Medical Benefits
Medical Marijuana is an effective, natural, and affordable treatment for a wide variety of illnesses and conditions. Its side effects are usually much less severe than alternative treatments, and cause less interference in the patient’s life. Medical Marijuana also doesn’t carry the risk of physical addiction or dependency that many prescription medications do. Here is a list of some of its most common therapeutic applications:
- Adult ADHD
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Anxiety Disorders
- Arthritis
- Bipolar disorder/ Depression/ PTSD
- Cancer
- Chron's Disease
- Chronic Pain
- Epilepsy
- Gastro-Intestinal Issues
- Glaucoma
- Headaches/ Migraines
- Hepatitis C
- HIV/AIDS
- Hypertension (commonly referred to as "high blood pressure")
- Insomnia
- Joint Pain
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Sleep Apnea
Many adult ADHD sufferers find that marijuana’s calming effects can help them maintain focus as well as other treatments, without many of the unpleasant side effects that many other medications cause.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Recent studies are showing encouraging evidence that may prove marijuana can help impede the slow the progress of the disease. Medical marijuana is also effective in reducing its side effects, including pain and muscle spasms.
Many patients recovering from Anorexia find that medical marijuana helps them increase their appetite, and eases the transition on the body during the early healing phases
Many patients who suffer from severe anxiety find that marijuana’s calming effects help them maintain a more relaxed mood and reduce the uncomfortable, hectic feelings that anxiety disorders can cause.
Marijuana is a natural pain reliever, which helps reduce the effects of many different types of arthritis. This pain relief helps arthritis sufferers curb the discomfort and reduced range of motion the disease causes.
Bipolar disorder/ Depression/ PTSD
Medical Marijuana has helped many patients cope with diagnosed psychological conditions. Many sufferers find that cannabis helps them control fluctuations in mood, without the substantial side effects of many pharmaceutical alternatives.
Studies have shown that cannabis may help slow down the reproduction and growth of some types of cancer cells. It’s also a natural antiemetic, which makes it effective in reducing the nausea and vomiting associated with chemo and radiation therapies.
Medical cannabis can help ease the intestinal pain involved with serious Crohn’s flare ups, as well as help counter act the severe decrease in appetite that is common among Chron’s patients.
Medical marijuana is a natural pain reliever that can help sufferers of chronic pain live more comfortable lives. Its side effects are often much less severe than other common pain medications.
Some scientific studies have shown that cannabis can help control the occurrence of epileptic seizures and tremors. It is a practical option for the certain percentage of epileptics that don’t find other forms of treatment to be effective.
Medical Marijuana not only helps relieve the pain associated with GI conditions, but also helps patients who suffer from them maintain a healthy appetite.
Some strains of marijuana have been shown to potentially reduce the pressure that glaucoma can place on the optic nerve, thereby reducing the symptoms of the condition.
Marijuana’s pain relieving properties can help patients who suffer from severe headache and migraines deal with the pain and muscle tension these conditions can cause. It is especially effective for migraine sufferers who have problems ingesting pills during severe episodes.
Marijuana is an effective tool that can be used by Hepatitis C sufferers to help alleviate the severe negative side effects of HCV treatment.
HIV/AIDS sufferers use medical marijuana for a number of its effects. Most notably it helps relieve the nerve pain associated with the disease, combats the nausea and vomiting commonly caused by HIV/AIDS medications, and helps counteract the decreased appetite sufferers of the disease often develop.
Hypertension (commonly referred to as “high blood pressure”)
Many of marijuana’s effects can help reduce many of the causes of hypertension such as anxiety, stress, and poor sleeping habits. Recent studies have also shown that marijuana may help hypertension by slightly dilating the body’s blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.
Certain types of marijuana (particularly indica strains) are known for their strong sedative effects, and many insomnia sufferers find them to be a gentle and effective sleep aid compared to other alternatives.
Marijuana’s pain relieving effects can help reduce feelings of discomfort among chronic joint pain sufferers, and help them go about their days in a more enjoyable fashion.
Medical marijuana is effective in reducing a number of the symptoms typically associated with MS. MS patients who choose to use marijuana as a treatment often report a decrease in spasms and tremors, increased bladder control, and that the disease has less of an effect on their speech.
Sufferers of sleep apnea often report that marijuana’s sedative and muscle relaxing effects often help them find more restful sleep, as it reduces the amount of breathing interruptions they experience due to the condition.