Benefits of Medical Marijuana: New studies show that cannabis can be used to help with a variety of chronic pain issues, as used by patients along with athletes.
Recent studies have shown that medical marijuana can be used to help with both chronic pain and multiple sclerosis-related spasticity symptoms.
While more research needs to be done to determine how safe and effective cannabis is, there are certainly some great reasons to consider adding it to your treatment regimen if you suffer from either of these conditions or others that may benefit from medical marijuana use, like HIV/AIDS, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and cancer.
Before starting any new therapy, always check with your physician first. Also, ensure that you buy from a reliable source with the right product and safe weed delivery.
Below are some specific benefits of using medical marijuana along with the most current research on medical marijuana studies and research in general.
How Does Cannabis Help Athletes?
We are not here to endorse smoking pot (heck, we think it should be legal, but that’s a different story).
However, there are athletes out there who choose to use it. And since marijuana is still illegal on a federal level, these athletes may be hesitant to take anything stronger than aspirin for their sore muscles.
The truth is that cannabis can help alleviate pain—especially in professional athletes like football players or bodybuilders who experience intense pain post-workout.
But how does it work? It comes down to cannabidiol (CBD) which is one of 80+ cannabinoids found in marijuana; at least 30 of those cannabinoids are medically significant.
What Can Medical Cannabis Treat?
Even with all of its proven health benefits, cannabis is not for everyone. Some people experience negative side effects while using it, which can range from headaches to dizziness, anxiety, irritability, and more.
Keep in mind that while these symptoms aren’t necessarily deadly or dangerous, they can be uncomfortable; if you experience any of them after using medical marijuana for pain relief or any other condition, talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage.
Alternately, you may want to try an alternative method of treatment like medical marijuana suppositories instead of taking it by mouth.
It’s also important to note that smoking (or otherwise consuming) cannabis during pregnancy can harm your unborn child; women who are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant should discuss their treatment options with a doctor before starting on marijuana.
Side Effects of Cannabis
The side effects of cannabis include increased heart rate, increased appetite, dry mouth, bloodshot eyes, dizziness, drowsiness, and slowed reaction time.
Consuming too much marijuana can result in impaired memory and judgment. Although research is still ongoing on possible long-term side effects of marijuana use for medical purposes, some studies have found that smoking or ingesting weed can lead to bronchitis and an increased risk of infections because it lowers users’ immunity systems. In rare cases, marijuana can adversely affect fertility.
Conclusion
After reviewing medical marijuana studies over time, it’s clear that more research is needed.
But one thing is for sure—the federal government needs to order cannabis off Schedule I (so it can be researched) and let states do their own regulating (which will make it easier to research). Until then, all we have are these studies.
