The benefits of marijuana
In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first 2 states to legalize marijuana and since then the industry has grown exponentially worth a whopping 61 billion USD, and is estimated to be worth 84 billion USD by 2028. Since marijuana has been legalized, it is much easier to research the herb and the many properties it has, and even easier to buy related products since there are many stores, physical and online, such as Smoke Cartel. We know a lot more about marijuana than we previously did and besides recreational use, marijuana has many medical benefits as well. A few of these benefits include:
It helps with pain
Marijuana is proven to help with pain relief because it contains cannabinoids which have been linked to pain relief. According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association, Marijuana may help ease the painful symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Another study from Israel also shows that marijuana use reduces the pains and tremors for people with Parkinsons disease. There is also a claim that marijuana may help with Crohns disease which is an inflammatory bowel disorder that causes pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and many other symptoms.
The secret to the pain relief properties associated with marijuana is the THC and CBD that acts as an anti-inflammatory.
It helps control seizures
Marijuana is said to help control seizures according to a study from 2003. An experiment was held where Robert J. DeLorenzo of Virginia Commonwealth University gave marijuana extract and synthetic marijuana to rats with epilepsy. The marijuana stopped the seizures in 10 hours.
It was found that THC controlled the seizures by binding the brain cells and regulating relaxation. The FDA has recently approved Epidiolex, which is a medication made from CBD and is using this as a treatment for people who have severe seizures that are hard to treat. Studies have shown that people who take this medication experience a drop in seizures.
It is used for making clothing and food
Hemp is a variety of the Sativa marijuana plant that is grown and used to make a wide variety of products including clothing. Hemp is extremely healthy and offers many benefits, including:
- Protecting your skin by naturally filtering UV light.
- Resists bacterial growth.
- Prevents odors because it breathes easily.
- Retains colour better than other fabrics.
- Saves water (requires almost no water to grow and can be fed by the rain)
- Soft on the skin.
Hemp is also one of the fastest growing plants you will find, taking 3-4 months to reach maturity.
Another popular use for hemp is as a food product. Hemp is highly nutritious and can be consumed in many forms such as hemp milk, hemp oil and hemp-based protein powder.
Reduces side effects of chemotherapy
Perhaps one of the most popular and widely known medical uses of marijuana is for cancer treatment. Marijuana reduces the effects of chemotherapy that include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Mouth sores
- Pain
- Constipation
- Easy bruising
- Bleeding
So how does marijuana help with the effects of chemotherapy? The answer, again, lies in THC which has been clinically demonstrated to prevent nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite that is associated with chemotherapy. Marijuana also induces sleep which helps aid recovery.
Helps to treat mental conditions
Lastly we will explore how marijuana helps treat different mental conditions such as anxiety, PTS and depression. Low doses of marijuana acts as a sedative which decreases anxiety, on the other hand high doses can trigger anxiety and paranoia.
In America, it has been approved for Marijuana to treat veterans who suffer from PTSD. How it does this is the cannabinoids, like THC, helps control the part of the brain that causes anxiety and fear in the brain and body.
Marijuana also induces a euphoric state which has demonstrated to help with depression.
If you are thinking about using marijuana for recreational or medical use, then you should familiarise yourself with the many benefits and risks that come with consuming the herb. Marijuana helps with pain, seizers, the side effects of chemotherapy, mental conditions and it is used for making food and clothing. It is by far one of the most versatile and promising herbs available on our green earth. If administered correctly, in the correct doses, it can really help you in many ways.
