Medicinal Marijuana: 8 Facts That Everyone Should Know

08/10/2021

Medicinal marijuana has benefits to individuals from all walks of life and patients of all medical disciplines, but many people instantly hear the phrase “medical marijuana” and stop listening. That’s why today we want to share with you a few facts that we think everyone should know…

Medicinal Marijuana: 8 Facts That Everyone Should Know

1. There Are 80 Components in Medical Marijuana with Medicinal Applications.

There are close to 500 compounds in cannabis, around 80 of them are used for science and medical applications. 5 of these 80 compounds are frequently used and include:

  • Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – THC acts as a mild pain reliever, induces sleep, and functions as a powerful antioxidant.

  • Cannabidiol (CBD) – CBD plays a significant role in the medicinal use of marijuana. CBD helps to  relieve convulsions, reduce inflammation, reduce anxiety, suppress cough, improve congestion, and relieve nausea. Most significantly, CBD also inhibits cancer cell growth.

  • Cannabinol (CBN) – Cannabinol is thought to prevent cancer cells from spreading.

  • β-caryophyllene ireduces inflammation.

  • Cannabigerol relieves pressure that builds up in the eye, so it is beneficial in the treatment of glaucoma.

2. Public Opinion of Medicinal Marijuana Is Changing

In 1997, 62% of the general public supported the idea of doctors being allowed to prescribe medicinal marijuana for patients who had been diagnosed with significant illness. That percentage has more recently increased sharply to 83%.

3. Smoking Has a Lot to Answer For!

A significant portion of opponents to the use of medical marijuana base their opinion on the assumption that medicinal marijuana must be smoked to be effective! This couldn’t be further from the truth! There are many options for ingesting medical marijuana and your doctor can talk you through these different methods to determine which is best for your needs.

4. There Are Over 100 Different Cannabinoids in Medical Marijuana

While many people are familiar with THC and CBD, most of them are unfamiliar with the other 100+ cannabinoids in cannabis – many of which have a significant impact on the symptoms of various illnesses..

5. The FDA Has Not Approved the Use Of Medicinal Marijuana

Although the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has not yet approved the use of medical marijuana, they have approved a number of treatments that contain cannabinoids including:

  • Epidiolex contains purified CBD that is derived from cannabis. This drug has been approved for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome seizures or Dravet syndrome a severe and rare type of epilepsy.
  • Marinol and Syndros contain a substance that is similar to a synthetic THC. These drugs have been approved for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.

6. Medicinal Marijuana Doesn’t Treat Disease…

In almost every case, medical marijuana is not used to treat disease, rather it is used to control side effects related to the disease in question. For example, cancer requires a patient to have chemotherapy, but the patient starts to weaken due to vomiting and nausea from the chemotherapy they are receiving. Using medicinal marijuana helps to alleviate these symptoms so that the patient can eat more and keep up their strength so that their body is fueled to fight their cancer.

7. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is Funding Numerous Medical Marijuana Studies.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has sponsored various medical marijuana studies that look into the application of medical marijuana’s pain relieving properties.

The NCCIH is also funding research into

  • The use of medical marijuana to reduce pain, inflammation, and improve thinking in people with chronic low-back pain.
  • Developing techniques to synthesize cannabinoids in yeast for more cost efficient cannabinoid extraction.
  • Investigating the relationship between cannabis smoking and type 2 diabetes.

8. Medical Marijuana Use Focuses on Pain Relief

When it comes to the medical application of marijuana, the main focus of study has been on the ability of cannabinoids to relieve pain. This does not mean that medical marijuana is not being used in other applications, however, it also helps to relieve seizures, anxiety, nausea, and spasticity among other things.

Are You Interested in Learning More About Medicinal Marijuana in Florida?

If you live in Florida and are interested in learning more about medicinal marijuana and finding out whether it is a good treatment option for you, The Medical Marijuana Doctor can help! Start by making an appointment for a free medical marijuana consultation today using our online tool!