Here at The Medical Marijuana Dr. we believe in the importance of education which is why today we’re talking about the pros and cons of medical cannabis. While obviously, we believe that there are more benefits than drawbacks – it is important for you to understand that there are some drawbacks to medical cannabis use.
Pros and Cons of Medical Cannabis: A Medical Opinion
The Pro’s of Medical Cannabis Use
When administered in proper doses and controlled by regulatory boards, medical cannabis can be the perfect support for a number of medical conditions. It is important, however, that a medical marijuana user undergoes ongoing supervision from a reputable doctor as well.
Some of the pros of medical marijuana use include:
Anti-Nausea Properties
Medical cannabis has been shown to have particularly effective anti-nausea properties which makes it a great option for chronic illness and chronic illness treatments that induce nausea. This is particularly helpful for individuals undergoing chemotherapy.
Appetite Inducer
Another valuable property to medical marijuana use is its ability to induce appetite. It is for this property that many cannabis users are chronically ill with conditions that cause anorexia, conditions like HIV and AIDS and cancer.
Pain Relief
Pain relief is another important benefit of medical cannabis. For patients with chronic health conditions that cause ongoing pain or severe pain, the relief that this drug brings is a true blessing. People with cancer, muscular and skeletal conditions, multiple sclerosis, and other similar conditions, this pain relief is invaluable.
Relief of Muscle Tension and Spasticity
Used under the direction of a reputable medical marijuana physician, cannabis can help to induce muscle relaxation and relieve tension and spasticity which is a particularly painful side effect of a number of chronic health conditions. People with conditions like multiple sclerosis and spinal cord or brain injury benefit greatly from this property.
A Safe Medical Solution
Depending on the condition that it is being used to treat, medical marijuana is much safer than alternate medications which have significant and debilitating side effects. For example, medications that have a significant likelihood for abuse and dependence or medications that are known to permanently damage the liver are much more harmful to a patient than cannabis.
A History of Medical Application
While researchers are working hard to develop medications and treatments for various chronic conditions, it takes time to develop and test these substances. Additionally, it may be decades before the longterm effects of these medications are known. Medical marijuana, however, has been used for centuries in medical applications and has a solid history of beneficial results.
The Cons
There are some negative side effects to medical cannabis use, and your medical marijuana doctor will discuss these with you during your evaluation visit. Some of these “cons” include:
Memory Loss
Research has shown that chronic marijuana use can greatly reduce short-term memory. For some patients, this is a negligible side effect, but for others – for example, those whose job requires particular attention to detail, this can cause a significant issue.
Reduced Cognitive Ability
Another significant side effect that can be pronounced with marijuana use is a reduction in cognitive ability. When paired with short term memory problems, this can cause significant impairment of important functions and limit or eliminate the possibility of working during treatment.
Legal Concerns
While states like Florida have made medical cannabis use legal in specific circumstances, it remains illegal under federal law. In most instances, patients with a legitimate need for and a legal license to use medical marijuana have little to worry about so long as they follow state regulations, but there are instances of state-approved users facing penalties by federal authorities for their use and possession of state prescribed marijuana.
If this is a concern for you, be sure to speak with your prescribing physician and to ask any questions that you may have.
Health Concerns
Smoking medical marijuana poses a risk to lung health and overall health. Like cigarettes, smoking marijuana can severely impact your lung function and even contribute to respiratory illness in some cases. This is why it’s important that you are always honest with your prescribing physician.
Do You Have Questions About the Pros and Cons of Medical Cannabis?
If you have questions about the pros and cons of using medical marijuana, or if you are interested in obtaining a medical marijuana card for your chronic condition, we can help. Just use our handy online appointment tool to make an appointment that is convenient for you and we’ll take care of the rest!