By now, 47 states plus Washington DC and 3 territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) have legalized some form of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana may be able to help patients dealing with many different conditions. While cannabis can’t cure any of these conditions, it may help people suffering from them to better manage their symptoms and overall health.
Possible Benefits of Marijuana Use for Medical Purposes
Cannabis may have several therapeutic benefits. Here are some of the most commonly approved medical uses for cannabis in the United States.
- Inflammation: Cannabinoids such as THC and CBD have shown promise as anti-inflammatory agents. In theory, these anti-inflammatory properties may be able to benefit people suffering from inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Chron’s disease, and others.
- Pain: Cannabis may also help to alleviate certain kinds of pain. Because of its potential anti-inflammatory benefits, cannabis may be especially helpful in alleviating inflammation-related pain, such as arthritis. Early research has also suggested that cannabinoids may be able to help with alleviating neuropathic pain.
- Sleep Disorders: Cannabis has been known to increase sleepiness and drowsiness. Because of this, cannabis may be beneficial for helping people suffering from sleep disorders to fall asleep.
- Eating Stimulus: Cannabis has also been known to stimulate appetite and encourage eating. This effect may help those suffering from eating disorders or lack of appetite due to another medical condition.
- Anxiety: The cannabinoid CBD has been shown to have possible anti-anxiety benefits. Research indicates that CBD may be able to help people suffering from certain anxiety disorders.
Possible Risks of Medical Marijuana Use
While medical marijuana has very little side effects any may be able to help people struggling with their health, it isn’t completely risk-free. It’s important to be mindful of any potential risk of marijuana consumption before deciding to dive in.
For some, cannabis intoxication can produce depressant-like effects. That means that you may feel sleepy and slow depending on the kind of strain that you are ingesting. Of course, that is sometimes exactly what you’re looking for! Just make sure that if you’re ingesting an indica-dominant strain, you are done with your to-do list for the day.
On the other hand, sativa-dominant strains of cannabis may cause overly-stimulating effects. This means that cannabis can (very temporarily) cause hyperactivity, rapid breathing, and high blood pressure. People who suffer from certain forms of anxiety may find that cannabis use can worsen their experience of anxiety for an hour or two.
Lastly, the overuse of cannabis can sometimes become psychologically addictive. It’s important to note that this is not a physical dependence. You can manage your use of cannabis and your medical provider can give you ideas for how to regulate your use if you feel like you’re becoming more reliant on cannabis than you want to be.
Assessing Medical Marijuana Strains
Cannabis comes in all kinds of different strains. A strain is a genetic variety of cannabis that has its own profile of effects and flavors. Each batch of cannabis with a different name that you see on dispensary shelves is a different strain.
Since each strain has a specific genetic profile with its own effects, you’ll want to talk with a budtender about its THC to CBD ratio and whether its indica- or sativa-dominant (or a balanced hybrid) to get a better idea of the strain’s likely effects.
Having a good understanding of the strains you are using to treat your condition is important in order to fully take advantage of the benefits of marijuana for medical use. Using the right kind of strain for your condition and your situation can help you to maximize the benefits of marijuana, while minimizing the risk of side effects.
How can you learn more about the benefits and risks of marijuana strains? Using a marijuana strains guide or directory like Leafly or Allbud is one way to begin your educational journey. A marijuana strains guide or directory can provide you with valuable information about each cannabis strain and help you to decide which strain may be best for you. You can download a marijuana strains guide app such as Leafly directly to your phone for easy access at all times.
Most importantly, though, you’ll want to rely on a trained budtender such as someone from our team here at Exclusive. Thinking of using cannabis for medical purposes? Stop by our dispensary to see how we can help you.
At Exclusive, we offer premium cannabis items sourced in-house and from a range of local growers and product manufacturers. Our extensive menu includes pre-rolls, concentrates, cartridges, edible products, and much more. Check out our menu or download our app to place your order today.
