Medical Benefits of Marijuana: Let us have a look
Marijuana has been considered “illegal” for decades, but today, the uses, benefits and implications of marijuana usage are being reevaluated. People have been using marijuana or cannabis to treat their ailments for over three thousand years, according to the National Institutes of Health. The Food and Drug Administration, on the other hand, deems that cannabis is not safe or effective to treat any medical condition. They however, made an exception with cannabidiol, which got an approval in June 2018 to treat rare types of epilepsy. A research also suggests that two-thirds of Americans support the legalization of marijuana for medical or recreational use.
The bottom line is that a majority of researchers and lawmakers want to witness more evidence before supporting the benefits of marijuana so that its potential risks do not outweigh its benefits in any case, to be on the safer side.
In this blog we bring to you some of the most popular and most researched benefits of marijuana and other important considerations regarding them.
Here is a list of medical benefits of marijuana:
1. Helps in managing pain
According to a report, Chronic pain affects more than 25 million adults in the United States, and is a leading cause of disability among people. Cannabinoids that are found in marijuana work to relieve chronic pain. They help treat conditions that might cause chronic pain. Some of these conditions include migraine, arthritis, fibromyalgia, endometriosis. As per a few instances, medical marijuana helps reduce long term usage of NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) that could have potential negative side effects.
2. Helps in managing sleep
Cannabis or marijuana benefits include managing sleep. It has relaxing effects and might improve sleep disorders like insomnia. It also helps relieve pain, which results in a better quality of sleep.
3. Helps reduce inflammation
Some think that the CBD in marijuana is beneficial in reducing inflammation and might benefit inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome among others. Reduced inflammation promotes and improves the overall health of the body.
4. Helps beat drug addiction and alcoholism
Another review in the journal Clinical Psychology Review revealed that the usage of cannabis may help people fight their addictions and dependencies on alcohol or opioid.
5. Helps treat neurological and mental health conditions
Marijuana has effects on the limbic system, which make some doctors prescribe marijuana to treat a variety of neurological or mental health conditions. Some of these conditions include anxiety, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder), Tourette syndrome.In the year 2018, the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) approved the usage of medication containing cannabidiols (CBD) for the treatment of two very rare types of epilepsy, namely, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and the Dravet Syndrome. The doctors prescribes a CBD-based drug known as Epidiolex for these two types of epilepsy that are difficult to control with other types of medication.
A review published in the Clinical Psychology Review also investigated the usage of cannabis for the treatment of symptoms of mental illness. The authors found evidence that supported the theory that cannabis can be used to relieve depressed and PTSD symptoms. However, they also mention that cannabis is not the appropriate treatment for some other mental health conditions like psychosis and bipolar disorders. It also said that cannabis might help reduce the symptoms of social anxiety.
6. Helps treat Cancer and associated symptoms of chemotherapy
According to evidence, the nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy can be treated with oral cannabinoids. Some studies suggest that cannabinoids can be used to slow down or kill certain types of cancer. However, many other studies revealed that cannabinoids might not be very effective at curing cancer or controlling it in any way.
Ending Note
After looking at various reports and reviews related to cannabis research, it can be said that like every other substance in the world, cannabis has its own set of benefits and adverse effects. There has been tremendous research going on to evaluate the benefits and harms of the drug. However, there needs to be a lot more evaluation and research to understand the health implications of the rising cannabis usage. Many reputed health bodies like the American Cancer Society (ACS) support the requirement of further research on the usage of cannabis or cannabinoids to treat several medical conditions. However, there are many obstacles in doing so since cannabis is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which limits the researchers and the administration of cannabis.
If you are interested in marijuana for your own health and live in a state where medical usage of cannabis is legal, you can explore the possibilities of a relevant treatment with your doctor. This is crucial as they may need to consider various factors and your medical history and its implication on your health before prescribing it to you. It is always advisable to consult a doctor before taking any new medicine – whether it contains cannabinoids or not. In case you are a dispensary owner, we have good news for you. We have the perfect medical packaging that you can use to safely store medication and give it to your customers. MJ Wholesale stocks a variety of medical marijuana packaging at wholesale rates that can be used by medical dispensaries for safe packaging and administration of medicines. Visit our website and buy today!