Why Medical Marijuana? 5 Reasons Marijuana is Used for Medicine

With the prevalence of medical marijuana ever increasing, it seems that many are turning to this (once very illegal) plant to find the relief they need. The medical benefits of cannabis are showing to reach far and wide and it is used to treat a huge range of different disorders.

From anxiety and Alzheimer’s to cancer and Crohn’s disease, pot is proving to provide medical marijuana patients with effective and natural alleviation from mild to life-threatening conditions. Following are five of the reasons marijuana has gone from criminal to medical superhero and only continues to gain more attention from medical communities worldwide.

5 Major Reasons Marijuana is used for Medicine

• Stops Cancer from Spreading

The cannabinoid known as cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to prevent cancer cells from spreading within the body. This powerful cannabinoid turns off a gene called ID-1, which just so happens to be the gene that causes cancer to spread. Backed by more than 20 years of research, this literally life-changing discovery has shown that CBD works on many types of aggressive cancers including breast, brain, and prostate or where high levels of ID-1 exist.

• Eases the Pain of Multiple Sclerosis

For patients that suffer from multiple sclerosis, the muscle pain can become debilitating at times. Marijuana however, can help to greatly ease this pain and has offered numerous people that experience these painful symptoms the necessary relief they’re looking for. It is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that helps by binding to receptors in nerves and muscles to ease the pain. It has also shown to help control the muscle spasms that are an all-too-common incident in people who suffer from MS.

• Helps with Crohn’s Disease

As an inflammatory bowel disease responsible for excruciating pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme weight loss, Crohn’s disease affects millions of people worldwide. It is the cannabinoids (THC and CBD) present in cannabis that have been shown to help the gut regulate the function of the intestines and intestinal bacteria. One study showed complete remission of the disease in 5 out of 11 patients.

• Stimulates Appetite

If there’s one thing pot is known for, it’s the tendency it has to make people hungry. The “munchies” are no myth which is something that provides a huge relief to people that suffer from loss of appetite. Marijuana has proven to be extremely effective for helping cancer patients treated with chemotherapy not only with stimulating their appetite, but relieving symptoms of nausea and vomiting as well. Cannabis has also been shown to help those that suffer from anorexia for the same reason.

• Discourages Depression and Anxiety

For those prone to depression and anxiety, pot has proven to be an excellent alternative to many prescription medications that often come with a host of negative side-effects. Many people find that the mood-altering effects of marijuana help significantly to reduce feelings of anxiousness and decreased feelings of well-being. While some people report increased feelings of anxiety and even paranoia, new research has discovered that the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) actually counteracts this negative psychoactive reaction that is most commonly experienced as a reaction to THC. CBD has also shown to help reduce anxiety even when no THC is present in the body.

As medical marijuana becomes more and more widespread, there’s no doubt we will be presented with even more increasing evidence on its absolute effectiveness at helping with a number of different medical conditions. The conditions cannabis treats outlined here are just the tip of the iceberg, and as outdated laws and regulations continue to crumble the results we see with medical marijuana are only sure to increase and become more commonly accepted.