There have been numerous debates about the efficacy of Marijuana for use with many different kinds of Medical Conditions. Naysayers claim that other pharmaceutical drugs are just as effective, and that Marijuana is a “gateway” drug to other drugs that are much worse for you, like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. These theories have been recently debunked. Many new studies suggest that a significant percentage of Marijuana users consume LESS alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs than people who do not use Marijuana.
Researchers are finding that Marijuana is just as effective, sometimes more effective, than its pharmaceutical counterparts, and it is much safer. To date, there have been NO deaths from Marijuana overdose. ZERO. Not even one. The same cannot be said about prescription drugs. One frequently cited study shows that a person would have to consume at least 20,000 times the amount of THC in a single joint to be at risk of dying.
Here is a small sample of the many conditions that can be helped by using Medical Marijuana:
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) – Just as taking stimulants often calms those with hyperactivity, medical marijuana improves the ability to concentrate in some kinds of ADD.
ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) – Cannabinol has been shown to delay symptom onset in some patients. Patients with advanced ALS report marijuana to be moderately effective at reducing symptoms of appetite loss, depression pain, spasticity and drooling, according to a recent study conducted by the MDA/ALS Center at the University of Washington.
Alzheimer’s disease – The Active ingredient in Marijuana may stall decline from Alzheimer’s disease according to a new study by Madrid’s Complutense University and the Cajal Institute, which is published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Arthritis – The first study to use a cannabis-based medicine (CBM) for treating rheumatoid arthritis has found that it has a significant effect on easing pain and on suppressing the disease.
Asthma – Findings from a recent study indicated that in the asthmatic subjects, both smoked marijuana and oral THC caused significant bronchodilation of at least 2 hours’ duration.
Autism – Though no specific studies exist that I could find, there are several accounts of children with autism and similar disorders finding life changing relief from medical marijuana.
Bipolar Disorder – Cannabis works as a mood stabilizer for sufferers. Lithium, which is typically prescribed for sufferers, takes several weeks to begin working and also causes damage to the heart, kidneys, and thyroid gland. Marijuana users report feeling a pleasant effect long after the “high” has dissipated – this is the mood stabilizing effect of the drug.
Cancer – An entire article could be done on all the ways that Marijuana can help cancer patients. Pain relief, appetite stimulant, and relief from nausea are a few of the obvious benefits, but even better, Cannabidiol has been found to inhibit tumor growth in leukemia, colorectal cancer, glioma (brain tumor), pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Researchers found that the anti-tumor effects of CBD were cause by induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death). They concluded that their data “support the further testing of cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich extracts for the potential treatment of cancer.” Some researchers are now calling Marijuana “The Cancer Killer”
Diabetes – Early studies indicate cannabidiol works as a consummate multi-tasker to protect the eye from growing a plethora of leaky blood vessels, the hallmark of diabetic retinopathy, says Dr. Gregory I. Liou, molecular biologist at the Medical College of Georgia. Animal studies have also concluded that Cannabidiol reduces the development of diabetes.
Depression – Many studies have concluded that Marijuana is VERY effective against many kinds of depression. Daily users report less depressed mood and more positive affect than non-users, according to one frequently cited study.
Epilepsy – Many studies have shown that Marijuana significantly reduces the number of seizures suffered by patients with epilepsy. A medication now known as “Charlotte’s Web” made from Marijuana plants has been shown to help children suffering from uncontrolled seizures. Many families are moving to Colorado to access the medicine for their children.
Fibromyalgia – In an online survey of over 1,300 fibromyalgia patients, the National Pain Foundation found that Marijuana is far more effective at treating symptoms of fibromyalgia than any of the three prescription drugs approved by the FDA to treat the disorder.
Glaucoma – Marijuana has been shown to safely and effectively lower intraocular pressure better than many of the other drugs currently available on the market.
Hepatitis C – Marijuana can cure Hepatitis C. In May of 2014 a team from the Wyoming Institute of Technology, working closely with a medical marijuana dispensary in Denver, and also with a team from GlaxoSmithKline developed a trial medication based on the Marijuana strain “Chunky Crimson”. Human trials showed that 99.8% of recipients of the drug were fully cured of Hep C, while the remaining 0.2% showed signs of reversal and could theoretically be cured with continued administration of the medication.
