medical marijuana treatment uses and how it works."webmd.

Doctors also may prescribe medical marijuana to treat: Muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis Nausea from cancer chemotherapy Poor appetite and weight loss caused by chronic illness, such as HIV, or nerve pain Seizure disorders Crohn's disease The FDA has also approved THC

, a key ingredient in marijuana, to treat nausea and improve appetite.

Full Answer

What is medical marijuana and how does it work?

Nov 04, 2013 · Doctors also may prescribe medical marijuana to treat: Muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis Nausea from cancer chemotherapy Poor appetite and weight loss caused by chronic illness, such as...

Why would you need a prescription for medical marijuana?

Medical marijuana uses the marijuana plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. It's basically the same product as recreational marijuana, but it's taken for medical purposes. The...

What conditions can be treated with medical marijuana?

Dec 19, 2021 · Medical marijuana is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. Humans have turned to it as an herbal remedy for centuries, and today people use it to relieve symptoms or treat various diseases. The...

Why do we need medical marijuana research?

Marijuana may also ease inflammation, which can also help with pain. Nerve pain. Neuropathy is weakness, numbness, or pain caused by nerve damage. It can happen as a result of chemotherapy or other...

How to take medical marijuana?

To take medical marijuana, you can: Smoke it. Inhale it through a device called a vaporizer that turns it into a mist. Eat it -- for example, in a brownie or lollipop. Apply it to your skin in a lotion, spray, oil, or cream. Place a few drops of a liquid under your tongue.

Why is marijuana considered a Schedule I drug?

One reason is that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers marijuana a Schedule I drug, the same as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy, and likely to be abused and lacking in medical value. Because of that, researchers need a special license to study it, says Marcel Bonn-Miller, PhD, a substance abuse specialist at the University ...

What are the effects of cannabinoids on the body?

Limited research suggests cannabinoids might: Reduce anxiety. Reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

How long does it take to get the effects of edibles?

"If you smoke or vaporize cannabis, you feel the effects very quickly," Bonn-Miller says. "If you eat it, it takes significantly longer. It can take 1 to 2 hours to experience the effects from edible products.".

Does cannabis help with MS?

But it’s not yet proven to help many of these conditions, with a few exceptions, Bonn-Miller says. "The greatest amount of evidence for the therapeutic effects of cannabis relate to its ability to reduce chronic pain, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, and spasticity [tight or stiff muscles] from MS ," Bonn-Miller says.

How many states have legalized medical marijuana?

Medical marijuana is legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia: States allowing legal recreational use include: Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

Does medical marijuana help with seizures?

Medical marijuana received a lot of attention a few years ago when parents said that a special form of the drug helped control seizures in their children. The FDA recently approved Epidiolex, which is made from CBD, as a therapy for people with very severe or hard-to-treat seizures.

How do I take medical marijuana?

There are a variety of ways to take the drug. You can inhale a vaporized spray, smoke the leaves, take a pill or liquid, or bake it into foods. All of the types differ in terms of how often you should use them, how they’ll affect your symptoms, and side effects you may feel.

What is medical marijuana made of?

Medical marijuana is made of dried parts of the Cannabis sativa plant. Humans have turned to it as an herbal remedy for centuries, and today people use it to relieve symptoms or treat various diseases.

What is the FDA approved drug for epilepsy?

FDA-Approved Versions. Besides the approval of cannabidiol ( Epidolex) as a treatment for two rare kinds of epilepsy, the FDA has also approved three synthetic cannabis-related drug products: Marinol (dronabinol), Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet (nabilone).

How does marijuana affect your body?

How It Works in Your Body. The chemicals in marijuana affect you when they connect with specific parts of cells called receptors. Scientists know that you have cells with cannabinoid receptors in your brain and in your immune system. But the exact process of how the drug affects them isn’t clear yet.

Can you use medical marijuana for ALS?

State laws differ on the conditions that you can legally treat with medical marijuana. But you might be allowed to use it if you have Alzheimer’s, ALS, cancer, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, seizures, hepatitis C, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, or severe nausea. But scientists aren’t sure that it helps ...

Is recreational marijuana legal in California?

as of March 2021, 36 states in the U.S. have done so. (Recreational weed is also legal in some places.) But the federal government still considers it an illegal drug, which can create confusion.

Does marijuana have cannabinoids?

Marijuana has chemicals called cannabinoids. Medical researchers usually focus on the health effects of two in particular: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the substance that makes you high; CBD doesn’t have mind-altering effects. Swipe to advance.

What are the side effects of chemo?

It's most commonly prescribed for chemotherapy side effects like nausea, vomiting, or weight loss. Muscle spasms and stiffness caused by multiple sclerosis. Various pain syndromes and seizures. It can be taken several ways.

Does smoking marijuana hurt your lungs?

It can worsen some mental illnesses like depression. And like cigarettes, when smoked, it can hurt your lungs. So if you live in a legal state, talk to your doctor. Like any treatment, you can weigh the benefits and risks to determine if medical marijuana is right for you. For WebMD, I'm Dr. Arefa Cassoobhoy.

Can marijuana cause drowsiness?

Inhaled, either through smoke or vapor, as an edible like in a cookie or an herbal tea, or as a liquid under the tongue. But marijuana is not without side effects. It can cause dizziness, confusion, and drowsiness. It can worsen some mental illnesses like depression.

What are the side effects of smoking weed?

Side effects are possible from the marijuana itself. You could have: 1 Difficulty with concentration and memory 2 Dizziness 3 Dry mouth and eyes 4 Fainting 5 Fast heart rate 6 Headache 7 increased appetite 8 Low blood pressure

What are edible products?

Edible products, like cookies, brownies, or candies. Oils for vaporizing or mixing into hot drinks or food. Creams that can be applied on the skin. Sprays for your mouth. Pills and capsules. Some forms of marijuana are shown to work better than others to fight cancer symptoms or treatment side effects.

Does marijuana help with nerve pain?

Marijuana may also ease inflammation, which can also help with pain. Nerve pain. Neuropathy is weakness, numbness, or pain caused by nerve damage. It can happen as a result of chemotherapy or other cancer treatments. A few studies have found that smoking marijuana can help this specific type of nerve pain.

Does dronabinol help with cancer?

Appetite and weight loss. Dronabinol is FDA-approved for loss of appetite in people with AIDS, but not specifically for cancer. There are some small studies that show marijuana may also help improve appetite for people with cancer.

Does CBD help with nausea?

The two most active and most studied are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC causes marijuana's "high" feeling. It also may help ease pain, nausea, and inflammation. CBD may ease pain, inflammation, and anxiety without causing the high.

Does marijuana give you a high?

Marijuana with THC can give you a " high" that can make you feel confused and give you less control over your movement. It may also trigger anxiety and paranoia. Questions to Ask. If you’re considering medical marijuana, these are your next steps: Know the law.

Does smoking marijuana help with cancer?

A few small studies have found that smoking marijuana can ease these side effects of chemotherapy. The FDA has also approved dronabinol ( Marinol, Syndros) and nabilone ( Cesamet ), man-made cannabinoids, to treat these symptoms when other nausea medications don’t work. Pain. Some studies have found that smoked marijuana can ease cancer -related ...