While cannabis is mainly legal in Ontario, many people still view it as a hard drug. For many people, cannabis is still a recreational drug that’s only useful for parties or an evening with friends.
But while cannabis has plenty of recreational value, there is a medicinal side to it. There’s no denying the many health benefits of medical cannabis. Not only is it capable of relieving chronic pain, but it also aids in regulating and preventing diabetes.
This article explores the importance of viewing medical cannabis as an alternative therapy. Also, it discusses what people stand to gain by consuming medical cannabis.
Reasons Medical Cannabis Should be an Alternative Therapy
Using weed, especially for health conditions, should no longer be taboo. Although now legal in Canada since 2018, it’s not news that people still discreetly purchase weed. Thankfully, weed delivery near me allows users to order weed and deliver it to their doorstep.
In recent times, research has shown that medical cannabis has health value. However, there are still restrictions on its use and availability. Here are some reasons we believe medical cannabis should be a medical treatment alternative.
Medical cannabis prescription is costly and bureaucratic
Patients often shy away from discussing cannabis-related issues with their physicians due to its stigma. Because patients can’t freely talk about cannabis, they don’t get medical cannabis prescriptions.
Also, surveys have revealed that patients hide their cannabis use from their physicians to prevent judgement. As a result, not everyone in need of cannabis benefits from the new prescription products. Additionally, the government favours those in power or with higher-paying salaries.
Owing to these facts, the prescription of medical cannabis isn’t just costly but restrictive and discriminative. The discrimination and favouritism should end, allowing everyone to benefit from medical cannabis.
The progress is slow and defective
After the government released a statement expressing their desire to increase the availability of medical cannabis, four years have passed. Also, it’s been almost three years since the amendment of the Drugs of Abuse Act. The amendment aimed to allow the health ministry to make rules concerning MCS.
Domestic producers of medical cannabis products complain about the slow progress on regulatory restrictions. Responding to their complaints, the minister for health blamed domestic producers for not meeting the standards. No thanks to the limits; doctors have only a few medical cannabis products to prescribe for patients.
Inadequate clinical evidence
Only about 5% of people use cannabis for specific medical purposes in Canada. For example, they use it to aid sleep and alleviate pain. However, there isn’t enough clinical and scientific research to back up how effective cannabis treats these conditions. Also, doctors aren’t entirely free to prescribe cannabis for medical reasons.
According to researchers, only about 20% of requests for medical cannabis by users were successful. The success rate isn’t going to change until more placebo-controlled clinical trials prove the effectiveness of medical cannabis.
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Benefits of Cannabis as a Medical Treatment Alternative
Scientists have carried out several research studies to ascertain if there are benefits of medicinal cannabis. Interestingly, many studies showed that the cannabis plant boosts your overall well-being.
From alleviating chronic pain to treating nausea, medical cannabis is versatile. Here are 15 advantages of medical cannabis.
Tackles cancer cell spread
Medical Cannabis has been a good help in reducing the aftereffects of chemotherapy. Recent studies by medical scientists have also shown that it can prevent cancer cell growth.
Cannabis does this by inducing cell degeneration in the cancer cells. Furthermore, its anti-cancer characteristics can help treat tumours and cervical cancer. A study carried out by California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, in 2007, showed that Cannabinoid possesses the ability to inhibit cancer growth.
As published in the journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, the research scientists worked on breast cancer cells. First, they did this inside the laboratory with a high-level Id-1. Afterwards, the scientists introduced cannabidiol into the cancer cells.
The result these researchers got was rather satisfactory. They found that the Id-1 formulation in the cells was reduced, and their spread became less aggressive. In addition to the research, The American Association for Cancer Research also proved that cannabis could help slow down lung cancer.
Inhibits Alzheimer’s Disease progression
Cognitive degeneration becomes almost unavoidable as we grow older. But, unfortunately, among the many diseases that result from this is Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2006, Kim Janda and a team of scientific researchers at Scripps Research Institute researched cannabis. The result showed that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component in cannabis, inhibits Alzheimer’s disease from advancing.
Also, The anti-inflammatory THC keeps amyloid plaques from forming. It does this by actively countering the brain enzymes that produce them. These lesions are responsible for cognitive degeneration, i.e., death of brain cells, potentially resulting in Alzheimer’s disease.
Treatment of Glaucoma
Glaucoma comes with increased eyeball pressure, optic nerve injury and ultimately, vision loss. In a report by the National Eye Institute on Glaucoma and Marijuana Use, cannabis decreases the pressure in the eye.
According to them, “Studies in the early 1970s showed that marijuana, when smoked, lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with normal pressure and those with glaucoma.” Therefore, it is sufficient to admit that these effects can avert blindness.
Helps to Relieve arthritis
Several researchers in 2011 revealed a connection between medical cannabis and Arthritis relief. They reported that medical cannabis could help patients with rheumatoid arthritis reduce inflammation and pain. Also, medical cannabis helps alleviate discomfort, and in turn, promotes sleep.
Additionally, researchers in different hospitals prescribed cannabinoid-based Sativex, a pain relief, to their patients. The patients were then studied for two weeks. They showed better improvement in their sleep quality and pain reduction than ordinary placebo users.
