People have been using cannabis to treat health issues for over 3000 years. Aside from it’s recreational use, the health world has begun to incorporate cannabidiol (a substance in marijuana) into various medical products.
Although the Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) has not yet classified marijuana as a safe medical treatment, cannabidiol specifically has received approval for the treatment of certain conditions.
So how can marijuana help your health? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons…
Pros
Chronic pain is one of the most common ailments marijuana is used to treat. The cannabinoids in marijuana act on receptors in your brain to relieve chronic pain.
Marijuana can also help in the treatment of depression, social anxiety, and PTSD. Although marijuana helps alleviate symptoms of these disorders, it has been proven to worsen symptoms of bipolar disorder and psychosis.
Additionally, oral cannabinoids are commonly used by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. This is because cannabinoids can help alleviate symptoms of nausea common with chemotherapy. A medication containing cannabidiol is even used as a treatment for two types of epilepsy; Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
But the list doesn’t stop there. Components of medical marijuana are used as effective treatments for conditions like multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and AIDS.
Cons
Despite all of these pros, there are multiple health risks of medical marijuana that need to be considered. After all, there must be a reason why the FDA has not approved its use.
As mentioned earlier, marijuana can have adverse affects on certain mental health disorders. Marijuana use is linked to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and can worsen their symptoms. Marijuana users are also more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.
Then there is the evidence backed argument that marijuana use can serve as an entry drug that encourages the use of more harmful drugs later in life. The simple fact is that marijuana is addictive, and it’s use can lead to harder drug use.
Next, cannabis use has been proven to hinder brain development, and can injure your lungs and immune system. Further, it is smart to stay away from marijuana and it’s various components if you are trying to get pregnant, as marijuana use has been proven to hinder fertility.
In the end, whether you choose to use marijuana as a treatment for a health condition is a very individual decision. However, remember that it’s use is never a necessity, as other legal drugs can be just as effective treatments. Just be sure to do your research, and consult with a doctor before using medical marijuana.
