Several research studies have been done on medical marijuana to determine whether or not it can improve certain medical conditions. Although there is not enough evidence to answer this question conclusively, many people believe that it does have a positive impact. We will look into seven conditions that medical marijuana can help and see if it is right for you.
1. Epilepsy
Medical marijuana provides relief for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. This is an affliction that one-third of adult patients with epilepsy and 20% to 25% of child patients with epilepsy currently have. It means that their doctors placed them on at least two antiseizure medications, and these medications failed to prevent seizures for these patients, but cannabis can potentially help.
2. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Researchers discovered that medical marijuana eases pain and lowers incidences of depression, muscle spasms, and loss of appetite for those suffering from ALS. Cannabis plants contain tetrahydrocannabinol or THC and cannabidiol or CBD, and these ingredients are known to relieve the symptoms of ALS. In studies, researchers found that ALS patients stated that they were experiencing less drooling, pain, muscle cramps and stiffness, loss of appetite, and depression when they were taking doses of medical marijuana.
3. HIV/AIDS
Many patients have stated that medical marijuana improves symptoms of HIV/AIDS, and we now have evidence that this is truly the case. It is particularly helpful for HIV/AIDS patients who are experiencing depression as it improves these patients’ moods. HIV/AIDs also causes people to lose their appetite, and the drug demonstrated its ability to stimulate a person’s appetite so that they do not lose weight due to AIDS wasting syndrome.
Medical marijuana also keeps HIV/AIDS patients from losing weight by preventing nausea and vomiting. It may also reduce the neuropathic pain that HIV/AIDS patients experience which makes it feel as if their skin is burning.
4. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is when the intraocular pressure within the eye is higher than normal. When the IOP is too high, it damages the optic nerve, leading to blindness. Several research studies found that THC did lower IOP, and researchers are looking for ways that they can add this medication to the list of medicines that treat glaucoma.
5. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Physicians do not prescribe cannabis for the treatment of PTSD, but many U.S. veterans are using this substance for this purpose. These veterans state that medical marijuana does relieve their PTSD symptoms, and several states approved this substance for the treatment of PTSD.
6. Crohn’s Disease
The evidence is not currently telling us that cannabis does improve symptoms of Crohn’s disease, but Dr. Jami Kinnucan stated that cannabis can be of some help to people with Crohn’s disease. Some people are not waiting for evidence to show them that cannabis can ease symptoms of Crohn’s disease. They are consuming the substance now, and they are experiencing some relief from their symptoms.
7. Multiple Sclerosis or MS
Research also suggests that cannabis can improve sleep issues that people with MS experience. They also discovered that it is highly likely that it can reduce the muscle spasms and stiffness that MS causes. Many people diagnosed with MS currently use cannabis, and many others with the disease are open to trying it.