According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, people have been using marijuana to manage a wide variety of health conditions for at least 3,000 years. Medical marijuana uses the marijuana plant and the chemicals within it – such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) – to help manage the symptoms of various medical conditions and illnesses.
Medical marijuana has been shown to manage a variety of conditions, including the following:
Cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2018, about 1,735,350 new cancer cases and 609,640 cancer deaths were projected to occur in the United States. Luckily, a 2017 study from St. George’s University of London has found that cannabinoids can effectively kill leukemia cells, especially when used in conjunction with chemotherapy treatments. But the study is in its early stages.
While cannabis, per se, is not a definitive cure for cancer, it can help improve the quality of life of patients and reduce the severity of cancer symptoms. It can help minimize nausea and vomiting that usually accompany chemotherapy treatments, as well as stimulate appetite.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a common condition with more than a hundred variants, with the most common types being psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis. Symptoms usually include swelling and redness along the joint, severe pain, stiffness, weakness, and reduced range of motion. Medical marijuana is most effective in helping the severe, ongoing pain that people with arthritis experience.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and is characterized by seizures. These seizures can range from mild to severe. Medical marijuana – CBD-dominant products particularly – may be very effective at reducing the severity and frequency of seizures in people with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a form of epilepsy.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye condition that damages the optic nerve and is one of the leading causes of blindness. The chemicals in medical cannabis, particularly THC, may lower the eye pressure that characterizes this condition, thereby lessening its symptoms. Additionally, THC can help preserve the optic nerves, which are necessary for vision.
Insomnia
According to research, both THC- and CBD-based medicines can be used as therapy for a vast range of sleep disorders, such as insomnia. This is because cannabis can induce drowsiness, reduce sleep latency, and improve the quality of sleep.
Chronic Pain
According to several studies, cannabinoids are mild to moderate analgesics, and have been used for pain relief since the 1800s. When those with chronic pain ingest CBD, the CBD reaches their pain receptors and lowers the inflammation levels and pain perception.
Depression and Anxiety
Cannabis can be used to help depression, as well as a host of anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Evidence from a 2015 study has shown that CBD can be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders.
High Blood Pressure
Researchers from England tested the effects of CBD on a small group of healthy men and found that a single dose of CBD can reduce the participants’ resting blood pressure by six mmHg, ultimately reducing the risk of stroke. This may be because of marijuana’s anxiolytic and analgesic properties.
These are just some of the medical conditions that cannabis can help manage. If you suffer from one of these conditions, consider using medical marijuana to help cope with the symptoms.
If you’re looking for a dispensary in Osage Beach, Missouri, you can turn to Latitude Dispensary. We have nearly a decade of experience in the cannabis industry and can assure quality cannabis and cannabis products.
For more information on our story and our dispensary, get in touch with us. We would love to hear from you.