Benefits of Medical Marijuana
How does Cannabis work from a biological standpoint?
To understand how and why cannabis affects us the way it does, we need to understand the Endocannabinoid System in our bodies.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
The ECS is a system of receptors found in the brain which brings all the body systems (immure, digestive, circulatory, respiratory, lymphatic, nervous) to a state of homeostasis.
Cannabinoids are a natural active chemical compound found in cannabis plants and the human body. Cannabinoids provide the Endocannabinoid System with more of what it needs to promote overall health.
When the body detects an imbalance, the ECS naturally synthesizes endocannabinoids to interact with cannabinoid receptors. In turn, it stimulates a chemical response that works to return the physiological process that is out of balance back to homeostasis. There are two ways to fill this need: Naturally occurring production of endocannabinoids or the ingestion of phytocannabinoids (cannabis).
- CB1: located in the central nervous system
- CB2: located in the peripheral nervous system (ex: digestive)
THC binds with CB1 receptors in the brain causing the “euphoric” high. CBD does NOT bind easily with CB1 receptors- causing no psychoactive effects on the body.
Research suggests cannabinoids may be able to:
- Reduce Anxiety
- Reduce inflammation
- Relieve pain
- Control nausea from chemotherapy
- Kill cancer cells and slow tumor growth
- Relax tight muscles in people with MS
- Stimulate appetite and improve weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS
Many patients and doctors have seen that cannabis may help relieve/ aid with the following conditions:
- Alzheimer's disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Anxiety
- Appetite loss
- Asthma
- Benzo Addiction
- Cancer
- Crohn's disease
- Depression
- Dravet Syndrome
- Eating disorders (such as anorexia)
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- HIV/AIDS
- Huntington's disease
- IBS
- Inflammation
- Insomnia
- Mental health conditions including schizophrenia and PTSD
- Migraine Headaches
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscle spasms
- Nail-Patella syndrome
- Nausea
- Opioid addiction
- Pain management
- Parkinsons's disease
- Wasting syndrome (cachexia)
Despite the multitude of medical ailments cannabis may help treat, only the following medical conditions / symptoms (as of November 2016) are accepted by the state of Maine:
- Pain (though patients must demonstrate that pain is currently ongoing, has lasted for more than 6 months, and has not responded to ordinary medical or surgical measures)
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Severe muscle spasms
- Wasting syndromes (severe weight loss- cachexia)
- Cancer
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis)
- Glaucoma
- HIV or AIDs
- Hepatitis C
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Nail patella syndrome (a rare birth defect)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
For more information regarding cannabis, terms, and information please check out our Cannabis Need to Knows page. Learn more about York, ME medical marijuana dispensary and full line of medical cannabis products.
