Medicinal Cannabis

Medical marijuana is the one used for therapeutic treatments due to its beneficial properties. More and more studies are demonstrating the benefits of this plant for organisms suffering from various types of diseases.

One of the main problems with therapeutic marijuana is that, as a stigmatized and prohibited drug, not all the relevant studies have been carried out. Little by little, more research and evidence are emerging about the healing and palliative properties of cannabis, but many more studies are still needed to uncover all the possibilities that this famous plant offers us.

medical marijuana
medical marijuana

Physiological response of cannabis on the body

Some of the physiological responses produced by the activation of cannabinoid receptors, which can be used in the medical field, are as follows:

  1. Change in mood: energizing, sedative, relaxing effects…
  2. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
  3. Increases appetite and reduces nausea and vomiting.
  4. Decreases intraocular pressure; for this reason, possible applications for the treatment of glaucoma are being studied.
  5. Bronchodilator: causes dilation of the bronchi and bronchioles of the lungs.
  6. Antiproliferative: inhibits cell reproduction, making it a strong basis for studying its application in oncology.
  7. Immunomodulatory: increases or decreases the immune system’s ability to perform its functions.
  8. Neuroendocrine effects related to sex hormones and those involved in the stress response.
  9. Hypotension.
  10. Effects on muscle tone and motor coordination.

Properties of marijuana used in medicine

In this way, researchers have been able to carry out studies that demonstrate that the use of cannabinoids is an effective way to treat certain diseases and alleviate specific symptoms for which there is currently no truly effective pharmacological treatment. The more the possible medical applications of cannabinoids are studied, the broader the field becomes, although to date, there are certain therapeutic indications where a favorable effect of cannabinoids has already been confirmed:

  1. Analgesic: Cannabinoids help fight pain as they have an antinociceptive effect mainly caused by the CB1 receptor. It has been proven that cannabinoids have analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity and are effective against post-operative pain, neurological pain from diseases such as multiple sclerosis, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, migraines, or dysmenorrhea.
  2. Antiemetic: Helps reduce nausea and vomiting caused by treatments such as chemotherapy or by the side effects of certain medications.
  3. Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscles and is a good alternative for spastic disorders and symptoms of diseases such as Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injuries.
  4. Anorexia–Cachexia Syndrome: The use of cannabinoids stimulates appetite, reduces nausea, and helps with weight gain, making it a viable treatment for combating syndromes typically caused by HIV or terminal cancer.
Pills vs marijuana

Diseases that can be treated with medical marijuana

Below we present a summarized and concise overview of some of the medical uses of marijuana and the diseases that can be treated with this plant.

Epilepsy

Medical marijuana is ideal for treating epilepsy because it can reduce the convulsive seizures caused by this disease.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s causes chronic degeneration of the central nervous system, resulting in problems in brain areas responsible for movement control. Medical marijuana helps control spasms and reduces the problems caused by this disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s causes the loss of cognitive ability in individuals. These issues are closely linked to the endocannabinoid system and, therefore, marijuana can help.

Multiple Sclerosis

The spasms and cramps caused by sclerosis are drastically reduced with the use of medical marijuana.

Tourette Syndrome

The physical and vocal tics caused by this disorder are also reduced with the use of marijuana.

Crohn’s Disease and intestinal inflammations

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are related to the inflammation of the intestinal tract, another issue that marijuana helps alleviate and reduce.

Chronic pain: neuropathic, metastatic, inflammatory

All of these problems can be reduced and controlled by consuming marijuana.

Migraine

Migraines manifest as sharp head pain, vomiting, and light sensitivity. Because marijuana affects the perception of pain in the body, it also reduces the pain and discomfort caused by this condition and other related issues such as fibromyalgia or nausea.

doctor and marijuana
doctor and marijuana

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects multiple joints and can cause significant physical limitations. Marijuana use reduces these problems and helps patients better cope with the pain caused by the disease thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects.

Type I Diabetes

The use of marijuana regulates different plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin, making it potentially very helpful for people with diabetes.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (Chronic Autoimmune Thyroid Disease)

In this condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy body tissues, producing antibodies against them. Cannabis is considered an adaptogenic herb, meaning it helps regulate the immune system and restore balance to our immune response.

Other diseases that could be treated with medical cannabis

  • Osteoporosis
  • Anorexia – Cachexia
  • Acne
  • Psoriasis
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Anxiety
  • Psychosis
  • Autism
  • Insomnia
  • Lupus
  • Side effects of chemotherapy
  • Support during radiotherapy and chemotherapy
  • HIV/AIDS and Wasting Syndrome
  • Open-angle glaucoma
medical marijuana buds in a jar
Marijuana buds
medical marijuana buds

Scientific knowledge and studies on therapeutic cannabis

Therapeutic cannabis is a field currently undergoing rapid development and is one of the main research focuses for many scientists due to the great medicinal potential attributed to cannabinoids.

It has been clearly demonstrated that the human body has two receptors activated by cannabinoids. These cannabinoids can be naturally produced by our own bodies (endocannabinoids) or come from the marijuana plant (phytocannabinoids).

The best-known phytocannabinoids are Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, and cannabidiol, or CBD, among others.

Therapeutic effects
Therapeutic effects

The activation of receptors by cannabinoids generates a series of physiological responses depending on which of the two receptors is activated—or if both are activated simultaneously—since each affects specific parts of the body.

Cannabinoid receptors primarily affect three human body systems: the neurotransmitter system, the immune system, and the endocrine system.

The central cannabinoid receptor, or CB1, is related to the central nervous system and also to the immune system, while the CB2 receptor is located peripherally and primarily affects the immune system and inflammation, though it is also present in the nervous system.

Bibliographic sources

Spanish Society for Cannabinoid Research (SEIC). (2009). Update on the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids. 25/04/2017, from SEIC website: http://www.seic.es/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/actualizacion-potencial-terapeutico-cannab.pdf

Spanish Observatory of Medical Cannabis

International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM)

Precautions, always consult your doctor

Keep in mind that the lack of studies means more information is still needed before beginning treatments with marijuana. Consult your doctor before attempting to treat your illness with this plant, and test its effects gradually. Marijuana does not affect everyone in the same way; its effects depend on many varied factors, making it difficult to predict how it will act on each individual. The best way to understand how our body responds to marijuana use is to try it slowly and observe the results.

medical notice

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