When it comes to medical marijuana, there are a number of conditions and diseases we know it can treat. But there are also some bizarre medical situations where cannabis may also be able to help.
Here are the nine craziest conditions marijuana can actually treat:
1. Asthma
It may sound weird that a drug that’s
most common way of consumption is smoking would help reduce asthma, but
there are studies that indicate that using cannabis can help open up
airways and decrease some of the issues associated with asthma.
2. Concussions
No, marijuana can’t prevent you from
sustaining concussions. But after you suffer one, some studies suggest
that using cannabis can help your brain heal afterwards. Now technically
these studies have so far only been conducted with mice, but
considering marijuana can help with other brain-related conditions in
humans, it’s probably not too far out there.
3. HIV
While some states do allow medical
marijuana for HIV/AIDS patients, that’s mostly to cope with the
medications and treatment associated with the disease. But there’s
actually a study from 2017 that shows that marijuana use can prevent
patients with HIV from getting AIDS. THC is an immunosuppressant that
prevents the function of a cell called Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell
that’s been linked to HIV becoming AIDS.
4. Hepatitis C
Hep C is a viral infection acquired
either through sex, sharing needles or blood transfusion. Studies in the
past have shown that marijuana can help suppress the effects of the Hep
C virus, and can even somewhat repair damage to the liver caused by it.
5. Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell Disease is a condition where a
person’s blood cells are abnormally shaped, which causes problems with
circulating oxygen around the body. The disease can lead to pain,
inflammation and swelling, all of which can be treated by cannabis.
6. Spinal Cord Injuries
The ability for marijuana to relieve pain
is well-documented, but there’s actually another way cannabis can help
people with spinal cord injuries. Studies have shown that cannabidiol
(CBD), a compound found in cannabis, can actually improve the motor
function of people with these types of injuries. There are also studies
that show that marijuana can help induce the growth of nerve cells,
which may play a part in why its effective for spinal cord injuries.
7. Lupus
If you ever watched House, you’ll
know Lupus is an autoimmune disease that leads to the body attacking
itself for reasons that are not known. Believe it or not, using
marijuana can actually sooth your immune system and stop the symptoms of
Lupus from spreading.
8. Herpes
There are two forms of herpes, the one
that leads to the common cold sore that the majority of people probably
have in their body, and the one that affects the…uh…”nether regions.”
Marijuana can actually treat both. CBD is both an antiviral and an
anti-inflammatory. The antiviral helps suppress the herpes virus in your
system, while the anti-inflammatory can help if you get an outbreak.
9. Leprosy
Leprosy is pretty rare nowadays, with
only a few hundred thousand cases most of which are contained to remote
parts of Africa and Asia. But there are a few hundred cases every year
in the United States. And, believe it or not, marijuana can actually
help. Leprosy is caused by a bacterial infection, and cannabis has
proven antibiotic properties that can actually kill that bacteria. In
earlier times marijuana was actually one of the more effective
treatments for leprosy. Today we have modern drugs that do a much better
job.
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