All About Medical Marijuana

As medicinal marijuana becomes more mainstream, hospitals, acute care and long-term care facilities must carefully consider state regulations and institutional implications. Medical marijuana comes in various forms including oil, pills, vaporized liquid and dried leaves/buds. Recently the Food and Drug Administration approved Epidiolex, a cannabis-derived medication, for treating rare forms of childhood epilepsy.

Smoking

Marijuana leaves and buds contain chemicals called cannabinoids that act on the brain to produce specific feelings, most notably THC which creates the “high” associated with marijuana use.

Smoking medical marijuana poses serious risks, including lung damage and an increased risk of heart attack. Smoking medical marijuana may also lead to hallucinations and delusions in teens and young adults, interfere with learning and memory processes, increase accident risks when driving under its influence and interfere with learning and memory processes.

The FDA has only approved three drugs containing components of cannabis plant: cannabidiol (Epidiolex) to treat certain forms of severe epilepsy; dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros) to reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy as well as aid with weight loss in AIDS patients; and nabilone (Cesamet) for pain relief from shingles and fibromyalgia. Studies on specific diseases remain limited but many patients report finding relief from pain relief from symptoms related to AIDS, Crohn’s/Ulcerative colitis), Parkinson’s disease or even glaucoma.

Vaping

Evidence indicates that medical marijuana helps alleviate chronic pain, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis – as well as reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy or certain forms of epilepsy – as well as ease nausea caused by chemotherapy or epilepsy medications such as dronabinol or nabilone which contain components from cannabis plants to ease symptoms such as insomnia and severe nausea. These FDA-approved prescription medications contain components from cannabis which work directly against these symptoms.

Vaporizers are devices used to convert cannabis liquid or dry flower into an aerosol that is inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream, usually via inhalation. Vaporizers come in various sizes and forms; from flash drive-like devices that heat cannabis directly to large tanks-style devices that store dried or liquid cannabis.

Vaping can pose risks, including inhaling other chemicals such as carcinogens from tobacco smoke and an increased risk of e-cigarette-associated lung injury (EVALI), caused by using solvents like vitamin E acetate to cut liquid containing THC or other psychoactive components for vaping devices.

Ingestion

Cannabis is a plant containing cannabinoids, chemical substances that produce drug-like effects in your body. Cannabis can reduce pain, nausea and inflammation; ease muscle spasms in MS and other neurological diseases; ease muscle spasms caused by neurodegenerative disorders; ease muscle spasms caused by neuromuscular conditions; alleviate muscle spasms related to MS; alleviate muscle spasms caused by neuromuscular diseases. THC and CBD are two widely recognized cannabinoids.

Cannabis may be taken in many forms: pills, oils, vaporized liquid or nasal spray, dried leaves or buds or whole plant. Cannabis has long been used as a therapy against nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy as well as appetite loss among AIDS patients and seizures in certain rare forms of epilepsy.

Medical cannabis is processed through your liver much like any medication and may interact with the other medicines you’re taking, including any prescriptions you take. While labeling for medicinal cannabis products has improved over time, it still cannot guarantee accurate product labels and monitoring by state agencies. Therefore, when buying medical marijuana it is essential to purchase from a licensed dispensary with accurate product labels monitored by state agencies.

Topical

THC topicals differ from ingested or vaped cannabis products in that they don’t directly enter the bloodstream; rather, they interact with cannabinoid receptors in the ECS superficially to produce desired effects. Manufacturers produce THC creams, ointments and salves which users apply directly onto various body parts for pain relief or therapeutic effects.

THC topicals are an emerging method of consumption that many find appealing, as they don’t produce an intense mind-altering high like smoking or vaping does. Unfortunately, their scientific foundation is still developing and more research needs to be conducted in order to fully comprehend their effectiveness.

These products may also include other cannabinoids and terpenes to achieve different goals, including skin health. Some formulations offer anti-ageing properties while providing pain relief; others can ease itching; still more provide fast acting joint or muscle relief – all easily integrated into daily routines without the hassle of taking pills or inhaling through devices.