so it is important to never operate a motor vehicle while under the influence because it might cause a car accident which will result in injuries. It is also not advised that teenagers use cannabis because during the teenage years the brain is still developing and consuming this substance might affect the IQ and mental function of the brain.
Other risks include breathing problems linked to smoking it and a chronic cough and bronchitis. Also never use cannabis while pregnant because it may affect your baby’s health and development. Lastly, weed has been linked to psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia so if you decide to consume it, do so at your own risk and with all the knowledge that you possibly can have about the risks and precautions.
So there you have it, a simple guide to medical marijuana, what it is, how it can help you as well as some of the precautions that you need to be familiar with before using it. It is important to make an informed decision before consuming this herb and hopefully with this information you can make that informed decision.