Alleviation of pains from multiple sclerosis
The Canadian Medical Association, through a study, revealed that medical cannabis is effective in treating multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis causes muscle cramps and downing neurological effects.
Dr. Bloom researched 30 patients with multiple sclerosis with much painful muscle cramps. Also, after taking cannabis for some days, they claimed to be in less pain in contrast to other medications. THC is responsible for the bonding of the nerve receptors to alleviate pain.
Controls Epileptic seizure
In 2003, a study by Dr. Robert J. DeLorenzo, a professor of Neurology, revealed that cannabis use could help prevent epileptic seizures. Dr. DeLorenzo at the Virginia Commonwealth University fed epileptic rats with cannabis extract and synthetic cannabis. Surprisingly, in just 10 hours, he found that the seizures seized. Also, he discovered that THC in cannabis bound the brain cells responsible for the excitement, thereby controlling the seizures.
Improves the health of Parkinson’s disease patients
Several recent studies by Israeli scientists show the health benefits of cannabis for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Medical cannabis brings a remarkable reduction in their pains and improvement in their periods of sleep. Also, patients show improvements in their fine motor skills. The Israeli government declared medical cannabis legal and supported its countless study due to the research.
Helps control Crohn’s disease
A recent Israeli study revealed that medical cannabis is necessary for Crohn’s disease treatment. Crohn’s disease, an intestinal inflammatory disorder, causes patients to experience diarrhea, pain, vomiting and weight loss.
The research result showed smoking a joint of cannabis reduced the symptoms in 10 of 11 patients. Also, the disease was cured in five of the 10. Other studies on medical cannabis and Crohn’s disease have shown similar results. Interestingly, Cannabinoids in medical cannabis help the bowel maintain intestinal function and bacteria control.
Helps with Dravet’s Syndrome
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s lead medical correspondent, treated a girl of age five who battles Dravet’s Syndrome. Dravet’s Syndrome, in addition to seizure symptoms, causes severe delay to development.
Dr. Gupta treated her with a strain of medical cannabis with high cannabidiol content but low THC. He recorded his findings in “WEED,” his documentary.
He reported that the little girl now experiences seizures just once a week by interviewing the Figi family. This is in contrast with 300 in a week before the treatment. Also, the treatment is currently in use for many other children, and they’ve shown significant improvements.
Reduces side effects resulting from Hepatitis C treatment and improves the effectiveness of treatments
Hepatitis C treatments can have downing effects on patients. For instance, the side effects include low appetite, muscle spasms, fatigue, nausea, and depression. As a result, many who have undergone these treatments stopped halfway.
A research study published in 2006 in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology cleared these tensions. The study proved that only 29% of non-smoking patients of hepatitis C completed their therapies. Whereas about 86% of those who used cannabis finished their treatments.
Furthermore, the use of cannabis helps to decrease the side effects of hepatitis C treatments. It also assists in increasing the effectiveness of the treatments.
A record showed a reduction in the viral level of the patients. For instance, 54% of those who smoke cannabis had their level low. In contrast, only 8% out of the abstaining patients got theirs.
Treat inflammatory bowel diseases
Like Crohn’s disease, patients with some inflammatory bowel diseases can benefit from medical cannabis. For example, researchers at the University of Nottingham in 2010 found that biochemicals in cannabis, including cannabidiol, and THC help intestinal function and the immune system.
Also, the body secrets a chemical similar to THC, which increases the chance of bacterial inflow. However, the cannabinoids in cannabis block these body-secreted cannabinoids while tightly binding the intestines.
Helps alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and improves appetite
People undergoing chemotherapy can find medical cannabis helpful. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience painful nausea, severe body pain and appetite loss. Thankfully, medical cannabis can help subside these side reactions by stimulating appetite and reducing pain.
Effective neuroprotective agent
The journal of Cerebral Cortex published a research study showing the advantages of cannabis in concussion treatment. The scientists experimented on mice and noticed that cannabis reduced brain contusion and helped heal traumatic injuries.
Also, a Harvard emeritus professor of psychiatry advised that the NFL should no longer test players against cannabis. Instead, he suggests, they should encourage it, as it can protect the brain.
In an open letter to the US NFL commissioner, Professor Lester Grinspoon writes, “Already many doctors and researchers believe that marijuana has potent neuroprotective properties, an understanding based on both laboratory and clinical data.”
In response, Roger Goodall, NFL commissioner, stated that the NFL could consider medical cannabis if further research confirms.
Protects the brain from the effects of stroke.
Research scientists at the University of Nottingham performed a study on stroke. They conducted the study on mice, monkeys, and rats.
In the same vein, other scientific researches have shown the neuroprotective effects of medical cannabis. Interestingly, the results showed that cannabis could help prevent brain damage resulting from stroke. Also, cannabis helps reduce the intensity of the stroke-affected area of the brain.
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To Sum It Up
There are many reasons you should consider medicinal cannabis. For instance, it has anti-inflammatory effects and alleviates symptoms of inflammatory bowel problems. However, patients still face the stigma of using medical cannabis and are reluctant to discuss issues surrounding it.
It’s high time people saw medical cannabis for what it truly is; a breakthrough in medicine. No longer should patients have to hide to access cannabis for health-related problems. With Weed Delivery Express, you can get easy access to cannabis. Use our safe, fast weed delivery services today.
