Medical marijuana remains a somewhat controversial subject in the health industry. Many claim that it is akin to a miracle treatment, while others say it has almost no benefits at all. The following benefits and risks of medical cannabis have been studied and confirmed multiple times.
Manage Multiple Sclerosis Pain
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological condition that progresses through a person’s body and eventually paralyzes and kills them. It also causes a lot of pain, which marijuana has been approved to treat. The beneficial chemical is THC, which causes decreased pain symptoms throughout the body.
Slow Alzheimer’s Progression
Those who suffer from Alzheimer’s are engaged in a progressive battle against time, as their brain cells slowly die. Studies have shown that the THC in marijuana helps block the brain from making the enzymes that cause Alzheimer’s. While it’s still not a cure for this unfortunate disease, it is a treatment that can help a person retain memories and fight back against it.
Decrease The Severity Of Lupus
When a person develops lupus, their body’s immune system begins attacking them for no reason. This dangerous disease can be treated with marijuana, as it helps calm the immune system and decrease its attack. Cannabis also helps manage the pain and nausea common with this disease.
Boosts Creativity
For years, musicians, writers, and artists have claimed that marijuana helps boost their creativity. It turns out there might be something to that. Researchers have found that people who smoke marijuana have improved verbal fluency, decreased inhibitions, and unique perspectives on concepts. As a result, they can approach creative problems with novel solutions.
Help With Crohn’s Disease
This unfortunate bowel disorder causes pain, vomiting, weight loss, and other serious problems. Surprisingly, one study showed that nearly every patient in a Crohn’s study had a decrease of their symptoms after smoking a single joint. Even more surprisingly, five patients had a complete remission of their disease.
There Are Risks
While marijuana does have many apparent benefits, it is important to know that you do run the risk of several side effects. For example, excessive marijuana smoking can interfere with your memory, ability to feel pleasure, your coordination, and even your perception of time. As a result, you may have a decreased attention span and poor judgement skills.
Some reports indicate that smoking marijuana may also increase your risk of cancer. There are conflicting results on this, but some indicate that heavy marijuana smoking is associated with some forms of lung cancer. Beyond the health risks is the legal problems that can come with either growing or smoking marijuana.
Remember, just because a state allows medical marijuana, that doesn’t mean you can walk around and smoke freely. Most states require residents to smoke marijuana in their home and to follow very strict growing and distribution rules. For example, smoking marijuana with a friend who does not have a prescription for it is often illegal for both of you.
Weighing The Pros And Cons
In the end, it’s all up to the individual to decide if marijuana is right for their needs. While it can obviously help with many different diseases, it does carry risks that many users either ignore or don’t know about. Keep them in mind when making your decision.