In states where medical marijuana is legal, there are fewer painkiller deaths.
THC and CBD are the chemicals in marijuana that researchers believe are medicinal.
Kirby Hamilton/Getty Images
Medical marijuana is currently legal in 23 states and in Washington, D.C. to help treat symptoms associated with chronic diseases, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. Though the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has not approved the marijuana plant as a medicine, studies of
the chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led the
organization to approve medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals
in pill form.
As more research continues to be done exploring the benefits of marijuana for medical use, a growing number of states are legalizing the drug for this means. Whether you’re interested in using cannabis for treatment or are just curious about its medicinal uses, here are 10 essential facts about medical marijuana.
1. Marijuana has been used as medicine for centuries. “It’s been a medicine for a lot longer than it hasn’t been,” says Donald Abrams, MD, chief of hematology and oncology at San Francisco General Hospital and professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Abrams points to an exhumed tomb in northern China dated more than 3,000 years ago where cannabis was placed in a basket next to a shaman’s head, suggesting it had medicinal uses. From there, he says, marijuana moved west along the Silk Road where it was also widely used as medicine.
2. Cannabis is used to treat the symptoms of a number of diseases. The chief symptoms medical marijuana is prescribed for are chronic pain and nausea associated with diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Studies show it may also help control epileptic seizures, soothe tremors in people with Parkinson’s disease, and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers believe cannabis can help treat anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
3. There are two chemicals in medical marijuana that researchers believe are medicinal. These cannabinoids are referred to as THC and CBD. THC increases appetite and reduces nausea and can help decrease pain, inflammation, and muscle control problems. Unlike THC, CBD does not have a psychoactive component and helps reduce pain. Yet finding the right dosage can be complicated.
“All of the different strains of marijuana that are out there come in different concentrations of both of these chemicals so we still have a lot of research to do to figure out what is the right ratio,” says Fahad Khan, MD, assistant professor of pain medicine at the New York University School of Medicine.
4. Many doctors approve the use of cannabis for medical purposes. According to a 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, three-quarters of doctors surveyed said they would approve the use of medical marijuana to help alleviate pain in people with cancer.
5. In states where medical marijuana is legal, there are fewer painkiller deaths. A 2014 study showed that states with established medical marijuana laws have a lower yearly rate of opioid overdose deaths when compared to states where medical marijuana is illegal.
6. There are a number of ways medical marijuana can be administered. Patients can consume cannabis by smoking it, using a vaporizer, ingesting it with food, or by taking it in pill or liquid forms. While the chosen method is based on the patients’ preferences, Dr. Khan says he would recommend using a vaporizer, as it provides an easy way to control the dosage and reduces the possibility of lung damage associated with smoking. Abrams also cautions that the effects of marijuana edibles can take longer to kick in, making it easier for patients to over-consume.
7. There are side effects of marijuana to take into account. Some research also shows that marijuana use can cause adverse effects. A Journal of the American Heart Association study found that marijuana use increases the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, heart rhythm disorders, and stroke. Other studies link the use of cannabis to memory loss. Panic attacks, paranoia, and psychosis may also occur in some people.
8. Continued, long-term use of marijuana can become addictive. Marijuana use over time can cause changes in the brain that can lead to addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. However, an Institute of Medicine study found that dependency rates for marijuana are much lower than those of other substances, including tobacco and alcohol.
9. Controversy remains over whether it should be given to children. Research has linked the use of marijuana beginning in teen years to reduced connectivity among brain areas responsible for learning and memory. Another large, long-term study showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teen years lost an average of 8 IQ points between ages 13 and 38, even when they stopped using as an adult. Meanwhile, those who started smoking marijuana as adults did not show significant IQ declines. For these reasons, some experts are skeptical about medical marijuana use in young people. However, others say there may be cases where the benefits outweigh the cons.
Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that although the organization opposes the legalizing of marijuana for recreational and medical use, cannabis may be a treatment option for certain kids "with life-limiting or severely debilitating conditions for whom current therapies are inadequate." Khan, who consults on pediatric pain cases for children living with debilitating pain from conditions like leukemia and other cancers, says he thinks in certain cases, medical marijuana could help pediatric patients.
“Often times, the doctors will have started the kids on medication, usually morphine or OxyContin, and they just can’t tolerate it because of constipation or they’ll be very loopy,” Khan says. “Then we get into this rotation where we have to find some sort of cocktail that will allow the child to be comfortable but still functional. I think there could be some use for medical marijuana in these patients.”
10. Marijuana sold on the street should not be used for medicinal purposes. Though some people may think it’s a good idea to try procuring marijuana on their own to use for medicinal purposes, experts advise against this.
