Medical Cannabis Basics: What It's Used For, How It's Taken and the Side Effects

Medical cannabis is most often used for chronic pain, nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis, appetite loss in HIV/AIDS and certain treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy, where CBD has the strongest evidence. Patients also report using it for sleep, anxiety and inflammatory conditions, though the research there is thinner. Here's a plain-English primer on what medical cannabis is, what it and medical cannabis oil are used for, how they're taken and what to watch out for.

What is medical cannabis?

Medical cannabis comes from the Cannabis sativa plant and contains a range of useful compounds. The two best known are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is responsible for the high, while CBD is known for its therapeutic properties without messing with your head.

Conditions medical cannabis is used for

Medical cannabis legalization has led to its use for a range of conditions, including:

1. Cancer: Medical cannabis is often used to ease the nausea and pain that come with chemotherapy.
2. Multiple sclerosis: It may help reduce spasticity and improve quality of life in people with this neurological condition.
3. Epilepsy: CBD has been shown to reduce seizure frequency in some treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy.
4. Chronic pain: It's used to relieve pain tied to conditions like arthritis and injuries.
5. HIV/AIDS: It can boost appetite and ease nausea, both common in patients on antiretroviral treatment.

Potential benefits of medical cannabis

Medical cannabis offers a wide range of potential benefits that vary by condition and by patient. These include:

1. Pain relief: It's known for its potential to take the edge off chronic and acute pain, bringing relief to patients in many situations.
2. Less nausea and vomiting: It helps control the nausea and vomiting that come with medical treatments like chemotherapy.
3. Better sleep: Some patients report better sleep quality with medical cannabis, which can help with problems like insomnia.
4. Anti-inflammatory effects: Research suggests CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that may be useful for chronic inflammatory conditions.

How medical cannabis is taken

Medical cannabis comes in several forms, depending on what the patient prefers and needs:

1. Inhalation: Smoking or vaping gets it into your system fast and is a popular choice for people who want quick relief.
2. Medical cannabis oil: CBD and THC oils are taken by mouth and allow for precise dosing.
3. Edibles: Cookies, candies and other edibles are a discreet way to take cannabis.
4. Topicals: Topical products go on the skin and are used for localized pain and skin conditions.

Despite its potential benefits, medical cannabis isn't a cure-all, and it can have side effects, including mood changes, memory problems and the risk of dependence.

Whether medical cannabis is legal and available depends on where you live. In Argentina, for example, medical cannabis laws have moved forward, widening patients' access to this treatment.

If you're considering medical cannabis, talk to a healthcare professional and make sure you know the rules where you live. Medical cannabis can potentially bring relief to people with a range of conditions, as long as it's used properly and you understand its effects and risks.

What diseases is cannabis used for?

Cannabis has been used with some success for a variety of diseases and medical conditions. Conditions where cannabis, especially cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has shown some potential include:

1. Chronic pain: Cannabis is used to relieve chronic pain, such as pain from arthritis, injuries or debilitating medical conditions.
2. Epilepsy: CBD has proven effective for certain types of epilepsy that don't respond to other treatments, such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
3. Multiple sclerosis: It may help reduce the muscle spasticity and pain associated with MS.
4. Nausea and vomiting: It's used to control nausea and vomiting, especially in patients on chemotherapy or living with HIV/AIDS.
5. Inflammatory diseases: Some research suggests cannabis may help reduce inflammation in conditions like Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
6. Sleep disorders: Some patients report better sleep quality with cannabis.
7. Anxiety disorders: In some cases cannabis may help ease anxiety symptoms, though this varies from person to person, and high THC doses can make anxiety worse.
8. Glaucoma: It has been used to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients, which may help protect the optic nerve, although the effect is short-lived.
9. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Cannabis has shown some potential for managing PTSD symptoms.
10. Autoimmune diseases: Some patients with autoimmune conditions report their symptoms improve with cannabis.

Keep in mind that how well cannabis works varies from person to person, and not everyone gets the same benefits. It's essential to talk to a healthcare professional before using cannabis for any disease or condition. Cannabis laws and regulations vary by location, so it's also important to know the rules where you live.