Marijuana has long been used to treat a number of ailments associated with pain and inflammation. Marijuana can also relieve symptoms associated with cancer and other chronic illnesses. While marijuana helps some patients with certain medical conditions, individuals seeking marijuana therapies should consult a doctor before using cannabis.
Glaucoma
Cannabis has been used to treat glaucoma for many decades, if not centuries. The American Academy of Ophthalmology summarizes a number of studies involving the use of marijuana in the treatment of glaucoma. Marijuana can lower intraocular pressure to treat the symptoms of glaucoma. Interestingly, marijuana is effective as a treatment for glaucoma when smoked, inhaled, ingested or administered intravenously, but has no benefits when applied directly to the eyes. The AAO does recognize the therapeutic benefits of cannabis but does explain that a number of other FDA-approved drugs are available by prescription that might be safer and more effective than marijuana.
Cancer
Marijuana is used by many cancer patients as a therapy for symptoms of cancer, including nausea, appetite loss, pain, anxiety and depression. According to the American Cancer Society, marijuana helps eliminate nausea associated with chemotherapy. NORML.org reviews a number of medical studies that summarize the evidence that cannabis can be used as a treatment of cancer. Marijuana can act directly on tumors to reduce tumor size, particularly in an aggressive form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma. NORML also lists more than 20 research articles showing that cannabis similarly reduces growth of tumor cells from other major types of cancers. Many cancer patients prefer to ingest marijuana in food or to use a vaporizer to avoid complications from smoking marijuana. Cancer patients interested in marijuana therapies should be cautious before beginning marijuana use as not much is known about how cannabis interacts with other drugs that are prescribed to treat cancer.
Arthritis
Cannabis has a number of beneficial effects on the immune system and can help to reduce pain and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when an individual's immune system attacks the tissue in their own joints, leading to pain and inflammation. Americans for Safe Access (ASA) reviews a number of studies that show marijuana can be used to relieve pain and reduce symptoms of arthritis. Most importantly, perhaps, ASA explains that marijuana has far fewer and less dangerous side effects than prescription pain killers typically used to treat arthritis.
