It can be difficult to find out exactly what illnesses medical marijuana helps treat because the federal government has banned government-supported data collection. However, there are studies that show some of the positive effects. In fact, there are a number of conditions and diseases that cannabis can help treat.
- Insomnia
Many people suffer from insomnia, which can lead to a host of other health concerns. Medical marijuana can help because THC and CBD plug into the cannabinoid receptors on brain cells and help people who are having trouble sleeping. People often suffer insomnia due to pain, anxiety, and other conditions.
It is important to choose cannabis with the right mix of THC and CBD. Too much THC or too little CBD can keep you awake, while too much CBD can make you sleep longer.
- Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD
More than 90% of adults who have used medical marijuana to help with depression, anxiety, and PTSD say that it helped. In fact, the use of medical marijuana for PTSD is becoming one of the top uses. There isn’t a lot of data available, but there are studies being done now. Many users say that their condition improves after a few puffs of marijuana with high CBD and low THC.
- Chronic Pain
Many people turn to medical marijuana to manage chronic pain. This includes many types of pain, including cancer, HIV, chemotherapy, muscle pain, joint pain, arthritis, and more. One study found that medical marijuana reduced pain by as much as 40%. The top two reasons why people use medical marijuana to address their pain are arthritis and back pain. More studies are underway to collect data, but it makes a difference.
- Cancer Pain
Many people use medical marijuana for cancer pain and chemotherapy. It helps them with symptoms such as nausea, weight loss, vomiting, and appetite loss. It can’t treat cancer, so people should not try to use it as a cancer treatment. However, it can make symptoms associated with cancer and chemotherapy less uncomfortable. Most people find that it helps.