Marijuana has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments from pain and anxiety to glaucoma and cancer. While marijuana may benefit patients with diverse medical conditions, you should be cautious before using it as not much is known about how marijuana interacts with commonly used prescription drugs. Federal, state and local laws may also present challenges for marijuana use.
Cancer
Marijuana has been reported to be an effective therapy for a number of conditions associated with cancers, including loss of appetite, nausea, cachexia, pain, anxiety and depression. The National Cancer Institute explains that marijuana use helps patients to overcome nausea and appetite loss associated with chemotherapy use. Marijuana may also fight cancer by directly killing cancer cells. A number of peer-reviewed, medical studies reviewed by NORML.org summarize evidence that marijuana use can actually slow the progression of a very aggressive brain cancer known as glioblastoma. NORML also cites over 20 medical studies showing that marijuana similarly inhibits the growth of several other types of cancer. Care should be taken before starting a course of marijuana therapy for cancer, as marijuana smoke may have long-term negative effects. Many cancer patients ingest food-based sources of marijuana or use a vaporizer to avoid problems associated with smoking it.
Glaucoma
The American Academy of Opthamology (AAO) summarizes research on marijuana use to treat glaucoma. A number of studies have shown that marijuana use does lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients when taken orally, intravenously or though smoking, but not when marijuana preparations are applied directly to the eyes. While the AAO recognizes the benefits of marijuana to glaucoma patients, it explains that a number of prescription remedies for glaucoma may provide safer and more effective forms of treatment.
Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition in which an individual's immune system wages war against itself, leading to inflammation and pain, particularly in the joints. A number of medical studies reviewed by Americans for Safe Access (ASA) show an abundance of evidence that marijuana can help relieve pain and reduce the symptoms of arthritis. ASA also explains that medical marijuana may have fewer and less dangerous side effects than pain killers typically prescribed to treat arthritis.
