The Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana

Marijuana, or cannabis, is more well recognized as a recreational drug; nonetheless, there are cultural and legal disputes around its use in the United States.

According to recent polls, the vast majority of Americans (about 85 percent) favor the legalization of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use. However, other academics and policymakers believe that further scientific evidence of marijuana’s advantages is needed.

Marijuana has long been used as a medication. Nonetheless, just a few universities in the United States have funded medicinal cannabis projects. In eleven states, plus the District of Columbia, adults are permitted to consume cannabis.

There are various benefits and drawbacks to using marijuana for medical and recreational purposes, and we’re going to go through some of the more noteworthy ones.

What Exactly Is Medicinal Marijuana?

Medical marijuana treats illnesses or ailments using the marijuana plant or its constituents. It’s the same substance as recreational marijuana but is used for medicinal reasons.

Cannabinoids, compounds found in marijuana plants, number in the hundreds. Each has a unique influence on the body. The major compounds utilized in medicine are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is also responsible for the “high” that individuals experience when they smoke marijuana or consume marijuana-containing foods.

What Is the Effect of Cannabis?

Cannabis comprises two components: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

Cannabis’ THC content is a mind-altering element. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the quantity of THC in marijuana has significantly grown, from 3.7 percent in the 1990s to 9.6 percent in 2013. THC can cause increased hunger, nausea, decreased pain and inflammation, and sleeplessness.

CBD works similarly to the chemicals produced by the body for hunger, cognition, discomfort, and motion. CBD, unlike THC, is non-inhibitory and non-euphoric; therefore, it does not make you “high.” Patients who use CBD-dominant strains of medical marijuana report only minor, if any, changes in their awareness.

It’s worth noting that your body already produces marijuana-like compounds linked to health issues, including pain and inflammation. Marijuana, according to Laura Borgelt, PharmD from the University of Colorado, aids in the improvement of how these natural compounds function.

What Are Marijuana’s Advantages?

Americans are largely in favor of legalizing marijuana. According to the Pew Research Center, 91% of Americans approve of marijuana legalization.  60% believe it should be lawful for medicinal and recreational purposes, while 31% believe it should only be authorized for medical purposes.

Medical marijuana purchased from reliable companies is used to treat the symptoms of many ailments but not to cure them completely. As a result, utilizing it alone will not influence the outcome of a certain condition. You can feel better and continue to function if your symptoms are relieved.

If you’re wondering what marijuana’s advantages are, there’s more to it than meets the eye. According to Altitude Organic Cannabis, medicinal marijuana can be used in the following medicinal applications:

Pain Management

One of the most prevalent uses of medicinal marijuana is to treat pain. It is very beneficial for chronic pain. Marijuana also improves pain from multiple sclerosis and nerve discomfort in general.

Treatment of Nausea and Enhancement of Appetite

Marijuana is also used to treat nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy for cancer. It also assists in increasing appetite and weight growth in people with chronic diseases such as HIV. 

Seizure Control and Mental Health Treatment

Doctors can also prescribe marijuana to treat neurological and mental health issues such as anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Tourette syndrome because of its effects on the limbic system.

Other Conditions

Medical marijuana can also treat glaucoma, muscular spasms, inflammation, pain, wasting syndrome, Chrohn’s illness, and irritable bowel syndrome. It is used to induce relaxation in MS patients and has been shown to destroy cancer cells and reduce tumor development. Furthermore, its calming impact aids in the improvement of sleep.

Is Medical Marijuana Harmful to One’s Health?

Despite marijuana’s promised benefits, there are worries about the possible hazards associated with its usage. It may cause (but is not limited to) the following negative effects:

• Loss of short-term memory
• Dizziness
• Euphoria
• Drowsiness
• Moderate hallucinations
• Effects of depression

Scientific Evidence Is Still Scarce

Previously, clinical trials to assess whether marijuana is useful in treating certain ailments were stringent and limited. However, as medicinal marijuana grows more popular worldwide, experts are conducting more research.12

Expert assessments of existing research, however, continue to advise further studies.13 Furthermore, numerous challenges concern managing the quality and dose of cannabis with what is legally accessible to researchers.

According to one assessment of studies, the long-term consequences of cannabis are still unknown.12 Without additional studies into dose, and harmful effects, scientific proof of cannabis’s medicinal advantages will remain in doubt.

To determine if marijuana is useful for treating illnesses, researchers must analyze it using the same criteria as other drugs.

Key Takeaway

The availability of medical marijuana in the United States is increasing. Its wide array of benefits, from treating pain, muscle spasms, and nausea to increasing your appetite, has made it increasingly popular. Medical marijuana has both advantages and disadvantages. If you’re considering taking marijuana for therapeutic purposes, don’t hesitate to discuss it with your doctor. They can assist you in determining whether marijuana is the right medicine for you. If you’re looking to buy medical marijuana, purchase products from reputable companies to minimize the health risks.