Medical cannabis.

20 years ago, scientists discovered endocannabinoid receptors in the human body that respond to 60 chemicals found in marijuana. They also affect the digestive, endocrine, immune, nervous and reproductive systems. It was from this moment that doctors and scientists began to study the effects of marijuana on the body during treatment.

The least controversial is the hemp extract cannabidiol (CBD), as it has few intoxicating properties. But tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the chemical that causes a “high.” In medicine, CBD-dominant varieties of marijuana are used, which are aimed at relieving pain rather than obtaining an intoxicating effect.

Chronic pain
More than 600,000 Americans use cannabis to relieve chronic pain from diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and muscle and joint problems. According to a NASEM report, marijuana reduced pain by 40%. According to the same survey, 79% of older adults used cannabis for pain due to arthritis.

Insomnia
In a study conducted in Colorado, people with sleep disorders used cannabis to help them sleep and it helped 86% of patients.

AIDS/HIV
In a study conducted on HIV-infected people, scientists found that patients using medical cannabis had improved sleep, appetite, mood, and decreased neuropathic pain.

Alzheimer's disease
Medical marijuana is used to help Alzheimer's patients gain weight. Studies have shown that it reduces agitated behavior and slows down the process of protein deposition in the brain.

Cancer
Laboratory studies on animals have shown that marijuana extract can kill some cancer cells and slow growth. But as of 2021, there is no evidence that cannabis helps stop cancer in people. Marijuana can only stop the nausea that occurs due to chemotherapy.

Crohn's disease
A small study of 13 patients followed for three months found that cannabis relieved pain, reduced the frequency of diarrhea and helped people with Crohn's disease gain weight.

Epilepsy
In 2018, The New England Journal conducted a study that found that cannabis reduced the frequency of seizures in children and adults by 50%. But some patients experienced side effects: drowsiness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, upper respiratory tract infection.

Glaucoma
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness. In 2009, the American Glaucoma Society noted that cannabis lowers intraocular pressure. But it can also lower blood pressure and damage the optic nerve.