The medical landscape has seen dramatic shifts in recent years with increasing acceptance and use of marijuana to treat symptoms of various health conditions. While there has long been controversy surrounding the use of this plant-based therapy, Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, marked a significant turning point.
This piece of legislation allowed certain patients and their primary caregivers to possess and cultivate marijuana for medicinal use without the threat of criminal liability. Since then, 38 states, three territories and the District of Columbia in the U.S. have legalized cannabis for medical and/or recreational use. In this article, we will take a closer look at the use of medical marijuana and its benefits to society as a valuable healthcare aid for patients.
What Is Medical Marijuana?
Marijuana is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant which contains over 100 naturally occurring compounds known as cannabinoids. The two main cannabinoids in cannabis are delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
The term marijuana refers to parts of the plant that contain significant amounts of THC which is the psychoactive compound responsible for the “high” that is felt from smoking or consuming marijuana. THC amounts in marijuana can vary, with higher levels associated with greater effects on the user’s mental and physical state. These effects can include feelings of euphoria, laughter, increased creativity and a heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli such as color, taste and touch.
Uses of Medical Marijuana
When used within a medical context, marijuana has been shown to have several potent therapeutic effects for patients, as discussed below.
- Pain management: The most common use of medical marijuana is for the relief of chronic pain. According to the U.S. Pain Foundation, 51.6 million adults, or approximately 21% of the population live with chronic pain and many of them turn to this plant-based medicine to ease their symptoms.
Inflammation can cause chronic pain in various health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of cannabinoids within medical marijuana including cannabinoids, including THC, CBD and cannabigerol (CBG) making it a helpful aid for people suffering from inflammation-related chronic pain.
In a 2017 study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), the reporting committee found evidence to support that patients treated with cannabis or cannabinoids were likely to experience a significant reduction in their pain symptoms.
- Alzheimer’s disease: Promising research has been undertaken on the effects of marijuana on Alzheimer’s disease with one study finding that the CBD components of cannabis may be useful for treating and preventing the condition due to their ability to suppress the main causal factors of the disease.
Other research carried out by the University of Copenhagen found medical marijuana to reduce essential tremors in mice. The injection of a synthetic cannabinoid that activates the support cells of the spinal cord and brain, known as astrocytes, was shown to reduce nerve activity and involuntary shaking.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Medical marijuana has also shown proven results in treating mental health conditions such as PTSD. One study into its long-term therapeutic effects followed 150 participants over the course of a year. As a result of using cannabis to treat their condition, they reported a greater decrease in PTSD symptom severity compared to controls and were 2.57 times more likely to no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD at the end of the study period compared to participants who did not use cannabis.
Another study found cannabis enhanced sleep quality and reduced the frequency of nightmares, PTSD hyperarousal and other PTSD symptoms among patients. A medical marijuana card can offer you access to legally purchase and use medical cannabis. You can visit Leafy DOC to find out more about unlocking these benefits.
- Opioid abuse: The benefits of medical marijuana in replacing pharmaceutical pain relief drugs have also been evidenced. In a recent study, more than 50% of adults who used cannabis to manage their chronic pain reported its use led them to decrease their use of prescription opioids, prescription nonopioids, and over-the-counter pain medications.
Other studies found that an increase from one to two storefront cannabis dispensaries in a county could reduce opioid-related mortality rates by an estimated 17%, while a 2023 study of over 8,000 people found opioid dosage almost halved after eight months when medical marijuana was taken. These studies show its promising effects in helping to counter the opioid epidemic in America today.
Medical marijuana has been shown to yield many positive and life-changing results for people with various health conditions. As research continues in this area, and its benefits are increasingly recognized, it is set to offer new hope for countless individuals across the country.
Jessica has a flair for writing engaging blogs and articles. She enjoys reading and learning new things which enables her to write different topics and fields with ease. She also strives to break down complex concepts and make them easy for anybody to comprehend.
