Medicinal Benefits of Cannabis
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What is medical marijuana used for?
Although its uses vary greatly, the cannabis plant is typically used by medical marijuana patients to help them treat a wide variety of symptoms related to (but not limited to):
- Muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis
- Nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy
- Poor appetite and weight loss caused by chronic illness
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders
- Crohn’s disease
- Chronic aches and pains, including back pain
- Insomnia, sleep apnea, and other sleeping disorders
- Neurogenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s,Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s diseases
Medical Marijuana Research
Ten Interesting Facts & Uses You Probably Didn’t Know About Cannabis
Cannabis needs to be recognized not solely for its medicinal properties, but for the number of other redeeming qualities and uses it possesses. That is why we have prepared a list of ten things we found particularly interesting about marijuana that we hope are new to you. People have been using cannabis, and its seeds, for nutritional value for centuries. The seeds were most commonly ground into a porridge called “gruel”, or cold-pressed into a clear oil. In China, fresh hemp seeds are toasted and sold like popcorn in movie theaters and by street vendors. Hemp seeds contain up to …
Veterans Use Medical Marijuana to Treat Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access (VMCA), is a Virginia-based non-profit service organization designed to assist veterans who wish to be able to use marijuana for medical purposes. They work towards safe access for veterans to medical marijuana without the fear of reprisal. Mike Krawitz, executive director of VCMA launched the “Allow United States Disabled Military Veterans Access to Medical Marijuana To Treat Their PTSD” petition last year. He said that he was concerned about military veterans risking losing their Veterans Affairs Department medical coverage if they are found to smoke pot or even discuss it with their doctors. The petition …
Vaporizing Cannabis: Possible Treatment For Neuropathic Pain Symptoms
A recent study performed in California found Cannabis to be successful in reducing neuropathic pain intensity. Researchers at the University of California, Davis recently completed a study on the effects of vaporized cannabis on neuropathic pain. The study was sponsored by the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research and the VA Northern California Health Care System. Neuropathic pain is an result of nerve damage. It causes sensations like: pins & needles, itching, wetness, and burning. Neuropathic pain refers …
Cannabidiol (CBD) May Prevent Cancer From Cigarette Smoke
Study: CBD May Inhibit Creation of Carcinogens It’s no secret that smoking cigarettes can have deadly consequences. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, cigarettes are responsible for 160,848 cases of cancer each year. It is believed that the connection between smoking and cancer is due to cytochrome P450, family 1, member A1 (CYP1A1). CYP1A1 is a protein found in humans. Although it can be perfectly harmless in small concentrations, a 1993 study titled “CYP1A1: friend or foe” found that high levels of CYP1A1 were related to cancer. It is …
Physicians More Involved In Medical Cannabis Treatments, Case Studies
Editor’s Note: Justin Kander is webmaster of the Phoenix Tears organization and author of the Comprehensive Report on the Cannabis Extract Movement, a 100-page report that examines and analyzes the mounting evidence in support of cannabis extracts as medicine. In modern times, cannabinoid medicine is often administered and controlled by individuals with no formal medical training. Dispensaries are run almost entirely by entrepreneurs, and the role of doctors has mainly been limited to writing recommendations. However, with the rising use of …
Study: Cannabis Increases Sensitivity To Smell, Stimulates Appetite
We have known for quite some time that cannabis can be used to mediate hunger. In fact, there is a bevy of evidence that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a major role in the stimulation of appetite. It seems that endocannabinoid activity in the central nervous system regulates food intake. This is because whenever you’re hungry your ECS sends signals to your hypothalamus in your brain to tell you it’s time to eat. It’s clear that this phenomenon has a lot to do with why many people report feeling “the munchies” after consuming …
Taking Care of Business: The Effects of Marijuana on Productivity
It’s no secret that medical marijuana has many medicinal benefits. Despite the leaps and bounds that society has made in legalizing marijuana, there can still be a negative stigma surrounding those who partake, be it medically or recreationally. However, many people are blind to the fact that cannabis can be a beneficial tool when it comes to the overall quality of work. Not only can it help you to access the more creative parts of your imagination, but it can also help to clear away the clutter and help you to focus. This leads us to ask the question, could …
4 Mind Blowing Ways Cannabis Can Help Your Brain
1. Cannabinoids In Marijuana Help Your Brain Grow Did you know that your brain never really stops growing? Through a process called neurogenesis, new brain cells are constantly being created. Surprisingly, marijuana can assist in this process: a recent study from Italy has discovered that a lesser-known chemical in marijuana, called cannabichromene (CBC), can boost the growth of developing brain cells, thus promoting neurogenesis. According to the study, these developing brain cells are an “essential component of brain function and health.” Another study published in The International …
The Beauty of Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil has been referenced to as nature’s perfect food due to its balanced concentrations of omega fatty acids. The human body needs these omega fatty acids for many functions, from building healthy cells to maintaining brain and nerve function. Our bodies can’t produce them. The only source is food. What Is Hemp Seed Oil? Hemp seed oil is nothing new. Throughout history, from continent to continent, hemp seed oil has been used in many cultures around the globe. Commonly used as a bath oil, lamp oil, cooking oil and even used to …
The Effect of Cannabinoid Therapy Use on Body Weight
A review, published in Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience July-August 2014, examines the research and information available on the impact of cannabis use on body weight. Their findings are summarized here. Summary One of the most well-known results of cannabis use is appetite stimulation, known commonly as “the munchies”. However, in studies on the effect of cannabis use in patients with cachexia (“loss of weight, muscle [wasting], fatigue, weakness, and significant loss of appetite in someone who is not actively trying to lose weight”) and anorexia (loss of appetite), …
Flow: A (Desirable) Side Effect of Medical Marijuana?
