For centuries and especially in some latitudes, cannabis, understood as a medicinal and healing herb has been an effective remedy. It is composed of dried parts of the cannabis sativa plant.
In recent years many people use it to reduce symptoms and treat many diseases. However, the use of this plant for medicinal purposes is subject to precise legal regulations in all countries, which must be complied with in order to use it in therapies as stipulated, and to avoid legal consequences.
A number of chemicals called cannabinoids are present in marijuana (Cannabis), among which a couple of these with the most established health effects capture the attention of physicians and researchers: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC) and cannabidiol(CBD).
THC is the substance that has an effect on the mind, procuring the famous “high” while CBD does not produce mind-altering effects.
What does medical marijuana look like?
There are different formulations of this medication: a spray to be inhaled, pills to be taken, or a liquid formulation to be added to food, the use of which varies according to the time prescribed by the doctor for administration, the intensity of symptoms, and any side effects.
How does medical cannabis act at the‘inside the body?
The mechanism of action does not seem to be entirely clear yet. It is known that the chemicals present go to connect with cell receptors, receptors located in both the brain and the immune system.
What disorders and diseases can it treat?
These aspects vary from country to country with unshared protocols so the fields of applications also vary, although there are some diseases such as ALS, multiple sclerosis, HIV, epilepsy, hepatitis C, Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s disease or even severe nausea post chemotherapy, cancer in which the therapeutic orientation seems quite shared on the use of cannabis.
Although researchers are not convinced of its broad therapeutic spectrum, they agree that the substance definitely works as a pain reliever and in limiting or stopping vomiting in chemotherapy.
Researchers and doctors discourage smoking it as a leaf, as it can cause respiratory problems in the bronchi and a chronic cough. And they also recommend not using it when driving cars as it is very often linked to serious traffic accidents, and especially for pregnant women. Many studies have established some connection between marijuana smoking and certain psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia
It should also be mentioned that referring to the medical substance and some more specific therapeutic applications, such as use against chemotherapy nausea, a synthetic cannabinoid can also be used for the same purpose.
Cannabis as a medical substance can create addiction?
Studies at the moment are focused on the use of the substance medically, taking into observation the specific clinical cases for which the substance is prescribed, without yet being able to have a more complete picture.
These studies do not include those who take the substance as users/smokers, who, having developed an addiction, would report only the specific symptoms of withdrawal. So, not enough is known yet.
Researchers still assess the available data as insufficient and are waiting for more information to be available to draw more thorough and safer guidelines.
There is actually a lack of evidence that the substance works well, despite the fact that the substance has been an herbal remedy for centuries.
