Realistically speaking, legalizing the use of medical marijuana continues to be a controversial topic until now. Although there are many states that legalize its use for medical purposes, marijuana is still considered a substance that isn’t lawfully accepted for medical use since it’s something that can be potentially abused, causing some adverse physical and psychological problems. Due to these negative effects, many people believe that medical marijuana is dangerous and should remain illegal.
However, the majority of the members of the medical community also believe that the use of medical marijuana comes with plenty of benefits and it’s something that should never be ignored. With the increasing number of people getting seriously ill, the medical industry is hoping that this substance may help treat various diseases.
What Is A Medical Marijuana?
Primarily, medical marijuana refers to a substance that contains the marijuana plant being used for the treatment of several diseases and conditions. While it’s the same product like the one being used recreationally, it may be different since it’s taken for medical purposes.
Moreover, the marijuana plant has more than 100 various chemicals in it, commonly called cannabinoids. While each one of them has a different effect on the body, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol are the two main chemicals used for medical reasons.
What Are The Pros Of Using Medical Marijuana?
Now that you know what medical marijuana is, the next thing you can do is get familiar with the common pros of using this substance for medical purposes. These can include:
- Help Reduce Epileptic Seizures
Since medical marijuana contains a considerable amount of CBD, which has the ability to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system and the brain, it’s said to help minimize epileptic seizures. As this substance acts on the brain that experiences an uncontrolled burst of electrical activity, it may potentially help control seizures.
Thus, if you think the use of medical marijuana may be effective to treat seizures, be sure you have the authority to obtain one. This is where cannabis cards come into play. These are identification cards being used to legally get marijuana for medical uses. Fortunately, there are websites that may help you get a card in the fastest time possible.
- Help Alleviate Inflammation And Pain
The presence of cannabidiol in medical marijuana is also thought to ease inflammation and pain in patients. Also, the interaction of the substance with the body’s ENC system may help reduce chronic pain and discomfort by impacting the receptor activity, alleviating inflammation.
Just make sure to choose the right strain of medical marijuana to increase its effectiveness in alleviating pain.
- Help Relieve Nausea And Vomiting
With medical marijuana’s sufficient level of CBD, it’s said to help reduce symptoms of nausea and vomiting. This is due to the substance’s interaction with the serotonin receptors, which are responsible for influencing one’s mood, emotions, and overall sense of well-being.
What Are The Cons Of Using Medical Marijuana?
Although medical marijuana may be beneficial to one’s health, its use may also come with disadvantages. These can include:
- Risk Of Abuse And Addiction
Again, medical marijuana contains levels of cannabidiol and THC. However, excessive consumption of the latter substance may increase your risk of abuse and addiction. This usually occurs when the brain starts to adapt a large amount of THC and decreases sensitivity and production of its endocannabinoid neurotransmitters. This may be one reason why consumption of medical marijuana may be dangerous to patients.
- Affect Your Lung Health
Smoking marijuana may be harmful to your lungs and overall health. Marijuana contains some chemicals like THC that may affect your respiratory and immune system and your body’s ability to fight off diseases.
Typically, when you consistently smoke marijuana, it kills the cells that protect your body from dust and germs as well as suppresses your immune system. As such, it can result in an increased risk of respiratory tract infections.
- Increase Risk Of Heart Attack
The constant use of medical marijuana may also increase your risk of heart attacks because it has complex effects on your cardiovascular system. Generally, the interaction of marijuana’s cannabinoids substance with your heart may cause your resting heart rate to rise, dilate blood vessels, and make it pump blood harder, increasing your chance of getting a heart attack.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, the use of medical marijuana has been a subject of argument in the medical field. Up to this day, many studies are still ongoing to prove the safety and efficacy of this substance to treat a variety of medical conditions. Luckily, with the information mentioned above, you may be able to determine whether medical marijuana is beneficial or not to your overall well-being.