A “side effect” is a secondary, unintended effect. The side effects of pharmaceutical drugs are notoriously scary, and often enough, fatal. Most anti-depressants, for example, come with the warning that, suicidal thoughts may be experienced, especially in the youth. Other common side effects of antidepressants include: nausea increased appetite and weight gain loss of sexual desire and other sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction and decreased orgasm fatigue and drowsiness insomnia dry mouth blurred vision constipation dizziness agitation irritability anxiety It is distressing to me that “one in five adult Americans takes some kind …
Cannabis: Keeping Your Insulin Levels & Pant Size Down
Did you know? Research published in the current issue of The American Journal of Medicine concluded that regular cannabis users have a lower chance of obesity and diabetes mellitus than people who have never used cannabis. The study was done by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, where the 4657 men and women in the study were assessed after a 9-hour fast. Glucose and fasting insulin were tested for by way of blood samples, and a Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance (IR) was calculated to evaluate insulin resistance. Their …
Chronic Stress Affects Memory, Learning: How Cannabis May Help
Cannabis May Protect The Brain From Effects Of Stress Cannabis is widely used as a form of stress relief, and for good reason. It’s a natural option for one to deal with the pressures of everyday life. Katt Williams even famously joked that cannabis has “a chemical in it called F**k It” and you need it to get through tough times. Though he’s clearly kidding, a recent study from University of Haifa in Israel may have validated …
Japanese Study Shows Cannabinoids Inhibit Tumor Growth
Research Suggests Chemopreventive Benefits Of Cannabis In a recent study published in the August edition of the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Japanese researchers found cannabinoids to be useful in battling cancerous tumors. The study was conducted by initiating tumor growth in mice and treating them with synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids differ from phytocannabinoids (found in plants, such as cannabis) in that they are full agonists. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), found in cannabis, is only a partial agonist. This may seem like a minor difference, but the two act very differently in the human body. John …
Cannabis: The Forbidden Medicine With Health Benefits You Will Not Hear About On The News
You might think that if scientists found a cure to cancer it would be a huge story… right? It would make the top story during prime-time news of every major television network, as well as the headline of every newspaper across the country. The person who found the cure would be a hero and the world would be celebrating… Then why hasn’t that happened? Cannabinoids Proven To Inhibit Tumor Growth A study done in Madrid, discovered that the cannabinoids in marijuana inhibit tumor growth. The experiments in 2000 were conducted by Manuel Guzman, and concluded that THC …
Back to the Cannabis Classroom…
Additional Reading
How Much is a Gram, Eighth, Quarter, Half, and Ounce of Weed?
Unless you’re one of the fortunate ones able to purchase cannabis in person at a local dispensary, you’ll generally get your medication from a delivery service, on a street corner, or from a friend [or even a friend of a friend]. Present laws and politics in most jurisdictions differ significantly so there is little chance to compare product, making much of the strain-specific and pricing information unreliable across the board. A strain from one source can differ almost entirely from a strain from another source, even though they have the same strain name. More disturbing, is the fact that some …
Pennsylvania Starts Medical Marijuana Application Process for Dispensaries, Growers/Processors
Companies vying to win one of Pennsylvania’s 27 coveted medical marijuana dispensary licenses or 12 grower/processor permits can now begin the application process, state officials announced Tuesday. “This is an important step forward in getting this valuable medication to patients who desperately need it.” – Dr. Karen Murphy “We’ve developed a thorough application that ensures the operators of medical marijuana grower/processor and dispensary facilities will meet our strict guidelines. Our goal is to deliver medication safely and responsibly and this application will help us do just that,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy said. Those wishing …
Nikka T, Essential Extracts: Sharing Trade Secrets
Nikka T’s Consulting Work Benefits The Cannabis Industry For those in the know, Nikka T, owner of Essential Extracts, is associated with some of the best hash in the world. Rightly so, his signature solvent-less wax was a major hit at the first annual US Cannabis Cup in Denver. We had the pleasure of setting up the Medical Jane booth next to Nikka T’s Pink House booth and can vouch for the quality of his …
Study: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) May Inhibit The Progression Of HIV / AIDS
Medical marijuana has long been used to treat symptoms associated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (chronic pain, nausea, fatigue, etc.). However, evidence is mounting that cannabis may stop the disease’s progression. A group of researchers from Louisiana State University published a study in the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses that helps fuel the fire. The study findings suggest that cannabis, specifically tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), could help aid in the battle against HIV. Researchers Investigate THC, …