All You Need to Know About Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana was a mystery until 1996. It is in California that its popularity spiked. Over time, the plant became a sensation in other states too. People gradually embraced marijuana for its potent medical value.
However, you shouldn’t confuse the plant’s medical purpose with its recreational use. Many individuals across the United States utilize it for leisure, which is barely legal.
Below we unravel what you need to know about medicinal marijuana, how to qualify for it, and other vital questions surrounding its consumption.
The Facts
How Can You Get Medical Marijuana?
Have you ever wondered what the drive behind marijuana legalization might be? Well, it serves to eliminate symptoms that accompany specific diseases. It also boasts a myriad of other health benefits. That’s why not every person is eligible for medical marijuana usage.
Because the continued use of the plant can spur an addiction, as well as a high probability of abuse, ONLY those with special medical conditions, can qualify for its use.
What is Medical Marijuana Excellent For?
Medical marijuana can alleviate symptoms of various ailments. For you to get legal permission to use marijuana, you MUST have a qualifying health condition. Among many others, here are some diseases that cut:
Chronic Pain
No one would want to live in relentless pain. Not only does pain make every moment a tolerance fate, but it also decreases the quality of your life.
Marijuana is a strong analgesic and can help relieve pain. The cannabis herb contains several robust components that can ease pain in no time.
Multiple reports indicate that neuropathic pain, a deadly ailment, is on the increase among many persons living in the US. Typically, this condition is to blame for the number of people who troop to health centers or even enroll for the services of a healthcare institution.
The ailment also accounts for a mega percentage of opium consumption. People take it to alleviate pain. Most chronic pain victims prefer marijuana to opioids when it comes to pain relief. An opioid overdose could be catastrophic, and can even lead to DEATH.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common ailment among army veterans. This is due to miserable experiences linked to battles and other war events. Marijuana, being a proven remedy, effectively alleviates symptoms of this ailment. Compounds found in cannabis plant work by stimulating the endocannabinoid system in your body. As a result, you get to experience a therapeutic and psychoactive effect.
Cancer
Cancer is a terminal disease that leads to a couple of undesirable symptoms. That includes inflammation, nausea, and pain. In several cases, the use of marijuana has proved effective in reducing such symptoms. While chemotherapy has severe side effects, the intake of medical marijuana helps to improve sleep and improve appetite among cancer patients.
Epilepsy
Early laboratory results show that the consumption of cannabis does help to control seizures. In some cases, medical marijuana could be a therapy for patients with hard-to-treat or severe convulsions.
Depression
Researchers believe that the intake of marijuana could stabilize moods as well as restore the normal function of endocannabinoid. It could also aid your body with control of motor cognition, control, behavior, and emotions.
Glaucoma
To some extent, marijuana can treat glaucoma symptoms or any other eye condition. It works by lowering eye pressure for 3-4 hours.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease causes inflammation of some parts of the digestive tract. Scanty research depicts the potential of medical cannabis to relieve symptoms of Crohn’s infection. Generally, it boosts the quality of life of such patients.
Appetite Loss
If you are suffering from a chronic condition, mealtime can be depressing. It leaves you wondering, “What medication boosts appetite?”
Medical marijuana is one of the most potent medications for stimulating appetite. It tricks your brain into admitting that you’re hungry. For those individuals who frequently lack appetite, this plant can help sustain nutrition in the duration of the illness.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
This is a degenerative ailment that affects brain nerves. If you suffer from multiple sclerosis or your treatment isn’t providing the relief you want, medical marijuana can be a great alternative. It works by relieving muscle spasms and stiffness associated with MS. For other MS patients, cannabis components can help induce sleep.
See a Licensed Doctor
If you have a condition that qualifies for the intake of medical cannabis, the next option is to visit a doctor. Getting a marijuana card is the best way to acquire legal rights to use the plant, and it starts here.
With your medical records intact, the doctor will peruse through your medical history to ascertain that cannabis can be of help to your ailment. He/she then proceeds to issue a letter of recommendation.
Applying for a Marijuana Card
Once you acquire the recommendation letter, you are eligible to apply for a marijuana card. You will then need to provide some proof of residency since the card is only viable within your state of residency.
Based on your residency, you will apply online by filling a form. The form typically belongs to the regulatory body that oversees drug usage in your locality. With all the papers in place, in a few days, you should get a notification showing whether you qualified for the card.