Using Medical Marijuana As #Medicine
Medical marijuana (cannabis, hashish, etc.) has a long history of use as medicine, with historical evidence dating back to 2,737 BC.
Cannabis has been used medicinally and recreational in cultures spanning across the globe since the beginning of time. Its medical uses are ever expanding and are used for:
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV & AIDS
Cachexia
Persistent muscle spasms
Seizures
Sever nausea
Severe pain
Chronic pain
Arthritis
Migraine
Seizures
Epilepsy
Alzheimer’s disease
Crohn’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Spasticity disorder
Vomiting
Cachexia
Hepatitis C
Anorexia
Huntington’s disease
Digestive diseases
Appetite stimulation
Hemorrhoids
Depression
Bipolar disorder
With more benefits continuing to be found…
What Has Medical Marijuana Research Shown???
Research shows that marijuana can prevent the death of injured neurons within the brain.
Known to alleviate anxiety and depression, clinical trials have shown that CBD in marijuana has anti-psychotic effects, which helps reduces anxiety that can come from THC in marijuana.
This is a living example of synergetic multi-tasking within herbs.
Despite all of marijuana’s medical benefits, in the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies marijuana as a prohibited Schedule I drug, which means that there is “no currently accepted medical use” of marijuana.
However, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active ingredient in marijuana, is classified as a synthetic Schedule III drug (Dronabinol, Marinol®).
Even though the DEA’s hypocritical classification is rejected by American citizens.
There are currently 23 (and growing) states in the US, that allow patients to possess (and grow in most cases) marijuana for medical use, depending upon a physician’s recommendation.
Nonetheless, possession of marijuana still remains illegal under Federal law.
Due to marijuana remaining illegal under US Federal law, marijuana’s main source remains mostly within the “black market”.
Medical Marijuana States
If you are lucky enough to live in a state where you can obtain a doctor’s recommendation for medical marijuana, you have numerous places where you can purchase medical marijuana legally under state law.
You may be asking, “How is marijuana medicine”?
Since marijuana is a herb, it naturally goes against current medical science.
The DEA and FDA criticize the use of herbs as medicines, saying that plants contain a variable mix of compounds and cannot provide a precisely defined drug effect.
Medical marijuana is at odds with current medical science.
Herbalists applaud the polypharmacy of medical marijuanaand claim two advantages over single-ingredient drugs:
The many constituents in herbs may work by multiple mechanisms to improve therapeutic activity in a cumulative or synergistic manner.
Herbs may also contain compounds that mitigate the side effects of their predominant active ingredients.
First and foremost in marijuana’s list of ingredients is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC works in humans by mimicking an endogenous compound that our own bodies make, called anandamide, and THC binds to anandamide’s receptors, called cannabinoid (CB) receptors.
When THC or anandamide activate CB receptors, the CB receptors activate G-Proteins while research has shown that different cannabinoids preferentially activate different subtypes of G-proteins.
This may explain why different strains of marijuana produce different highs.
Thanks to its mix of ingredients, marijuana causes fewer psychological side effects than pure, synthetic THC (Marinol).
With help from all parts of the scientific community studying more of the elemental compounds within marijuana, marijuana being used as medicine is now becoming more accepted around the world.
Effects of Indica Medical Marijuana (lower THC, higher in CBN/CBD)
Indica medical marijuana strains generally have more physical than cerebral (however, the relief of physical symptoms can have a positive psychological effect).
Sedation, pain relief and relaxation
Best for later in the day and bedtime
Perhaps better for anxiety than depression
Benefits of Indica Medical Marijuana (lower THC, higher in CBN/CBD)
Reduces pain
Muscle Relaxant
Relieves spasms, reduces seizures
Reduces inflammation
Aids sleep
Reduces anxiety and stress
Reduces nausea
Stimulates appetite
Relieves headaches and migraines
Reduces intra-ocular pressure
Bronchio-dilator and expectorant
Effects of Sativa Medical Marijuana (High THC, low CBN/CBD)
Indica strains generally have more of a cerebral effect:
More stimulating and uplifting
Energizing and thought provoking
Increases focus and creativity
Supports immune system
Best for use in daytime
Benefits of Sativa Medical Marijuana (High THC, low CBN/CBD)
Reduces nausea
Stimulates appetite
Fights depression
Positive, uplifting, cerebral effect
Energizes and stimulates
Promotes creativity
Relieves headaches and migraines
Relaxes muscles
Relieves pain
Acts as an expectorant
Selecting the Best Medical Marijuana Strain and Dosage
The efficacy of medical marijuana is directly related to strain selection.
Care should be taken when selecting strains that will benefit you while potency and dosage will vary with different strains, conditions and individuals.
The idea is to consume as little as possible of the mostappropriately potent medical marijuana strains available in order to reduce costs and potential side effects.
Hybrid/Crosses Of Medical Marijuana Strains
Most cannabis seeds and medicine available today are from hybrids – crosses of Sativa and Indica varieties.
This allows cultivators to enjoy and select for various desired characteristics of growth, appearance and effect so the genetics and hence the effects of one lineage will usually be dominant.
For example: Indica-dominant crosses are for pain relief, with the sativa component helping with energy and activity levels.
Sativa-dominant crosses are good for stimulating appetite, with the indica component helping to reduce body pain and increase relaxation.
Cannabis has been proven helpful in relieving the symptoms of thousands of conditions, including:
Pain from various ailments and injuries
Arthritis, bursitis
Migraines
Multiple sclerosis
Hepatitis C
Fibromyalgia
Nausea and low appetite
HIV/AIDS
Cancer, Chemotherapy
Crohn’s Disease
Muscular Dystrophy
Epilepsy, Parkinson’s
Asthma, Emphysema
Glaucoma and other intra-ocular disorders
Skin diseases such as Pruritis and Psoriasis
Back pain and muscle spasms
Paraplegia and Quadriplegia
Insomnia and other sleep disorders
Studies have found that THC promotes death of brain cancer cells and shrinks tumors.
Let us know what you think. (Click Here To Learn More About Cannabis Concentrates)
[Ed. Note. Green CulturED has created an intuitively designed educational experience that is delivered in the way students learn and interact online today. It is their commitment to increase the number of states with medical marijuana laws, supporting and improving existing state medical marijuana programs, protecting medical marijuana patients, and ending the federal ban on medical marijuana. (Click here to start learning about this emerging industry today.]
