Marijuana, or Cannabis indica, is an annual plant from Central Asia used for therapeutic reasons for at least 3,000 years. The physiologically active chemicals present in the plant are termed cannabinoids. Cannabis that a doctor has recommended to alleviate symptoms or cure a medical ailment is known as medicinal cannabis (medical marijuana). Medicinal cannabis comes in various forms (both natural and artificial). Medical cannabis is still being studied for its efficacy and safety in treating multiple ailments.
Cannabis is most well-known for its use as a recreational drug. Various portions of the Cannabis sativa plant, sometimes known as marijuana, hash, pot, grass, or weed, may be used and consumed in multiple ways. Marijuana (the plant’s dried leaves and buds) may be smoked, and hashish (the dried plant resin) could be cooked into dishes (such as cookies) and consumed.
Here are the 17 conditions for medical marijuana
- Cancer- One of the most common applications of medicinal marijuana is to aid cancer patients, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy. Some studies have shown that smoking marijuana may benefit chemotherapy patients with nausea and vomiting. When it comes to palliative care, particularly for cancer patients, the research found that most patients (more than 60%) suffer both of these symptoms rather than just one; therefore, medicinal marijuana may help reduce both signs simultaneously.
- Epilepsy- Marijuana has a long history of being used to treat epilepsy. THC has been reported to reduce seizures resistant to conventional therapies in specific animal experiments, although it has also been shown to cause seizures in others.
- Glaucoma- Glaucoma is an eye problem when fluid builds up in your eyeball and destroys the nerves. For adults over the age of 60, it is the leading cause of blindness. Because of the quantity of fluid in your eyes, this condition creates increased pressure in your eyes, affecting your vision. Doctors have administered glaucoma eye drops for years to alleviate tension in the eyes. Still, marijuana has also been shown to help reduce anxiety for hours at a time.
- Sickle cell pain- Chronic and excruciating pain plagues sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. SCD patients who used marijuana needed less opiate analgesia, according to studies, and SCD patients may be able to manage pain with marijuana safely. Furthermore, according to recent research in sickle mice, cannabinoids inhibit mast cell activation, which contributes to neurogenic inflammation and hyperalgesia through both CB1 and CB2 receptors.
- Autism- Cannabis cannabinoids work by attaching to the body’s endocannabinoid system’s protein receptors CB1 and CB2. They may decrease inflammation or influence neural excitability. According to studies, CBD, a key cannabinoid in cannabis, alleviated anxiety and other behavioral features in adults with Fragile X syndrome, a disorder linked to autism. It’s also been proven to help youngsters with CDKL5 deficient diseases related to autism have fewer seizures and increased learning. CBD, on the other hand, maybe insufficient. CBD and THC reduced violent outbursts in autistic toddlers and enhanced the quality of life in autistic teens, according to 2018 research.
- Crohn’s disease- Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel illness that may affect any part of the digestive system, although it most often affects the intestines’ deeper parts. The use of CBD as a Crohn’s medication has shown inconsistent outcomes, whereas the usage of medicinal marijuana has yielded more promising results. Researchers discovered that patients who use CBD to treat their Crohn’s disease had a higher quality of life, even though the drug doesn’t appear to reduce the inflammation that causes Crohn’s symptoms.
- Nausea and vomiting- Nausea may be caused by several things, including drugs and therapies or a sign of a medical problem. Fortunately, medicinal marijuana may aid with nausea and vomiting symptoms. THC, one of the most well-known cannabinoids, has been shown to have antiemetic properties in studies. Cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system in our bodies when cannabis is taken (ECS). Receptors, notably CB1 receptors, are found throughout the ECS and are implicated in controlling nausea, food intake, and emesis. THC may aid with nausea and vomiting by interacting with the CB1 receptors.
- Parkinson’s disease- Since Parkinson’s disease is characterized by decreased dopamine-containing cells in the basal ganglia, drugs boost dopamine signalling in the brain. When first-line medicines have failed to improve mobility issues in Parkinson’s disease, medicinal cannabis may be tried.
- Insomnia- While research on medical cannabis is still in its early stages, there is some indication that it may be a viable alternative to currently available sleep medicines.
- Chronic pain- Medical marijuana has been demonstrated to manage the experience of pain across all phases of pain processing by the body, which is one of the reasons why more and more people suffering from chronic pain are turning to it.
- HIV/AID- Patients with HIV/AIDS lose their appetite and weight. Many studies have looked at the medicinal benefits of medical cannabis and found that it may help people lose weight and gain a need. “143 (27 percent) of the respondents utilized cannabis to treat their symptoms,” according to a 2005 study of 523 HIV-positive individuals. “Of those, an overwhelming 97 percent claimed that they noticed improvements in appetite.”
- Dementia- Cannabinoids have recently gained popularity as a therapy for several medical diseases, including chronic pain and psychological illnesses such as dementia. Cannabinoids seem to have a variety of neuroprotective characteristics. Presynaptic neurotransmitter release, particularly glutamate, is reduced by ligands at the CB1 cannabis receptors. Because too much glutamate at the synapse may cause oxidative stress and damage to neurons, leading to neurodegeneration, cannabis is thought to have a therapeutic effect in dementia. Because neurodegeneration is a trait common to all varieties of dementia, cannabis neuroprotective properties may help delay the course of these disorders.
- Multiple Sclerosis- Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, causing damage to the fatty material known as myelin, which protects nerve fibers. Cannabis is being advocated as a non-addictive alternative to pain medicines for the treatment of MS pain, not only because it is non-addictive, but also because it uniquely treats pain.
- Cachexia- Cachexia, also referred to as wasting syndrome, is a complication that develops in the late stages of many chronic diseases. Significant weight loss characterizes it, which affects the body and immunological system. Many people with AIDS and cancer are utilizing medicinal marijuana to prevent or reduce the development of cachexia. And there’s a growing body of data that marijuana may help people with cachexia.
- Neuropathy- Neuropathy is the outcome of nerve damage caused by various medical diseases. Nerve injury may also cause weakness, discomfort, or numbness in several places of the body at the same time. Numerous studies are being conducted to back up the notion that medicinal marijuana may be a safe and effective therapy for neuropathic pain.
- PTSD- Post-traumatic stress disorders are marked by overpowering emotions, panic episodes, and hypervigilance symptoms. Several studies have shown that persons suffering from such diseases benefit from cannabis use. Experts also think that cannabidiol (CBD), one of the several cannabinoids present in cannabis, is responsible for the majority of the therapeutic benefits.
- Hepatitis C- HCV, or hepatitis C Virus, is a virus that affects liver cells and causes both acute and chronic liver inflammation. According to a new study, medical marijuana seems to have the ability to lower the symptoms and spread of the Hepatitis C virus. The research found that medicinal marijuana may help patients stick to their Hepatitis C treatment, typically unpleasant and challenging.