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Is Medical Marijuana
  Right For You?

How do you know if medical marijuana is right for you? This is a question more people are asking these days as we become more   aware of the therapeutic value of marijuana. 

We know that conventional pharmaceutical medicines often have side effects far worse than the diseases they are prescribed for and this is particularly true for the chronic and terminally ill.

Medical regimens can take a horrible toll on the human body's they are intended to restore to a state of wellness...

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How Does Medical Marijuana Help Me?

Although we know that millions of Americans still believe marijuana is a dangerous drug, a ‘gateway’ drug that leads to addiction, misery, broken homes, etc, finally this myth is melting away.  

Marijuana is proving to be a very dynamic substance with a myriad of beneficial uses. Medically it is very useful in the treatment of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, migraine headaches…the list is growing almost daily. 

Marijuana is rapidly proving to be an effective alternative to conventional drugs. From pain management to asthma, marijuana is a versatile drug and according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the following diseases or symptoms can be legally treated with medical marijuana if a state has legalized medical marijuana:

Disorders Treatable with Medical Marijuana:

• Alzheimer’s Disease :   a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.
  (marijuana can work on receptors in the brain to prevent memory impairments in aging.)  
• Anorexia:   an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight.
  (Cannabinoids -active agents -found in marijuana may have minimal appetite stimulation effect in cases of classic anorexia nervosa.)   
• Anxiety :   a feeling of apprehension or fear, the source of which is not always known or recognized.
  (The physical experience of smoking marijuana for people can cause a temporary reduction in anxiety and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder or GAD) 
•   AIDS:   (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the final stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system.
  (Smoked cannabis is well tolerated (2007 study USF conducted) and effectively relieved chronic neuropathic pain from HIV-associated sensory neuropathy. The findings are comparable to oral drugs used for chronic neuropathic pain. Cannabinoid drug effects suggest that they are promising for treating wasting syndrome in AIDS patients. Nausea, appetite loss, pain, and anxiety are all afflictions of wasting .)   
  
    Arthritis   : inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement.
  (Science has determined that the THC component of cannabis is a very effective analgesic (pain killer), and that the CBD (cannabidiol) component has unique immunomodulatory benefits.) 
• Cancer  :   a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division leading to growth of abnormal tissue.
  (Cannabis will relieve symptoms and drug treatment side effects in cancer patients particularly in relieving nausea and vomiting. Cannabinoids, particularly THC, have some potential to relieve pain and stimulate appetite.)  
• Crohn’s Disease   :  an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causing inflammation of the digestive tract lining . This can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea and malnutrition.
  (Beneficial effects are reported for appetite, pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, activity, and depression. It is also reported that cannabis use resulted in weight gain, fewer stools per day and fewer flare-ups of less severity - Cannabis-using Crohn's patients not only report significant relief of their symptoms, they are also able to reduce the amount of immunosuppressive medications that have been a mainstay of conventional treatment)  
• Depression :  a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration.
  (Patience using medical cannabis to relieve symptoms of depression, have been able to reduce or eliminate the use of opiates and other pain pills, Ritalin, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, anti-depressants and other psychiatric medicines.)  
• Epilepsy: a disorder that results from the surges in electrical signals inside the brain, causing recurring seizures.
  (Epileptic seizures are caused when bundles of nerve cells in the brain send the wrong signal and are characterized by strange sensations and/or behavior at the time of ‘misfiring.’ Researchers have found that some of the compounds contained in marijuana are effective at relieving these seizures. Marijuana patients report reduction in headaches as well as reduction in seizures when using cannabis instead of conventional medication.)  
• Fibromyalgia :  a constellation of symptoms that include widespread aching, stiffness, fatigue, and the presence of specific body tender points.
  (Medical marijuana has been shown to mitigate pain expressed in disease process's - The pain associated with Fibromyalgia is typically not localized but is body wide. Marijuana contains cannabinoids very similar to those that occur in the body naturally, helping to stimulate natural pain killer's from the so-called endocannabinoid system.)  
• Glaucoma   : a group of eye diseases characterized by damage to the optic nerve usually caused by raised pressure (IOP) within the eye.
  (Cannabis lowers intraocular pressures dramatically, with none of the serious side effects associated with standard treatments. These typically have unpleasant and even dangerous side effects.) 
  SEE:  http://www.ukcia.org/medical/glaucoma.php   
• HIV   : a sexually transmitted disease that can also be spread by contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. It can take years before HIV weakens the immune system to the point that AIDS results.
  (Marijuana's ability to reduce and suppress nausea in HIV patients makes it the therapeutic 'drug of choice' for HIV patients who are nauseated at the thought of -or as a result of taking- their anti-viral medication; marijuana can help control that nausea, thus ensuring that all medications are taken as scheduled.)  
• Insomnia :   chronic inability to fall asleep or to enjoy uninterrupted sleep.
  (Some strains of Medical Marijuana are popular for their sleep inducing characteristics. Many insomnia patience report 8 hours of good, restful sleep from using Medical Marijuana as opposed to the disoriented and not well rested - often lethargic - results from using standard sleep medications.)  
• Migraine   :  a   severe recurring headache, usually affecting only one side of the head, characterized by sharp pain and often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances.
  (Many patients who suffer from migraines have found that by using medical marijuana they are able to reduce and sometimes prevent the onset of migraine headaches. Research shows that THC -the active agent in marijuana- inhibits the release of their own serotonin thus reducing pain.)   
• Multiple Sclerosis :  a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting movement, sensation, and bodily functions. Caused by destruction of the myelin insulation covering nerve fibers in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
  (Clinical and anecdotal reports of cannabinoids' ability to reduce MS-related symptoms such as pain, spasticity, depression, fatigue, and incontinence are plentiful in scientific literature. Research shows that Cannabis helps significantly in reducing spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and provides some benefit beyond currently prescribed treatment.)  
• Nausea:  a feeling of sickness in the stomach characterized by an urge to vomit.
  (Nausea and poor appetite are often side effects of cancer and other debilitating disease medical interventions. This can exacerbate existing conditions and worsen a patients quality of recovery and life. Cannabis stimulates appetite and suppresses pain making it a natural remedy for the nausea patient.)   
• Pain   : an unpleasant sensation occurring in varying degrees of severity as a consequence of injury, disease, or emotional disorders.
  (Numerous studies have now established that cannabinoids help lessen pain and affect a wide range of symptoms and bodily functions. Research has also demonstrated that cannabinoids may work together with opioids to enhance their effectiveness and reduce tolerance.)   
• PTSD : (post traumatic stress disorder) a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
  (Although PTSD can result for a multitude of reasons, most typically we hear of the military vet suffering from this disorder. Patience using cannabis report a marked downturn in anxiety and fear related bursts of anger.)   
• Spasticity :  a constant and unwanted contraction of one or more muscle groups.
  (Studies have found that cannabis reduces spasticity and an improves mobility in MS patients treated with marijuana extracts.)