Medical marijuana (cannabis, hashish, etc.) has a long history of use as medicine, with historical evidence dating back to 2,737 BC.
Cannabis has been used medicinally and recreationally in cultures spanning the globe since the beginning of time. Its medical uses are ever expanding and are used for:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV & AIDS
- Cachexia
- Persistent muscle spasms
- Seizures
- Severe nausea
- Severe pain
- Chronic pain
- Arthritis
- Migraine
- Seizures
- Epilepsy
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spasticity disorder
- Vomiting
- Cachexia
- Hepatitis C
- Anorexia
- Huntington’s disease
- Digestive diseases
- Appetite stimulation
- Hemorrhoids
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- With more benefits continuing to be found…
What Has Marijuana Research Shown???
Research shows that marijuana can prevent the death of injured neurons within the brain. Known to alleviate anxiety and depression, clinical trials have shown that CBD in marijuana has antipsychotic effects, which helps reduces the anxiety that can come from THC in marijuana.
This is a living example of synergetic multi-tasking within herbs. Despite all of marijuana’s medical benefits, in the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies marijuana as a prohibited Schedule I drug, which means that there is “no currently accepted medical use” of marijuana.
However, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active ingredient in marijuana, is classified as a synthetic Schedule III drug (Dronabinol, Marinol®). Even though the DEA’s hypocritical classification is rejected by American citizens.
There are currently 23 (and growing) states in the US, that allow patients to possess (and grow in most cases) marijuana for medical use, depending upon a physician’s recommendation. Nonetheless, possession of marijuana remains illegal under Federal law.
Due to marijuana remaining illegal under US Federal law, marijuana’s main source remains mostly within the “black market”.
The Medical Marijuana States
If you are lucky enough to live in a state where you can obtain a doctor’s recommendation for medical marijuana, you have numerous places where you can purchase medical marijuana legally under state law.
You may be asking, “How is marijuana medicine”?
Since marijuana is a herb, it naturally goes against current medical science. The DEA and FDA criticize the use of herbs as medicines, saying that plants contain a variable mix of compounds and cannot provide a precisely defined drug effect.
Medical marijuana is at odds with current medical science. Herbalists applaud the polypharmacy of medical marijuana and claim two advantages over single-ingredient drugs:
- The many constituents in herbs may work by multiple mechanisms to improve therapeutic activity cumulatively or synergistically.
- Herbs may also contain compounds that mitigate the side effects of their predominant active ingredients.
First and foremost on marijuana’s list of ingredients is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC works in humans by mimicking an endogenous compound that our bodies make, called anandamide, and THC binds to anandamide’s receptors, called cannabinoid (CB) receptors.
When THC or anandamide activate CB receptors, the CB receptors activate G-Proteins while research has shown that different cannabinoids preferentially activate different subtypes of G-proteins. This may explain why different strains of marijuana produce different highs.
Thanks to its mix of ingredients, marijuana causes fewer psychological side effects than pure, synthetic THC (Marinol). With help from all parts of the scientific community studying more of the elemental compounds within marijuana, marijuana is used as medicine and is now becoming more accepted around the world.
Effects of Indica Marijuana (lower THC, higher in CBN/CBD)
Indica medical marijuana strains generally have more physical than cerebral (however, the relief of physical symptoms can have a positive psychological effect).
- Sedation, pain relief, and relaxation
- Best for later in the day and bedtime
- Perhaps better for anxiety than depression
Benefits of Indica Marijuana (lower THC, higher in CBN/CBD)
- Reduces pain
- Muscle Relaxant
- Relieves spasms, reduces seizures
- Reduces inflammation
- Aids sleep
- Reduces anxiety and stress
- Reduces nausea
- Stimulates appetite
- Relieves headaches and migraines
- Reduces intra-ocular pressure
- Bronchio-dilator and expectorant
Effects of Sativa Marijuana (High THC, low CBN/CBD)
Indica strains generally have more of a cerebral effect:
- More stimulating and uplifting
- Energizing and thought-provoking
- Increases focus and creativity
- Supports immune system
- Best for use in the daytime
Benefits of Sativa Marijuana (High THC, low CBN/CBD)
- Reduces nausea
- Stimulates appetite
- Fights depression
- Positive, uplifting, cerebral effect
- Energizes and stimulates
- Promotes creativity
- Relieves headaches and migraines
- Relaxes muscles
- Relieves pain
- Acts as an expectorant
Selecting the Best Marijuana Strain and Dosage
The efficacy of medical marijuana is directly related to strain selection. Care should be taken when selecting strains that will benefit you while potency and dosage will vary with different strains, conditions, and individuals.
The idea is to consume as little as possible of the most appropriately potent medical marijuana strains available to reduce costs and potential side effects.
Hybrid/Crosses Of Marijuana Strains
Most cannabis seeds and medicine available today are hybrids – crosses of Sativa and Indica varieties. This allows cultivators to enjoy and select for various desired characteristics of growth, appearance, and effect so the genetics and hence the effects of one lineage will usually be dominant.
For example, Indica-dominant crosses are for pain relief, with the Sativa component helping with energy and activity levels. Sativa-dominant crosses are good for stimulating appetite, with the Indica component helping to reduce body pain and increase relaxation.
Cannabis has been proven helpful in relieving the symptoms of thousands of conditions, including:
- Pain from various ailments and injuries
- Arthritis, bursitis
- Migraines
- Multiple sclerosis
- Hepatitis C
- Fibromyalgia
- Nausea and low appetite
- HIV/AIDS
- Cancer, Chemotherapy
- Crohn’s Disease
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Epilepsy, Parkinson’s
- Asthma, Emphysema
- Glaucoma and other intra-ocular disorders
- Skin diseases such as Pruritis and Psoriasis
- Back pain and muscle spasms
- Paraplegia and Quadriplegia
- Insomnia and other sleep disorders
- Studies have found that THC promotes the death of brain cancer cells and shrinks tumors
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