Alternative therapies are increasingly popular among chronic disease patients; they are dissatisfied with conventional medicines due to a lack of long-term options. Nowadays, long-term mental health conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain affect many people. Many of these people turn to medical cannabis or they wonder if medical cannabis can assist improve their problems. Fortunately, many people report the comfort of medicinal marijuana use, but these items aren’t always available. In many states, it is practically impossible to obtain medicinal marijuana products because of legal prohibitions that are still in place.

Marijuana, or cannabis, has been used medicinally for thousands of years despite its reputation as a hard drug. As a legal drug, marijuana is most commonly used for smoking or eating. This product is mainly made from cannabis Sativa, the plant from which it gets its name. Medical marijuana is a term used to describe the use of marijuana to treat specific medical ailments. More than half of the states in the US have approved cannabis for medical use. A wide variety of active chemicals are found in Cannabis sativa. Cannabidiol and Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol are the most widely recognized. THC, the active element in marijuana, causes people to feel happy “a lot of. Therefore, the federal government has passed legislation that makes it illegal to possess marijuana.

The number of states that authorize medical marijuana use is steadily rising. Several questions need to be answered about the use of medical marijuana, what condition does it treat, who can take it and who should take it? According to a pain medicine specialist, pain relief is the most common reason people seek a prescription. It could be due to headaches, an illness such as cancer, or a condition that has been going on for a long time, such as nerve pain or glaucoma. There is a “marijuana card” for those who live in states where medicinal marijuana is legal and your doctor believes it might be beneficial. You will be added to a list that permits you to purchase marijuana from a licensed dispensary. Currently, there are medicinal cannabis programs in 33 out of the 50 US states, plus the District of Columbia, and recreational marijuana usage is allowed in 11 states and the District of Columbia.

 

How to Get Medical Marijuana?

Medical marijuana is only available with a doctor’s prescription in states that have legalized the substance for medical use. Medical conditions or side effects necessitate the use of this medication. You will be added to a list that allows you to purchase marijuana from a licensed supplier.

 

How is Medical Marijuana used?

The following are the ways to consume cannabis:

• Inhalation: smoking and vaping
• Ingesting through the mouth: medicines and other consumables.
• Topical: ointments, creams, and lotions

Your attending physician will determine the frequency of your medicinal marijuana use. Depending on the variety, the amount of cannabinoids in marijuana varies. Because of this, it can be difficult to predict or regulate the effects that medicinal marijuana will have. The effects might also differ depending on whether the substance is smoked or consumed orally.

 

What are the medical conditions that qualify?

Following are the Qualifying Conditions for Medical Cannabis

 

• Severe or Chronic pain

Medical marijuana may be an excellent option for patients with joint pain, chronic headaches, and other types of chronic pain. In the past, the most prevalent method of treating chronic pain was prescribed pain medication. On the other hand, now we understand better that pain drugs are highly addictive and that each year in the United States, they are responsible for many deaths caused by overdose. In addition, pain drugs can have various unpleasant side effects also. Now chronic pain sufferers have an alternative treatment in the form of medical marijuana.

 

• Cachexia

Several dangerous disorders related to malnutrition and weight loss are known collectively as “wasting syndrome,” including cancer, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cystic fibrosis, and heart failure. Some patients’ weight has stabilized, and their appetites increased by the cannabinoids in medical marijuana.

 

• Anorexia

There are many ways to reduce weight when you suffer from anorexia and overeating disorder involving restricting or depriving yourself of meals. The patients affected by the condition almost always weigh at least 15 percent less than their optimal or average body weight. Medical marijuana may raise a patient’s metabolic rate and hunger and encourage them to eat more.

 

• Severe Nausea

Medical marijuana can treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy for cancer patients. Cannabinoids are compounds that are found in cannabis and have the potential to stimulate appetite and reduce the feeling of nausea.

 

• Seizures

Seizures can be caused by epilepsy, which is a brain disorder that causes nerves to disconnect. In general, people who suffer from seizures experience short instances in which they lose control of their body movements, get cramps, or even drop to the ground and struggle to get back up afterward. Patients who suffer from epilepsy or seizures may benefit from medicinal marijuana, according to the findings of some research that have been conducted on this topic. CBD, the cannabinoid in medical cannabis, has been demonstrated to benefit specific body systems that regulate seizures.

 

• Muscle spasms overtime

These symptoms might be caused by dehydration, a lack of blood flow in the muscles, or nerve damage. Muscle spasms are a common concern among people who suffer from chronic muscle discomfort. Muscle spasms can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and, in rare situations, can be severe. When various conventional medicines have failed to control these severe muscle spasms, medical cannabis may be the solution.

 

• Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve in the eye, worsens with age, and can also affect millions of people worldwide. It is rare for the symptoms to appear early in the disease. Still, they can develop and include issues like vision loss, particularly in the eye’s outer area, as the research studies revealed that the THC that is included in medical marijuana lowers the pressure inside the eye, which may slow the advancement of glaucoma and also lower the effects of vision loss.

 

• The Disorder of Post-Traumatic Stress

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition that develops in the face of a terrible experience. Several symptoms are associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, including disturbing flashbacks and anxiety-inducing thoughts. PTSD symptoms can sometimes be relieved with medical marijuana in some situations.

