Are you someone who currently uses marijuana for recreational or medical reasons?
Just about 158 million people use marijuana around the world. That's almost 3% of the entire planet!
As the rise in marijuana use continues to grow, more people are interested in learning about the marijuana pros and cons. Can marijuana really treat your chronic pain? Will marijuana have harmful side effects if used daily?
Let's start with one interesting fact. For example, if you use marijuana on a daily basis, you are no more likely to visit a doctor than someone who doesn't use marijuana.
There are proponents who believe using marijuana is a positive way to treat pain for medical reasons.
Of course, there are a few cons we should point out.
Medicinal Marijuana Pros And Cons
We will discuss throughout this post the marijuana pros and cons to hone in on the rise in marijuana use happening in 2017.
Coping With Pain
One of the main reasons a person will choose marijuana is to treat pain. Our first example dives into understanding how women can use marijuana to decrease the painful symptoms of menstrual cramps.
Menstrual Cramps
In fact, marijuana has been used for decades to treat everything from menstrual cramps to aiding with the pain of childbirth.
Queen Victoria was a noblewoman who turned to marijuana in the year 1890 to treat her menstrual cramps and later used it as a way to treat morning sickness. How does this drug work to provide pain relief? The THC found in marijuana is able to relax the muscles that tighten up during this time of pain.
The marijuana pros and cons are not limited to impacting the way men feel. Women can benefit from marijuana because it can reduce the emotional symptoms associated with PMS, too. If a woman is able to take an entire cannabis plant, then the painful symptoms can also be eliminated.
Marijuana pros and cons are definitely considered in situations including how someone can properly treat the pain they feel every day. More research has been conducted to prove how effective marijuana can be to treat menstrual cramps because the level of THC found in marijuana can reduce anxiety and nausea that women can experience during their monthly periods.
Variety Of Chronic Pain
Another reason to consider the marijuana pros and cons is to understand how it can treat other types of pain relief.
When it comes to people living with chronic pain, marijuana is one method to help the 38 million people who suffer on a daily basis. Approximately 12 million people have already started to use marijuana as a way to cope with their chronic pain.
More and more people are using medical marijuana to treat their symptoms of chronic pain because it works and it's slowly becoming a widely accepted practice.
Statistics show that 91% percent of people who use marijuana for medical purposes have felt the effects. The medical marijuana does not treat the disease but it can alleviate the strong side effects that come with living with chronic pain.
People who use marijuana have pain issues including:
- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Glaucoma
- Anxiety
- Diabetes
- Muscle spasms
Fighting Cancer
The plant has done wonders to patients with cancer.
Not only can marijuana aid with the side effects of chemotherapy, but it has been linked to ending the proliferation (growth) of cells that are malignant (bad cancerous cells within the body).
The cannabis plant has shown evidence of becoming an anticancer drug. Researchers are exploring how marijuana will target and eventually kill the cancerous cells.
In several cancer types, (lung, thyroid, uterus, breast, skin, prostate) cannabinoids are exerting anti-proliferative properties. The cannabinoids are also known as psychoactive herb THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the ones that treat neuropathic pain in cancer patients.
Marijuana is now considered a weapon against cancer cell migration, which is great medical news to hear about as more people are being diagnosed with cancer every year.
For patients who have breast cancer, medical marijuana may be one approach to killing off the bad cancer cells in the body. Recently, studies have shown CBD is linked to slowing down tumor growth and the metastasization process. The metastasization process happens when the tumor growth increases in size and continues to impact the rest of a person's body through the bloodstream.
The CBD found in marijuana also reduces the likelihood that the Id-1 gene can mutate in patients with breast cancer. The cannabidiol can inhibit the Id-1 gene at the mRNA level to decrease tumor aggression.
Lung cancer is another major cancer millions of people are living with today. According to new research, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) has been linked to slowing down the epithelial growth of cell migration in the lungs. This means tumor growth is preventable with the use of THC in the body to treat patients with lung cancer to prevent further cancer cell metastasization.
It's remarkable to learn about the marijuana pros and cons in the medical world.
So far, it's apparent that the chemicals found in marijuana, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), have gone through extensive studies to prove how effective they are in treating menstrual cramps, chronic pain, breast cancer, and lung cancer.
Effects On The Brain
We've probably all heard things like “marijuana kills brain cells”, but how valid is that question?
Of course, one needs to be cautious when driving while under the influence of drugs. However, there have been no significant studies proving that driving while high can lead to more accidents.
In fact, there is only an increase in the number of driving accidents if someone is under the influence of alcohol and marijuana combined.
Long-term marijuana pros and cons have often been a topic of interest for medical professionals. New studies are being conducted to take on this point of interest in terms of how daily marijuana use can lead to brain damage.
