What is medical marijuana?
Medical marijuana is a derivative of the Cannabis sativa plant that has been shown to provide relief of symptoms brought on by certain medical conditions. The two main derivatives from the Cannabis sativa plant are known as CBD, short for cannabidiol, and THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the ingredient in marijuana that causes the feelings that are most commonly associated with the recreational forms of marijuana.
CBD does not cause these same feelings and instead has been shown to have medicinal properties such as antioxidant, anti-anxiety, and anti-inflammatory, as well as anti-psychotic. The CBD that is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant contains less than 0.3% THC and has been legally approved for use under federal law in the US for medical purposes. THC remains illegal at a federal level, although some states have chosen to allow it for medical purposes.
What is medical marijuana used for?
Medical marijuana has been shown to be useful in the treatment of many medical conditions whereas other traditional treatment methods have proven ineffective in some patients. Medical marijuana use should be monitored by a medical marijuana doctor, who can qualify patients for a medical marijuana card, which allows patients to legally buy the marijuana they need.
The list of medical conditions that have been shown to experience relief of symptoms through the use of medical marijuana continues to grow as further studies are done. Conditions that are currently being treated with the use of medical marijuana include Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Crohn’s disease, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy and seizures, multiple sclerosis, chronic and severe pain, glaucoma, and severe nausea or vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
Marijuana for medicinal purposes can be administered in a number of different ways to provide patients with the relief they need when they need it. Each method works in a different way, with some forms absorbing into the body quickly, providing almost instant effects, with others taking longer to take effect, but providing long-lasting effects. Depending on the condition being treated, your marijuana doctor may recommend one form of administration over another.
How does medical marijuana help?
Medical marijuana is still being widely studied and researched to understand fully how it works to provide patients with relief of various symptoms caused by different medical conditions. The relief it offers will vary by condition, for example, helping patients to control their feelings of nausea, which is a common side effect of chemotherapy. In the case of people with HIV and AIDS, medical marijuana helps to boost their appetite. And in epilepsy patients, it helps to control seizures.
The exact science around how medical marijuana is able to do this is still unknown, but it is believed that the chemicals in marijuana connect to the receptors in the body, which are specific parts of cells. The cannabis receptors are found in cells within the brain and immune system, but the complete process to understand how the drug affects the receptors has not yet been clearly defined or understood.
What is the difference between THC and CBD?
Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and cannabidiol, or CBD, are both active ingredients naturally derived from the Cannabis sativa plant that have effects on the human body. Although they come from the same plant, they have different legal classifications due to the way they interact with the body. CBD is the version of medical marijuana that has been federally legalized for medical use.
It has medicinal benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-anxiety properties that provide patients with relief from various symptoms, without the feelings associated with THC, which, is still illegal at a federal level. However, several states have made it legal when used for medicinal purposes. The sensation that people experience when using marijuana for recreational purposes comes from the THC in the drug. Dr. Elora Roy, MD at RejuvaMed, will provide a recommendation for which type of medical marijuana is best for you, based on your medical condition.
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