Marijuana has had a bad reputation for a long time, with many people assuming that everyone who uses cannabis is doing so only for recreation. However, things have changed a lot in the past decade! With the tide of public opinion turning in favor of legalizing medical marijuana, the world is quickly discovering the healing benefits of the cannabis plant, and the social shame is disappearing.
There are many conditions cannabis can help relieve, with more being discovered every day. The opioid crisis has shown the danger of using prescription pain killers, and many people are turning away from traditional methods of pain relief and seeking a gentler, more natural solution. But marijuana can treat much more than just simple pain; below are a few conditions scientists, researchers, and medical professionals have found can be helped with the use of medical marijuana:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Chronic pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Epilepsy
How Does Medical Marijuana Help Treat These Conditions?
Our bodies house a network of chemicals and signaling pathways known as the endocannabinoid system. This system affects the formation of our memories and affects our appetites, tolerance for pain, and mood. Within this natural network are CB1 and CB2 receptors, which can be activated by cannabinoids found in cannabis such as THC and CBD. THC is responsible for the euphoria associated with marijuana, while CBD offers non–psychoactive pain and inflammation relief. CB1 receptors are primarily located on nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, but they are also found in the immune system and certain internal organs and tissues. CB2 receptors are mainly found on white blood cells but are also present in the tonsils and spleen. CB1 receptors can also be found in the immune system. These receptors in the brain can help reduce anxiety and result in a reduction in stressful memories and trauma-related nightmares, all of which can help medical marijuana patients with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Nearly 8 million Americans are affected by PTSD every year. This is not a condition limited to soldiers who have seen live combat; trauma experienced from a car accident, natural disaster, sexual abuse, domestic violence, assault, witnessing a violent crime or other traumatic events, or receiving a life-threatening medical diagnosis can all lead to PTSD.
According to Harvard Medical School, the most common use for medical marijuana in the United States is for pain control, as it is very effective for the chronic pain that bothers millions of Americans, especially as they grow older. As mentioned above, it is clearly safer than opiates being impossible to overdose on and far less addictive. Medical marijuana can also take the place of NSAIDs which can cause or exacerbate kidney problems, ulcers, and GERD. Marijuana can ease the pain of multiple sclerosis and other nerve pain where few other options exist, and those that do are highly sedating. Patients swear by marijuana over the other available treatment options, as they can continue with the activities of daily living without feeling disconnected.
Childhood epilepsy called Dravet syndrome responds dramatically to a CBD-dominant strain of marijuana called Charlotte’s Web. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved a cannabis-based pharmaceutical known as Epidiolex in 2018 specifically designed for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, in patients two years of age and older. This is the first FDA-approved drug that contains a purified drug substance derived from marijuana. Marijuana is also used to manage nausea and weight loss, reported to help patients suffering from pain and wasting syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, eating disorders, and nausea and vomiting that can accompany cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.
Do you need to get a medical marijuana card? Give us a call today to schedule an appointment at (602) 466-7029 (for Phoenix/Glendale locations), or (480) 466-7021 (for Mesa office). Our MMJ doctors will get your evaluation done and get you what you need as quickly as possible. Let us help you get the natural medicine you need to enjoy life pain and stress-free. Our highly qualified medical marijuana doctors are devoted to helping people in our community obtain the medical treatment that offers them the best choice for chronic pain relief. You’ll have some one-on-one time with a caring staff member who will go over your medical history and pain relief needs, then custom design the best course of treatment for you.
Ready to get started? Schedule your personal appointment and get your Marijuana Cards Arizona today!