According to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research on May 20 of this year, cancer patients who use medical marijuana experience less pain and a better quality of life, according to the Israeli researchers who conducted the study.
And they found that these patients were able to rely less on opioid painkillers, with minimal side effects. In all, about 60% of participants reported improvement in symptoms tied to medical marijuana, the investigators found. After six months of using medical marijuana, nearly half stopped all other pain drugs.
These findings advance existing studies that continue to demonstrate the benefits of medical marijuana. The cannabinoids in cannabis may reduce pain by altering pain perception pathways in the brain. This may be helpful to also treat conditions that cause chronic pain such as:
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Endometriosis
- Migraine
Other benefits users accrue to medical marijuana include:
- Reduced anxiety
- Reduced inflammation
- Controlling nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy
- Relaxing tight muscles in people with MS
- Killing cancer cells and slowing tumor growth
- Stimulating appetite and improving weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS
Since the CBD in cannabis is thought to help reduce inflammation this may benefit inflammatory conditions, such as:
- Crohn’s disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
And due to its impact on the limbic system, doctors sometimes prescribe marijuana to treat the following neurological and mental health conditions in addition to anxiety:
- Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Tourette syndrome
Of course, many users also enjoy cannabis simply to relax or to use as a sleep aid.
Those who are new to medical marijuana may find that the best way to initially consume it is through edibles as opposed to smoking or inhaling. This has the advantage of controlled doses and does not require any special equipment. Depending on what your goal is, there are also lotions, sprays, oils and creams available.
If you’re looking to integrate cannabis into your life and want to learn more resources like Webmd have articles on medical marijuana. Because medical and recreational marijuana are legal in California, you aren’t required to have a card to purchase marijuana, but the card allows patients to easily prove to law enforcement they are allowed to possess or grow the amount of cannabis they need, which is more than the amount allowed for recreational use. Either way, you should consult your physician to understand any possible impacts based on other medications you may be taking.
One final note – there is a big difference between CBD and cannabis or marijuana. The terms cannot be used interchangeably. CBD can be derived from marijuana or from hemp, but it must have less than .3% of THC, or the substance that causes the “high” in marijuana. More information can be found at verywellmind.com.
This article was provided by Bulldog Cannabis, a cultivation and dispensary business located in Thousand Palms. Their knowledgable budtenders can guide customers with recommendations based on extensive experience.