Studies test the cognitive skills of people using marijuana over a 3-12 month time frame. After a 3-month check in, the people in the study actually showed improved task accuracy. This clinical study shows how brain function did not falter and even measured better results.
Creativity
In addition to aiding with symptoms of chronic pain and having receptors to kill cancerous cells, consuming marijuana has also become another way to get your creative mind to work. The creative side of the brain can come to life under the influence of cannabis.
Cannabis and creativity may look like an unlikely pair, but evidence has shown how in sync the two really are. In a study of people who were under cannabis intoxication, 50% of users felt the effects of heightened creativity. You may be wondering why this happens.
Let us explain how THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is responsible for increasing levels of creativity for people who ingest products containing levels of marijuana. The THC is a psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana that will stimulate dopamine.
Dopamine (DA) is a chemical that is then released into the rest of the body. DA is also known as the reward center of the brain. THC activates the reward center and the dopamine is the reasoning behind how a person will feel at ease to use their creativity at a whole new level.
With people who have low dopamine levels, consuming marijuana with THC can be beneficial for increasing the creative thinking they experience. The study also showed that people who took a relatively lower dose of THC (such as cannabis cigarettes which contain 3 mg) experienced better performance than the ones who consumed a higher level (6 mg).
People who are in the music and art industries turn to marijuana as a way to enhance their natural abilities. In some cases, such as with creative people like Ernest Hemingway, drugs and alcohol are two examples of a creative stimulator. Of course, more cognitive tests need to be done to establish the marijuana pros and cons of consuming cannabis for improved creativity.
Anxiety And Depression
Another controversial topic about marijuana consumption is how it can treat people suffering from anxiety or depression.
A recent neurobiological study discussed how low doses of marijuana can be an anti-depressant. However, at high doses, cannabis can lead to poor psychiatric conditions. The THC chemical in cannabis has an effect on the serotonin levels in the brain.
Researchers at the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) found that even though there is not a link between marijuana use and anxiety and depression, people who use the drug are more likely to develop other substance abuse issues with alcohol and tobacco. If you are careful with your marijuana habits, you can see better results
The cannabinoid receptors found in marijuana plants can help you battle these mental disorders. Marijuana pros and cons have been studied by scientists and psychologists around the world. Take it from the Canadian psychologists who completed an in-depth look into the positive effects cannabis has on the mind. In addition to anxiety and depression, PTSD is another health condition treatable by medical marijuana.
Cannabis And PTSD
In addition to anxiety and depression, PTSD is another health condition treatable by medical marijuana. It is shown to improve overall mood and facilitation of sleep. Although more research needs to be conducted on PTSD and marijuana pros and cons, this preliminary research is definitely something to highlight as a positive outcome for PTSD patients who suffer from painful flashbacks.
The study also goes into detail regarding any worries a person may have over the link between self-harm/harm to others and marijuana. There appears to be no such link. There are also different strains of the drug which can be altered to give people suffering from certain health conditions the specific treatment they need to feel less anxious.
If you are careful with your marijuana habits, you can see better results from using the drug from time to time. If you are someone who suffers from anxiety, depression, or PTSD, then medical marijuana may be a solution to the stress you currently feel today.
Need A Marijuana Application Consultation?
Ultimately, it's up to you whether or not you choose marijuana as a way to cope with physical pain as discussed throughout this article.
There are marijuana pros and cons to consider as with any drug used for medical reasons. If you talk to your doctor about your options for treating your chronic pain, marijuana could be a great option as it can reduce the symptoms associated with it.
Marijuana is popular for its therapeutic abilities, which has also led to a rise in the marijuana business. If you are interested in starting your own cannabis business, there are quite a few steps to take in order to be a contender for a license.
Did you know that our professional team at Quantum 9 Inc. has guided clients around the world to explore the cannabis industry to maximize permit acquisitions?
Let us assist you through the cannabis application submission process with our highly skilled FDA Attorneys who can speed things up so your cannabis business can start functioning as soon as possible. The marijuana pros and cons listed within this article are things to think about as you wish to begin your business venture with us at Quantum 9 Inc. will be taken into consideration as we work on writing your cannabis application.
The marijuana pros and cons listed within this article are all important things to think about as you wish to begin your business venture with us at Quantum 9 Inc. Our team of experts and attorneys will take you through each step of the process as we all come together for one simplified goal to start your company with ease.
It's also important to contact a cannabis consulting company like us at Quantum 9 Inc. because we know how to follow the rules pertaining to writing a cannabis business plan. Our firm has an astonishing success rate at 91% which means you can trust us to help you obtain a marijuana license.
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If you are interested in learning more information about our cannabis consulting services, you can contact us at any time.
