It is still debatable whether it is appropriate to legalize cannabis, which is more commonly known as marijuana or weed. Because it has been more famous for being a recreational drug, several states are still hesitant in welcoming its other uses. However, some states have embraced the use of cannabis for medical use.
Cannabis has various cannabinoids, and the two most common cannabinoids that have certain effects and use as intake are CBD and THC. Cannabidiol or CBD is the non-high component of cannabis. Upon intake, this won’t give you a high feeling. Instead, CBD helps to alleviate inflammation and pain. The factor that gives intoxicating feelings to some people is caused by tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Different from CBD that seems to calm the pain, THC possesses the main component that affects how one’s brain and nervous system function.
Yes, cannabis is not all about being high. You may obtain cannabis for medical purposes and not just for fun. Cannabis also offers a possible wide range of medications to treat certain illnesses. Moreover, cannabis has seemed to prove its side in the field of medication efficiently. Here are some enlightening data about cannabis for medical use that you might want to know.
What is Medical Cannabis
Medical cannabis or medical marijuana, whatever you want to call it, is the said use of cannabis or marijuana in order to treat ailments or disorders. Different from recreational marijuana, medical marijuana is the crude plant or chemical suppressant used to help relieve any sort of pains or symptoms from a condition or disease.
Despite all of its medical benefits, this plant is not claimed to be a medicine for it can be potentially misused according to the FDA or Food and Drug Administration. Nevertheless, medical cannabis is presumed to contain a low percentage of THC and a higher percentage of CBD, presuming that intaking this kind of cannabis won’t get you a high or euphoric feeling.
Recreational marijuana, on the other hand, is the use of marijuana without any medical grounds. This kind of cannabis contains a higher percent of THC, which causes the ‘high’ feeling one experiences upon intake.
Medical Uses of Cannabis
Researchers have been studying whether medical cannabis can be a great alternative for some medicines. Some conditions that cannabis claims to help manage includes:
- Pain
- Loss of appetite
- Glaucoma
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS
- Nausea
- HIV/AIDS
- Cancer
- Mental conditions like schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Chronic pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Wasting syndrome or cachexia
- Eating disorders like anorexia
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) and muscle spasms
Aside from the given list, it is presumed to obtain other health benefits by acquiring cannabis for medical use. However, how it can help the following conditions is not yet fully observed and further research is still needed.
How Does It Help?
The active component found in medical cannabis is said to help our body’s appetite, memory retention, pain, and our body’s movements. Also, other claims regarding medical cannabis include:
- Control nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
- Lessen anxiety
- Manage pain
- Deplete inflammation
- Revitalize appetite and help with weight gain
- Help with insomnia
- Relax compact muscles
However, there are no certain medical grounds for these claims. Further studies are still needed, so it would be best to consult your doctor first before resorting to the use of medical cannabis for these conditions.
Side Effects
As much as medical cannabis presumes benefits to our health, it might still have side effects for our body, especially if taken for granted, such as:
- Dizziness
- Increased heart rate
- Increased appetite
- Increased risk of heatstroke and attack
- Slower reaction time
- Weaken memory retention and concentration
- Possible addiction
- Hallucinations
- Cyclic vomiting syndrome
- Withdrawal syndrome
- Bloodshot eyes
- Low Blood Pressure
- Depression
How You Can Take It
Few medical cannabis is rarely being prescribed and can be bought in specific markets. Medical cannabis can come in numerous medicational forms, like:
- Pill
- Oral solutions
- Topical application
- Dried leaves and bud
- Oil for vaporizing
- Smoking
- Food like lollipops and brownies
States That Allow Medical Cannabis:
As stated before, only a few states allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes. These states include:
- Alaska
- California
- Arizona
- Maryland
- Arkansas
- Florida
- District of Columbia
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Delaware
- Massachusetts
- Colorado
- Michigan
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Hawaii
- Connecticut
- West Virginia
- New York
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- Utah
- Rhode Island
- New Mexico
- Washington
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- Vermont
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- New Hampshire
- Oregon
Furthermore, there are states the allows the legal recreational use of cannabis like:
- Alaska
- California
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Vermont, and
- Washington
These states adopted various forms of the federal Right to Try Act. This is the reason why they are allowed to perform such activities.
States That Restrict The Use Of Cannabis
As mentioned earlier, despite the various medical benefits that cannabis offers, there are still states that forbid the selling and consumption of this product. These states include:
- North Carolina
- Missouri
- Idaho
- Wyoming
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
- South Carolina
- Georgia
- Virginia
- Alabama
If you are staying in any of these states, you may want to avoid using cannabis, even if it’s for medical purposes. In that way, you can avoid getting into any legal trouble.
Conclusion
Marijuana or cannabis can be a controversial topic to discuss. Questions like, “Isn’t that illegal?”, “Is it safe?” “How is that beneficial?” or “Why should it be legalized?” will fill the area. However, we have mistaken the real identity of cannabis. Aside from being a tool for recreational intoxication, it can also be an alternative for medication.
Cannabis contains CBD or cannabidiol that doesn’t contain any psychoactive component but contains possible medication for conditions, such as inflammation or pain. Furthermore, CBD interacts with our brain’s specific receptors in our body. Hence, instead of giving you a psychoactive activation as THC does, CBD can help you calm your nerves and alleviate the pain you are feeling.
As undeniable as cannabis is a plant of wonder, cannabis also does works of wonders within our body if taken appropriately. Furthermore, Cannabis for medical use has proven its duty in the field of medicine. If you are interested in acquiring medical cannabis, these are the things you should consider.
First, it is very important to check whether your state has federally legalized the use of marijuana in order to avoid any legal issues. Second, if you want to use medical cannabis for your condition, you should first discuss it with your doctor. And lastly, take it responsibly.