8 emerging uses for medical cannabis
Hope is on the horizon for people who want to use marijuana to treat medical conditions.
Cannabis is currently illegal under federal law as a Schedule I drug. But in January, federal researchers recommended moving it to a Schedule III drug, which includes drugs like ketamine and testosterone that are available by prescription.
Americans most closely associate medical marijuana with treating severe symptoms of cancer and AIDS. Indeed, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a handful of cannabis-derived drugs to treat these and a few other specific diseases. However, people living with many different medical conditions could potentially benefit from the reclassification and broader legal acceptance of cannabis.
Stacker identified eight medical conditions where cannabis may be beneficial, either by lessening symptoms or treating the underlying medical problem. Despite federal policy, the drug is already legal for medical use in 38 states, including Washington D.C., and is legal for recreational use in 25 states. Additionally, the medicinal use of cannabidiol, or CBD, often formulated as oil—which is made from cannabis plants but has low levels of their primary psychoactive element, THC—is allowed in six more states. Regulations vary widely between states—some are very restrictive, while in others, new laws have yet to be implemented, meaning cannabis is effectively illegal.
As legal recreational marijuana use has increased and stigma has decreased, the plant-derived drug has emerged as a potential treatment option for myriad conditions. Cannabis takes many different forms, which in turn can affect each person differently.
Common reactions to marijuana include a sense of relaxation and euphoria, and increased appetite. For the uninitiated, not all marijuana is created equal; various potencies and terpene makeups (the chemical compounds in cannabis that cause different effects like relaxation or heightened awareness) have a profound effect on the experience.
Anyone hoping to test cannabis to treat a medical condition should become familiar with their state's laws first and speak with a doctor about treating the condition through more conventional methods. Under current federal law, doctors can't prescribe marijuana, but instead can provide referrals for its use to those with qualifying conditions.
Even in states where cannabis is legal, obtaining a referral or license for medical marijuana can be challenging and may be impossible for many of the lesser-researched medical conditions. What's more, federal restrictions have limited research into using cannabis to treat various conditions.
However, there are options for adults 21 and over in states where recreational marijuana use is legal, who can visit a verified dispensary to test the benefits of marijuana for their medical conditions. Research and cautious trial-and-error with cannabis products, including edibles, topicals, joints, and oils, can help those seeking relief find the proper dosage and method to manage symptoms.
Cannabis can have adverse effects that prospective users should be aware of: The drug can cause difficulty thinking and slow reaction times, impair memory, and, in high doses, can cause hallucinations and delusions. It also elevates users' heart rate, and when smoked, marijuana irritates users' lungs and can cause breathing problems. Use of cannabis while pregnant can negatively affect the fetus' development.
Though there's evidence that cannabis has been used for millennia to treat various ailments, modern research is only just beginning to provide scientific proof of its medicinal value. Although a more holistic understanding of its medical impact is still emerging, cannabis has proven beneficial for a variety of physical and mental health issues that have inflammation, anxiety, or stress as an underlying cause or major symptom.
Either anecdotally or through case studies and scientific research, people with these conditions have reported some therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
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