Medical marijuana is the use of marijuana to treat certain symptoms or conditions. The science behind using marijuana as a medical plant is complex but can be simplified. When broken down, marijuana is made up of more than 100 components known as cannabinoids.
Out of these, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most studied cannabinoids. CBD is considered the most beneficial cannabinoid as it’s thought to have anti-inflammatory effects on the central nervous system. THC, on the other hand, is linked with hallucinogenic effects on the brain. Below, we’ll focus on the CBD in marijuana and its potential health benefits.
1. Helps With Pain Management
The CBD in medical marijuana may help with pain management as it can alter pain perception pathways in the brain, making the pain less noticeable to the person suffering. Medical marijuana is beneficial for helping with pain alleviation in conditions that cause chronic pain, such as:
- Migraine
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Cancer
- Endometriosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Nerve damage
- Multiple sclerosis
It may also help treat cancer side effects like loss of appetite. In some instances, it’s used in place of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as reported by Harvard Medical School. Whether you’re taking CBD gummies or tinctures, your doctor is best placed to advise on the dosage and the right type of CBD to take.
2. Helps in Treating Neurological and Mental Disorders
One reason you’ll want to get your medical marijuana card New Jersey is to enjoy unrestricted neurological treatment benefits. Doctors will sometimes recommend marijuana to treat various neurological and mental disorders because of CBD’s effect on the limbic system. Some of the mental health and neurological disorders that medical marijuana helps treat are:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Epilepsy
- Anxiety
- Parkinson’s disease
- Tourette syndrome
3. Helps in Reducing Inflammation
Inflammation is the painful effect of our bodies trying to fight back attacks caused by bacteria and viruses. When you experience pain due to inflammation, the body must have suffered an injury or exposure to harmful substances or infections.
The CBD in marijuana is believed to help reduce inflammation. The most common inflammatory conditions it can help manage include irritable bowel syndrome, Chron’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Decreased inflammation can improve overall health, making the patient stronger for daily life activities.
4. Helps With Sleep Management
Since CBD helps with calming pain and reducing inflammation, patients can have a relaxed night of much more peaceful sleep after taking their CBD drugs. Depending on your preference and underlying health issues, doctors may prescribe specific CBD products for sleep management.
If you’re smoking or vaping cannabis, you’re most likely to feel the effects almost immediately, but they may fade away equally fast. The same quick effects can be experienced when you opt for sublingual tablets and tinctures, which are absorbed immediately into the bloodstream. For prolonged effects, you can take edibles and drinks, which must pass through the digestive system before their effect is felt. This might take up to four hours.
While medical marijuana has its fair share of benefits, it’s still one of the most contentious topics, legally and medically. If you decide to take the path of medical marijuana, ensure you get both legal and medical advice that will help you enjoy the optimal benefits of the drug.
