When someone mentions the word marijuana, I’m pretty sure most people will initially think of something negative. People would probably imagine a party full of teenagers, each holding a joint and smoking weed while getting high. This is a problem for terms such as medical marijuana and the medicinal use of marijuana. The negative connotations these words automatically conjure up to make it very difficult for people to accept this new kind of treatment involving medicinal cannabis.
In principle, medical marijuana is the same as the regular cannabis you can find at underground parties to satisfy the addiction. The only difference is that there are controls for the medicinal use of marijuana. It is legal in the government’s eyes, and it is for the medical treatment of people suffering from certain kinds of illness or pain. Medical cannabis can be purchased from specialty pharmacies or pharmacies licensed to sell medical marijuana. These unique dispensaries, while legal, are still forced to have limited distribution due to certain definitions of local law. Before you can access the pharmacy, you first need a prescription from your doctor or general practitioner.
Is marijuana safe and effective as medicine?
Thanks to intensive research, there are now many new minor ailments that marijuana can treat. It can be used for diseases related to nausea, vomiting, unwanted weight loss, and lack of appetite. Spasticity and pain are also some of the new ailments that medical marijuana can help.
The list also includes major diseases such as cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or other diseases. Treatment for all these diseases and conditions is possible thanks to the great advances in the medical use of marijuana.
What are the health benefits and risks of cannabis?
This article is not intended as medical advice and should not be construed as medical advice. For medical advice, the reader should consult their physician.
At The Education and Evaluation Center for Medical Marijuana, located in Long Beach, you can pick up your medical marijuana card. The group of medical marijuana doctors provides information about the medicinal use and effects of cannabis, including the prescription of therapeutic cannabis use.
