Last updated on October 27th, 2024
Although there are not many research studies aimed at cannabis and its effectiveness, there are a number of disorders that it has been proven to treat. These conditions include:
Chronic pain
More than 600,000 Americans use cannabis to treat chronic pain, and there is strong scientific evidence to support this use.
According to a 2017 NASEM report, cannabis was found to reduce pain by 40% in randomized clinical trials involving patients with excruciating medical conditions like peripheral neuropathy (diabetic nerve pain), spinal cord injury, HIV, complex regional pain syndrome, cancer, chemotherapy, muscle and joint issues, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
Cannabis even relieved arthritic lab rats in a recent study conducted in Canada. Surprisingly, there isn’t much proof (yet) from human research for osteoarthritis; however, active clinical trials are ongoing.
In a 2019 Colorado poll, back pain was cited as the main reason for cannabis use among older persons, followed by arthritis. In total, 79% of those interviewed reported that marijuana use was helpful at relieving their pain.
Anxiety
People who use cannabis frequently say they use it to unwind or cope with stress. According to a 2017 study, using relatively little THC before giving a public speech helped people feel less nervous.
The evidence indicated that cannabinoids could be helpful for people with anxiety. Notably, the researchers found that the dosage equated to merely a few drags of a cigarette.
In another 2018 study, participants who smoked cannabis cut their use of benzodiazepines—which are frequently given to treat anxiety—by 47%.
As you consume cannabis, you should note that the quantity you use is important. In the 2017 study, 7.5 milligrams of THC—less than the amount in many edibles—was shown to lower anxiety.
However, according to Smokea, 12.5 milligrams—the equivalent of a few hits of the well-known cannabis strain GSC, formerly known as Girl Scout Cookies—can increase anxiety, so you should be ultra-cautious of the amount you consume. It would even be better if you got the directions from your doctor.
Multiple sclerosis
There is substantial scientific evidence supporting cannabis’ ability to reduce MS muscle spasms, and some researchers are looking into a potential cannabis-based drug for MS.
Some 1 million Americans, many of whom are 45 and older, suffer from the crippling pain and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis.
Up to 66 percent of these individuals may be using medical marijuana, according to a 2017 survey, and, likely, they have also reduced their use of MS medications.
In fact, people with MS are the second-largest group of medical marijuana users in the U.S., behind those with chronic pain.
Cancer pain
Donald Abrams, an oncologist, and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who had long supported medical marijuana, reported that cannabis is highly effective for treating cancer pain as well as the side effects of cancer treatment, such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
While this is the case, you should note that cannabis should never be used to treat cancer. There are reports of some patients putting off taking medications for six months or more because they want to try marijuana first because they heard it treats. This is wrong.
You should avoid falling for online suggestions that marijuana is effective at treating cancer because they are based on dubious research and shaky stories, such as a small human trial where participants with brain tumors were given cannabis drips.
Marijuana will reduce the cancer pain, but it won’t heal the cancer, so you should continue going for your chemotherapy or any other cancer treatment. And before you start taking cannabis, always consult your cancer doctor first.
Insomnia
According to the National Academies, the scientific evidence supporting cannabis use for improved sleep is only “moderate” for those with sleep-impairing medical disorders. Yet older users are not being slowed down by it.
In a Colorado survey, almost one-third of respondents used it for sleep, and eighty-six percent claimed it helped.
Through binding to cannabinoid receptors on brain cells, THC and CBD work together to improve sleep.
While cannabis has been shown to be effective at treating insomnia, you should note that selecting cannabis for sleep might be challenging. While a small amount of THC is helpful, too much could keep you up.
A recent research from Palo Alto University shows that taking a higher amount of CBD may help you sleep longer and wake up less during the night. A smaller dose of CBD on the other hand may interfere with your ability to sleep.
Things to watch out for when consuming cannabis
As much as cannabis has been shown to be highly effective at relieving the above conditions, you should be ultra-cautious when taking it.
For example, you should note that not everyone who uses cannabis has positive effects like relaxation.
Some people experience extreme panic and anxiety. When consuming marijuana, you should note that various cannabis strains might be harmful to you. When using cannabis with a high THC content, you may experience negative sensations.
To stay on the safe side, find a strain that is ideal for you and ensure that you consume just the right amount of it.
It is not wise to use THC-containing cannabis strains while trying to conceive, during pregnancy, or when nursing. This is because THC could be harmful to a growing fetus.
For instance, THC users during pregnancy maybe 2.3 times more likely to experience a stillbirth than non-users.
Pregnancy-related cannabis use may be associated with a higher risk of hyperactivity and developmental problems in offspring. So you should avoid consuming it.
There is no denying that cannabis has its advantages, but you should note that tar and other volatile compounds found in tobacco smoke are also present in cannabis smoking.
Lung cancer is a possible danger associated with cannabis use, according to some studies. While this is the case, there is still no solid evidence linking cannabis use to lung cancer, but you should be cautious when consuming it, especially when planning to consume large amounts of it.