Despite its controversial status, marijuana has many advocates who argue for its use in medical purposes. Many studies have actually shown that medical marijuana has various healing properties that come from its high concentration of cannabidiol (CBD) and medical terpenes and flavonoids. However, marijuana is still widely disapproved of because of its psychoactive effect which makes it one of the most popular recreational drug. Nonetheless, it’s of utmost importance for the entire community to see beyond its controversy and embrace its benefits that can significantly improve one’s health.
What’s happening with your body?
If you’re thinking about using medical marijuana for the first time, you should familiarise yourself with its effects on your body in order to be prepared. Once you inhale marijuana, THC, an active substance, will enter your bloodstream, reach your brain and trigger the release of dopamine which will make you feel good. What you’ll experience when using medical marijuana will largely depend on your current mood, but some common effects are heightened sensory perception, changed perception of time, as well as different process of information which can alter your thinking and judgement. In addition, your coordination and reflex response might be a bit slower, you might feel that your heart’s racing, and sometimes you might feel “dazed”.
It’s important to understand that these immediate effects will depend on the amount of marijuana you take, the specific type of marijuana, the freshness and quality of the marijuana flower, as well as your individual features. In addition, when experiencing some of these effects, such as rapid heartbeat, you can easily make it worse by panicking since marijuana can easily make the entire experience more intense.
Long-term effects on diseases
When it comes to a prolonged use of medical marijuana, there are many health benefits that can fight, prevent and alleviate a variety of different diseases. It has been shown that THC slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by slowing the amyloid plaque formation which kills the brain cells. Medical marijuana can also be used for glaucoma treatment since it can lower the eye pressure and eventually prevent blindness. It can also significantly reduce tremors and pain, and improve sleep in patients with Parkinson’s disease. And not only this – marijuana has also led to the improvement of fine motor skills among patients with this disease.
The list of benefits also includes reduced pain levels and discomfort, inflammation, and better sleep in rheumatoid arthritis patients; controlled epileptic seizures caused by marijuana’s effect on the brain cells in charge of excitability and relaxation; reduced symptoms of Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disorder that leads to pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and weight loss; as well as stopping of the negative effects and muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis. The list of benefits goes on, and these are only a few examples of marijuana’s effect on various diseases.
Anxiety and depression relief
One of the most obvious effects of marijuana on your body and mind is its relaxing and soothing property which can be of significance in treating anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Marijuana can actually be used as a mild sedative that can relieve the feelings of uneasiness, while simultaneously improving one’s mood. However, the secret lies in moderation and small doses – higher doses of medical marijuana can actually increase your anxiety and cause paranoia.
Medical marijuana has a potential of being one of the most effective natural medicines that can alleviate, prevent and even stop the detrimental effects of a variety of diseases, and enhance their treatments. However, there are still individuals who condemn this plant based on the inappropriate use and misplaced focus. By having in mind all the benefits, it becomes clear that the benefits of the medical marijuana use certainly outweigh the drawbacks that can only occur due to an inappropriate and immoderate use.
