Are There Any Health Benefits to Marijuana?
Marijuana is used to achieve a relaxed state of mind or alter their state of consciousness, but it can be psychologically addictive.
The cannabis plant is actually a type of flower, and the leaves and buds from it are what make marijuana. The active drug ingredient in marijuana is THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contains cannabinoids that produce euphoric effects. People will usually smoke the dried leaves and buds as cigarettes, with a pipe, or water-bong, or ingest it as food. Marijuana is used to achieve a relaxed state of mind or alter their state of consciousness.
Marijuana is also used for medicinal purposes because it treats chronic pain and other medical conditions. Today, many U.S. states have legalized marijuana for recreational and medical purposes.
Marijuana is also called cannabis, pot, weed, grass, bud, herb, smoke, dope, and ganja.
What Type of Marijuana is Used in Medicine?
Medical practitioners will recommend the most familiar type of marijuana is cannabis Sativa. Cannabis sativa derivatives alleviate symptoms caused by certain medical conditions under the term medical marijuana. There are several active compounds in cannabis Sativa. Cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most well-known.
Sativa is widely used as a recreational drug type, but its effects on medical conditions are established. Therefore, the difference between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana is not significant. CBD, however, will not cause euphoria and is well-liked for treating inflammation and pain.
What Medical Conditions Does Marijuana Help?
The Mayo Clinic offers medical information on the health benefits of medical marijuana. They list the common ailments marijuana has shown to improve:
Studies report that medical cannabis has a possible advantage for several conditions. Depending on the state, someone may qualify for treatment with medical marijuana if they meet specific requirements and have a qualifying condition, such as:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- HIV/AIDS
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Glaucoma
- Multiple sclerosis and muscle spasms
- Severe and chronic pain
- Severe nausea or vomiting caused by cancer treatment
What is a Medical Marijuana Card?
It is essential to understand that a medical doctor cannot prescribe marijuana as it is a controlled substance and illegal in many states for recreational use. A doctor can recommend using marijuana but cannot prescribe it. A medical marijuana card can only be obtained after a medical doctor, or qualified medical practitioner recommends marijuana as a treatment option.
The next step is to file with the state or county and register them as medical marijuana recipients. Patients with medical marijuana cards can possess or grow cannabis for medicinal use in most states. Sometimes medical marijuana I.D cards are called medical marijuana identification (MMID) or medical marijuana (MMJ).
Is Medical Marijuana Addictive?
All marijuana is addictive and can change a person’s life for the worse. Marijuana has long held the reputation of being the gateway drug to harder drugs, and it still is. However, the research on addiction does not focus on the drug or substance any longer like it used to.
We now understand that addiction is a disease of the mind and occurs with or without a drug. Behavioral addictions and other obsessive habits can be as damaging as drug use and cause a person harm. Today, the treatment methods focus on helping the person understand why they rely on the drug to feel better, then providing them therapy and insight into how their mind reacts.
Why is Behavioral Therapy Effective for Marijuana Addiction?
Marijuana addiction is very much related to the mind as this type of drug is called a psychotropic depressant. That means that it slows the central nervous system and alters the person’s interpretation of the outside world to the degree that many marijuana addicts desire rot escape even more so than other types of addictions.
Behavioral therapy does not change how the person behaves but helps them assess how they react to the world and their relationships more accurately. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches a person how their thoughts cause negative emotional responses and how they can improve and change.