 

• Anxiety-related disorders

Medical marijuana is likely to benefit more people in the US, where an estimated 20 percent of the population suffers from anxiety disorders. Medical marijuana “is not the first-line therapy, and it should not replace established medicines, but may be used in combination with them.”

 

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS

Medical marijuana has been licensed to treat specific symptoms of ALS, such as muscle stiffness or spasticity, induced by ALS, which can harm their everyday routines and activities. According to studies, medical marijuana can ease ALS treatment through muscle stiffness and make daily activities more manageable.

 

• Autism

People with autism have difficulties with social skills, repetitive habits, nonverbal communication, and speech, along with “unique strengths and distinctions. And there has been significant growth in the number of cases of autism spectrum disorders being identified in children all over the world. Therefore, cannabis appears to be a well-tolerated, safe, and practical choice for treating symptoms associated with an autism spectrum disorder.

 

• Cancer

The loss of appetite and subsequent weakness that cancer patients often experience due to therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be alleviated by medical marijuana. For this, medical marijuana is often looked out on by individuals who have cancer for relieving pain.

 

• Crohn’s Disease 

Inflammation of the digestive system is the primary symptom of Crohn’s disease. You may experience abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, exhaustion, weight loss, and malnutrition due to the inflammation of your gastrointestinal tract caused by a virus. Crohn’s disease can induce inflammation in different parts of the digestive system in different persons, depending on their genetics. People with Crohn’s disease may benefit from cannabis, which has improved appetite and sleep. 

 

• AIDS and HIV

HIV is an abbreviation that stands for “human immunodeficiency virus.” It weakens your immune system by eliminating the white blood cells essential for fighting infection. Because of this, you put yourself at increased risk for severe infections and several diseases. Marijuana-based drugs are effective in treating many painful AIDS symptoms, in addition to their ability to stimulate an individual’s appetite for food.

 

• Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis, often known as MS, is caused by the body’s immune system affecting the protective layer called myelin surrounding nerve fibers. This results in communication difficulties between the body’s central nervous system. As a result, nerves can weaken or become permanently injured. One of the most prominent scientific organizations in the United States has declared that marijuana is either proven or highly probable to help alleviate the symptoms of MS.

 

• Sickle Cell Anemia 

In sickle cell anemia, the body generates red blood cells that have an unusual form due to an underlying anemia condition. The cells have a crescent or sickle-shaped form. They don’t live as long as regular, circular red blood cells; thus, anemia develops. In addition, sickle cells can become blocked in blood vessels and obstruct blood flow. There is a risk of pain and harm to the other organs also. According to recent studies, cannabis may assist patients who have sickle cell disease in better managing their pain.

 

• Arthritis Rheumatoid

It’s important to know that rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term inflammatory illness that can impact something more than your joints. It happens when the immune system mistakenly targets the body’s tissues and leads to the condition known as autoimmune disease. Some RA sufferers may benefit from medical marijuana to alleviate some autoimmune diseases. 

 

• Insomnia

Sleep disorders affect as many as one in every three American adults, and one in every ten of these people experience insomnia. 

Using cannabis to treat insomnia is beneficial because of the following reasons:

• It is well known that endocannabinoids play an essential role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle.
• Cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis help to sleep
• Marijuana may speed up the process of going to sleep

 

What are the side effects of Medical Marijuana?

Using cannabis may lead to a dependence problem. If you get addicted to cannabis, you may experience withdrawal symptoms after you stop taking the drug. As a result of withdrawal, you may experience the following:

• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Depressed state of mind
• Less desire to eat
• Pain and discomfort in the body
• Nausea
• Restlessness

Cannabis use can also lead to a variety of adverse effects, including:

• A rise in the heartbeat
• Hypertension 
• Dizziness
• A short-term memory loss
• Reduced short-term focus
• Reduced problem-solving ability

Cannabis use has been linked to a range of memory issues, including:

• A sense of the present moment
• Perception of the senses
• Duration of concentration
• Problem-solving
• Speaking
• Receptiveness
• Motor control

The following are some of the other adverse effects of marijuana use:

• Increased insulin sensitivity
• Drowsiness
• Drug interactions
• Irritated eyes
• Bad breath
• Anxiety

Inexperienced cannabis users and those taking considerable amounts are more prone to these adverse effects based on the amount of marijuana used. In mental or emotional conditions, users may cause nervousness and hallucinations also. It could also worsen their mental health. 

 

Who Can’t Use Medical Marijuana for Medical Reasons?

• Patients under eighteen cannot be prescribed medical marijuana by their providers because of state law. 

Other persons who shouldn’t take medical marijuana include:

• Heart patients
• pregnant women
• The inflammation of the lungs
• Marijuana dependence

 

Conclusion

Despite the study’s findings, medicinal marijuana continues to be prescribed to treat many diseases, including cancer. Cannabis isn’t used for cure but can relieve disease symptoms or medication side effects. In the event you believe that cannabis could be beneficial to your health, make an appointment with your physician. Even though your doctor can’t prescribe marijuana, they can write a prescription or register patients for its usage.

The primary purpose of medical marijuana is to alleviate symptoms, not diagnose, treat, or cure diseases. It can ease specific symptoms, enhance your quality of life, and make you feel better. In contrast to medicinal marijuana, the active substance in these medications can be precisely controlled, so you know exactly how much of it you’re getting in a dose. Qualifying criteria for cannabis may differ in some states, but they are universal throughout all programs. Check the website for your state to see whether you are eligible to receive a medicinal marijuana card or not.