“What I try to tell patients is that especially in states where it’s not legalized completely, is that you have to be really careful because you don’t know what the ratio is of the active compounds and it’s completely unregulated so unfortunately a lot of the street drugs are sometimes laced with other drugs.” In states where marijuana is legal for medical purposes, patients who meet state regulations and have been approved can purchase cannabis at medical marijuana dispensaries.
As more research continues to be done exploring the benefits of marijuana for medical use, a growing number of states are legalizing the drug for this means. Whether you’re interested in using cannabis for treatment or are just curious about its medicinal uses, here are 10 essential facts about medical marijuana.
1. Marijuana has been used as medicine for centuries. “It’s been a medicine for a lot longer than it hasn’t been,” says Donald Abrams, MD, chief of hematology and oncology at San Francisco General Hospital and professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Abrams points to an exhumed tomb in northern China dated more than 3,000 years ago where cannabis was placed in a basket next to a shaman’s head, suggesting it had medicinal uses. From there, he says, marijuana moved west along the Silk Road where it was also widely used as medicine.
2. Cannabis is used to treat the symptoms of a number of diseases. The chief symptoms medical marijuana is prescribed for are chronic pain and nausea associated with diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Studies show it may also help control epileptic seizures, soothe tremors in people with Parkinson’s disease, and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers believe cannabis can help treat anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
3. There are two chemicals in medical marijuana that researchers believe are medicinal. These cannabinoids are referred to as THC and CBD. THC increases appetite and reduces nausea and can help decrease pain, inflammation, and muscle control problems. Unlike THC, CBD does not have a psychoactive component and helps reduce pain. Yet finding the right dosage can be complicated.
“All of the different strains of marijuana that are out there come in different concentrations of both of these chemicals so we still have a lot of research to do to figure out what is the right ratio,” says Fahad Khan, MD, assistant professor of pain medicine at the New York University School of Medicine.
4. Many doctors approve the use of cannabis for medical purposes. According to a 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, three-quarters of doctors surveyed said they would approve the use of medical marijuana to help alleviate pain in people with cancer.
5. In states where medical marijuana is legal, there are fewer painkiller deaths. A 2014 study showed that states with established medical marijuana laws have a lower yearly rate of opioid overdose deaths when compared to states where medical marijuana is illegal.
6. There are a number of ways medical marijuana can be administered. Patients can consume cannabis by smoking it, using a vaporizer, ingesting it with food, or by taking it in pill or liquid forms. While the chosen method is based on the patients’ preferences, Dr. Khan says he would recommend using a vaporizer, as it provides an easy way to control the dosage and reduces the possibility of lung damage associated with smoking. Abrams also cautions that the effects of marijuana edibles can take longer to kick in, making it easier for patients to over-consume.
7. There are side effects of marijuana to take into account. Some research also shows that marijuana use can cause adverse effects. A Journal of the American Heart Association study found that marijuana use increases the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, heart rhythm disorders, and stroke. Other studies link the use of cannabis to memory loss. Panic attacks, paranoia, and psychosis may also occur in some people.
8. Continued, long-term use of marijuana can become addictive. Marijuana use over time can cause changes in the brain that can lead to addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. However, an Institute of Medicine study found that dependency rates for marijuana are much lower than those of other substances, including tobacco and alcohol.
9. Controversy remains over whether it should be given to children. Research has linked the use of marijuana beginning in teen years to reduced connectivity among brain areas responsible for learning and memory. Another large, long-term study showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teen years lost an average of 8 IQ points between ages 13 and 38, even when they stopped using as an adult. Meanwhile, those who started smoking marijuana as adults did not show significant IQ declines. For these reasons, some experts are skeptical about medical marijuana use in young people. However, others say there may be cases where the benefits outweigh the cons.
Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that although the organization opposes the legalizing of marijuana for recreational and medical use, cannabis may be a treatment option for certain kids "with life-limiting or severely debilitating conditions for whom current therapies are inadequate." Khan, who consults on pediatric pain cases for children living with debilitating pain from conditions like leukemia and other cancers, says he thinks in certain cases, medical marijuana could help pediatric patients.
“Often times, the doctors will have started the kids on medication, usually morphine or OxyContin, and they just can’t tolerate it because of constipation or they’ll be very loopy,” Khan says. “Then we get into this rotation where we have to find some sort of cocktail that will allow the child to be comfortable but still functional. I think there could be some use for medical marijuana in these patients.”
10. Marijuana sold on the street should not be used for medicinal purposes. Though some people may think it’s a good idea to try procuring marijuana on their own to use for medicinal purposes, experts advise against this.
“What I try to tell patients is that especially in states where it’s not legalized completely, is that you have to be really careful because you don’t know what the ratio is of the active compounds and it’s completely unregulated so unfortunately a lot of the street drugs are sometimes laced with other drugs.” In states where marijuana is legal for medical purposes, patients who meet state regulations and have been approved can purchase cannabis at medical marijuana dispensaries.
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