Nowadays, marijuana is no longer just a substance for the Grateful Dead t-shirt-wearing -stoner or college dropout. In recent years medical marijuana has experienced a surge of popularity due to the clinically recognized benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD effects the brain without producing the effect of being “stoned”, while THC is the active agent which generates a high, along with pain suppression. The significance of this medical finding lies in the fact medical marijuana treats a staggering number of illnesses, and offers relief from the symptoms of many more. Here’s a quick list of some of the diseases and medical conditions this little green miracle-plant helps fight against.
1. Cancer
CBD can actually prevent certain types of cancer from spreading by turning off a gene called “Id-1” which copies itself and aggressively takes over the body. Medical marijuana can also relieve the nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite associated with chemotherapy.
2. Alzheimer’s
THC is proven to slow the formation of amyloid plates by blocking the enzyme in the brain that creates them. Amyloid plates kill brain cells and can eventually induce Alzheimer’s.
3. Hepatitis
Medical marijuana can help alleviate painful side-effects of Hepatitis C such as nausea, depression, fatigue, loss of appetite, and muscle aches. Studies also show that cannabis promotes successful Hep-C treatment by keeping viral levels low.
4. Parkinson’s
Cannabis is known to reduce the pain of tremors caused by Parkinson’s disease, as well as induce sleep.
5. Multiple Sclerosis
THC binds the receptors in the nerves and muscles, helping patients cope with the pain of Multiple Sclerosis. It also aids in reducing muscle spasms.
6. Anxiety
One of the greatest benefits of the drug, which fortifies it’s success in treating individuals going through chemotherapy, is that it reduces anxiety. This allows patients to relax and effectively deal with pain that might otherwise be psychologically overwhelming.
7. PTSD
Many patients suffering from post-traumatic-stress-disorder are prescribed marijuana to help regulate some of the neurotic behavior associated with the condition. Patients treated this way claim that they were able to function much better in society when they began smoking weed.
8. Asthma
Studies reveal that THC has significant anti-asthmatic qualities. However, because oral ingestion of pot often irritates the mucous membranes, asthma patients are recommended an alternative ingestion method.
9. Epilepsy
Use of cannabis can drastically reduce the intensity of epileptic episodes. The anticonvulsant activity of phenytoin and diazepam are activated by THC, and patients report great success in managing their seizures.
10. Anorexia
Weed has a strong appetite inducing effect often referred to by the “munchies”. This side-effect can be utilized in a clinical setting to treat patients suffering from anorexia and other eating disorders. Reports have shown that smoking pot can as much as double one’s appetite.
These are just some of the many reasons why marijuana is rapidly gaining medical credibility. We spoke with BioTrackTHC.com about this issue, and they said, “Approximately two million Americans are currently being treated with medicinal cannabis with many reporting tremendous recovery thanks to it. The drug can be legally administered by a doctor in twenty-three states and can be consumed for recreation in Colorado and Washington.” However, this movement is not without opposition. Many anti-marijuana advocates claim that pot is psychologically addictive, known to cause brain damage, commonly linked to traffic incidents, exacerbates mental illness, and can cause various health problems. But despite this, it seems that use of medicinal pot is only increasing, as the number of satisfied patients continues to rise. In the near future, we will likely find medicinal weed legalized across the country, with recreational pot possibly following behind.
http://www.businessinsider.com/health-benefits-of-medical-marijuana-2014-4?op=1
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/03/09/medical-cannabis.aspx
