The use of marijuana for medical purposes has deep roots, having been around for as far back as ancient times. This psychoactive miracle plant has been utilized by our ancestors as a natural remedy for many common ailments as well as to alleviate pains.
Several advancements have been made since the 19th century in how the drug was administered. It has also been widely used as a secret ingredient in several patent medicines. Synthetic versions of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—which is a psychoactive compound found in marijuana—were also produced for patients undergoing chemotherapy to treat violent nausea and vomiting caused by this diagnostic procedure.
However, smoking is still the most effective way to administer medical marijuana. This is because inhalation of its smoke immediately gets THC and other chemicals into the bloodstream.
Access to Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana was bluntly criminalized for some time until individual states begin to decriminalize it, which sparked a trend that spread across a vast majority of the states.
A facility known as a dispensary prepares and provides medical marijuana to patients who fit certain criteria to qualify for the possession of the drug. Today, access to medical marijuana has been made more convenient because of medical marijuana dispensaries across the United States and other countries. These dispensaries play an important role in the distribution of this wonder drug to help those who are in dire need of its medication, not to mention its huge contribution to the economy as they keep rolling up sales.
Medical Conditions That Medical Marijuana Is Used For
Continuous studies and research show that medical marijuana provides treatment for ample medical conditions. Today, around 172 medical conditions are being treated with medical marijuana. Some of these conditions include:
Seizures
There is yet a cure for epilepsy. However, medical marijuana helps to prevent and manage the frequency of seizures among patients suffering from the disease.
Anxiety
Medical marijuana can keep a person calm and relaxed, thus, reduces anxiety. It may not be the miracle drug for anxiety but is a healthier and more natural alternative to pharmaceutical drugs.
In some cases, marijuana increases the symptoms of anxiety. However, it’s been found that certain strains of the plant are effective in easing the symptoms. Therefore, they should only be used upon proper prescription before purchasing from medical marijuana dispensaries.
Allergies
Antihistamine properties are found in medical marijuana and are now widely used for the treatment of allergies. Cannabidiol (CBD), is a non-psychoactive compound found in medical marijuana, helps boost the immune system. It’s highly unlikely for a person with a healthy immune system to suffer from allergies.
Cancer
Medical marijuana helps in treating tumors directly by destroying cancer cells, thus, preventing their growth. Although medical marijuana by no means cures cancer, it helps eliminate the secondary symptoms, including the side effects of chemotherapy.
Arthritis
Medical marijuana is a promising treatment for arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. It has the same metabolic pathways found in anti-inflammatory drugs and has been known to reduce inflammation and provide substantial relief from pain.
Addiction
It’s quite ironic that a schedule 1 substance is used as a treatment for addiction. However, medical marijuana is administered in lieu of the addictive drug during the decrease of its usage and until the habit slowly dies.
The use of medical marijuana is continued throughout the withdrawal stages to help relieve the patient of the pains and discomfort caused by it and helps the neurotransmitters regain their normal function.
Medical Marijuana and the Economy
New industries began to emerge since the legalization of medical marijuana, creating jobs and business opportunities across the United States. This resulted in a big impact on tax revenue, generating billions of dollars from taxes and fees.
The medical marijuana trade and industry have been attracting investors since and now appears to be the biggest business opportunity since the inception of the internet.
The Bottomline
Medical marijuana has been proven effective for the treatment of several diseases and conditions and has been making breakthroughs in the medical industry ever since. For this reason, medical marijuana has been making huge strides to further uplift the economy and has been projected to reach an all-time high in years to come.
It’s perhaps wise for you to start a joint venture with your best bud to take advantage of the business opportunities the industry presents.
Continuous research and studies about this miracle plant light up a bowl of possibilities for making the grass greener on the other side—making the world a better place one puff at a time.