Herpes Virus – The effect of THC on herpes virus replication can dwarf the extracellular signals, which means that it will be able to help suppress the herpes virus. The use of THC can provide relief for the person suffering from the herpes virus and can slow the replication of the extracellular signals according to the study data. The other advantage is there are no drug related side effects with the use of THC as compared with other drugs used to treat this virus. A topical application of CBD oil reduces the healing time of blisters and regular cannabis use reduces the frequency of attacks.
Hiccups – Marijuana cures hiccups. Although only an occasional annoyance for most, “intractable hiccups” can be a rare and unpleasant complication of AIDS. Marijuana can be used to treat both occasional and persistent hiccups. One report described a patient who suffered from severe hiccups for a full week. Pharamceutical drugs like nifedipine, valproate, lansoprazole, and intravenous lidocaine all had no effect, and neither did “glabellar acupuncture”, removal of hair from the tympanic membrane, or “irrigation of marcaine into the external auditory canal.” When the patient smoked a joint for the first time ever on day 8, the hiccups vanished for the day. The next day the hiccups came back, and so on day 10 the patient smoked up again, and the hiccups went away for good. Since intractable hiccups are a rare condition, it’s unlikely that a real study will ever be conducted.
HIV/AIDS – The effectiveness of Cannabis for treating symptoms of HIV and AIDS is widely recognized. Marijuana can be used to manage pain, nausea, appetite loss, cachexia, and emotional decline in patients with AIDS. A new study finds that this magical herb may do more than just help manage symptoms – it may actually help combat the disease.
Huntington’s Disease – Recent preclinical data shows that cannabinoids may have the potential to moderate the advancement of the disease and similar neurodegenerative disorders. Specifically, experimental data published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research in 2011 reported that the combined administration of the plant cannabinoids THC and CBD provide neuroprotection in rat models of Huntington’s Disease.
Insomnia – A good indica strain of Marijuana can be just the ticket for those suffering from insomnia. A cookie or brownie taken before bed can help ensure a good sleep throughout the night. Medical Marijuana for insomnia is much better than using addictive drugs such as Xanax, and it is not habit-forming. Many users report waking refreshed and clear minded, and having more pleasant dreams.
Migraine / Headaches – Many patients say that Marijuana is more effective than any pharmaceutical drug for Migraine Headaches. When consumed or smoked, retrograde inhibition will help slow the rate of neurotransmitters in the brain. Retrograde inhibition also relieves the pain and other symptoms which attend a full-blown migraine including nausea and light sensitivity.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – According to a 2005 study, Cannabis based medicine is effective in reducing pain and sleep disturbance in patients with Multiple Sclerosis related to neuropathic pain. A 2008 study concluded that inhaled cannabis significantly reduced objective measures of pain intensity and spasticity in patients with MS in a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. They concluded that “smoked cannabis was superior to placebo in reducing spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and provided some benefit beyond currently prescribed treatment. Other studies suggest that cannabinoids may also inhibit MS progression in addition to providing symptom management. Writing in the July 2003 issue of the journal “Brain,” investigators at the University College of London’s Institute of Neurology reported that administration of the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 provided “significant neuroprotection” in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.
Osteoporosis – Several studies have indicated that cannabis helps treat and prevent osteoporosis. The science is too complex for this article, but if you’re interested, you can read more about it in astudy published in the British Journal of Pharmacology from 2011.
Parkinson’s Disease – According to a recent study published in Clinical Neuropharmacology, participants using smoked medical cannabis had significant improvements in motor disability and impairment. These results were found in addition to reported decreases in tremor (repetitive shaking), rigidity (stiffness or inflexibility), and dyskinesia (difficulty in performing voluntary movements), and improvements in pain and sleep disturbance.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – According to research published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the administering of synthetic cannabinoids to rats after a traumatic event can prevent behavioral and physiological symptoms of PTSD by triggering changes in brain centers associated with the formation and holding of traumatic memories. The study adds to a growing body of research that “contributes to the understanding of the brain basis of the positive effect cannabis has on PTSD,” the researchers note.
Sickle Cell Disease – Medical marijuana is promising for sickle cell patients because it has a pain-relieving effect without as many severe side effects as morphine. Right now researchers in California are teaming up with researchers at the University of Minnesota to find out how medical marijuana can help those suffering from sickle cell disease.
I sincerely hope, dear readers, that you have learned something from this article that you didn’t know before, and that you’ve become more educated about Marijuana, and all of the great things it can do. For those who continue to fight AGAINST legalization, at least for medical use, I’d simply like to ask you … why? Why would you deny this incredible herb to so many patients in need?
This article was originally published on Let's Talk Nation.