The legalization of marijuana for medical use is gaining pace all over the world. In the U.S., for example, the number of states that have legalized its use is more than half with others still deliberating. Medical marijuana makes use of the plant itself and its chemical components known as cannabinoids to treat certain ailments.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a term used to describe the inflammation of joints in the body. The number of known types of arthritis is more than 50, with the most common forms of the condition being rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis. One main symptom of arthritis is severe pain in the inflamed joints. This is the symptom which medical marijuana is used to treat. It offers pain relief, which is what most patients yearn for the most.
Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.)
This is an ailment known to attack the spinal cord and the brain of patients. The symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (M.S.) range from poor vision, severe pain, body spasms, poor balance, and many more. Medical marijuana is mainly used to treat severe pain and body spasms experienced by patients. The body spasms experienced can limit their mobility.
Nausea Relief while Undergoing Chemotherapy
Research conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration (an international non-profit) in 2015 concluded that patients undergoing chemotherapy who regularly took cannabinoids were less likely to experience nausea and vomiting. These are known side effects of chemotherapy. The research showed that medical marijuana was just as effective as the commonly used anti-nausea medication prescribed to patients. However, they warned users of medical marijuana of the side effects, which included dizziness and feeling high.
Insomnia
Medical marijuana has gained popularity for its use to treat sleeping disorders. This is true, especially for patients who have disturbed sleeping patterns due to conditions like sleep apnea and M.S. (Multiple Sclerosis). The use of cannabinoids has proved to be effective in helping them sleep much better. They also reported having much more therapeutic benefits from their sleep, which meant less fatigue when they are awake. Research done shows the sedative effect of marijuana is the cause of improved sleeping patterns.
Epilepsy
Patients who have epilepsy are known to experience seizures, which range from being mild to extremely severe. Medical marijuana has been used for its ability to control and even stop these seizures altogether. Patients use it in the form of Cannabis-based products or medicines, which have proven to be more effective in terms of controlling the seizures.
HIV/AIDS
The treatment of HIV/AIDs has grown in great strides over the years. The modern-day treatment has enabled patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS to live a long and productive life due to improved health. Still, the side effects of the medications they take can be severe for some patients. These patients are known to suffer from anorexia and weight loss due to a lack of appetite. This is where the use of medical marijuana comes in handy. One side effect of consuming cannabis is an increase in appetite, meaning the patients who use it can counter the effects of HIV/AIDS medication.
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injury occurs when the spine suffers a traumatic event, which results in injury. This can result in the motor skills of the patients being adversely affected, resulting in a lack of function in certain parts of the body. The use of medical marijuana for these patients has shown improvement, especially in tackling muscle spasms and pain relief. This is especially true in the treatment of symptoms that are neurogenic and have been unresponsive to the traditional medication.
Asthma
Asthma is a medical condition characterized by the inflammation of the airways in the chest, which makes them narrower. There is no known cure for asthma, and many forms of treatment are geared at offering relief for the symptoms. Marijuana is mostly smoked, but this is not advisable for patients who have asthma. They use it in the form of edibles, in drinks, in cannabis-based medicines, and the form of cannabis oil.
Conclusion
There is promise in the use of marijuana in treating some medical ailments. However, more research needs to be done to establish the effectiveness of its general use. Studies have also shown that there are numerous strains of marijuana, which also has different components though Tetrahydrocannabinol is more popular than others.
