There is a sizable amount of controversy surrounding medical marijuana. Doctors, researchers, and scientists often discuss this topic with lawmakers. One of the biggest questions is if it should be legal. Should it be decriminalized? Is it safe for the public? Most importantly, has it been shown to be effective?

Something that often finds its way into the debate is whether or not it is addictive. You hear a lot of claims of what it can be used for. Some of the claims seem reasonable, and others seem more like fits of fancy. On the one hand, you have people who are proclaiming that it is a wonder drug that will cure everything from Alzheimer’s to cancer. On the other hand, you have those who appreciate the benefits of using it in the medical field, but they are a little bit reluctant to attribute all of the miraculous properties to it that others have.

The Current Legal Status of Marijuana for Medical Use

At the time of this writing, medical marijuana is legal on a state level in the majority of the states in the United States including Florida. The federal government’s stand has stayed the same as it has been for decades. However, both the Obama administration and the Trump administration have not made prosecuting those who use it for medical purposes a priority. In fact, it seems that most states are leaning toward making marijuana for recreational use legal as well.

This stand reflects the overall feel of the population. It’s estimated that around 85 percent of US citizens support making marijuana for medical purposes legal. And currently there are up to seven million Americans currently using it for this purpose.

Do You Need to Get High to Get Results?

Individuals who may have a moral objection often focus on the high that it produces. Some argue that individuals who claim to use it medically are actually looking for an excuse to get a legal high.

There are a number of counterarguments to this thought that can be made. For example, many prescription drugs that are sold alter a person’s conscious state or produce a high that is many times more potent than what one would get from marijuana. However, putting that part of it to one side, it is possible to enjoy the benefits of it for medical purposes without getting the high.

To understand why this is you first need to understand what it is about marijuana that produces the high. It comes from THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. However, there are a number of strains of marijuana that are CBD dominant. In these strains you will find very little, if any, THC. So patients who use this form of marijuana experience little or no alteration in their consciousness.

Still, these patients receive many of the benefits that people are looking for when they use medical marijuana. For example, they see relief to their anxiety, they are able to sleep better, and their pain is reduced. There are actually types of epilepsy that are challenging to control but respond very well to CBD strains of marijuana.

Using This Drug for Pain

By far, the number one use for marijuana in the medical field is to control pain. There are some limitations to how it can be used in this regard. For example, if you break a bone or if you have pain after a severe injury or after a surgery, it is not going to be powerful enough to make your pain completely go away.

However, across the United States there is a large group of people who suffer from chronic pain. Their pain may not be on the level of a broken bone or a traumatic injury, but the pain is consistent. It is enough to interfere with their quality of life. It can make sleeping difficult, it can make enjoying time with friends and family a challenge, and it can affect a person’s overall mood.

There are a number of individuals in the United States who begin to experience chronic pain as they get older. An option that is often presented to chronic pain sufferers in addition to pain management techniques are pharmaceuticals, including opiates. There have been countless studies done showing the addictive nature of opiates. In addition to being addictive, it is easy to overdose on opiates.

With marijuana, things are a little bit different. While there is a chance of developing an addiction to it, the chances are exceptionally low. And it is almost impossible for a person to overdose on it. When a person takes medication for pain, be it over-the-counter medication or prescription medication, eventually it starts to affect the functioning of their kidneys. These individuals could use medical marijuana in this setting and avoid those negative consequences.

It’s interesting to look at the type of pain medical marijuana can address. Some of the hardest pains to treat are nerve pain and the pain connected to multiple sclerosis. Marijuana allows people suffering from these conditions to go back to their everyday activity and not feel drugged out and worried about the negative side effects.

There are many people who are battling with Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, and other ailments who swear by medical marijuana. It is an amazing muscle relaxant. It has helped a number of people who are battling with weight loss, nausea, insomnia, and even PTSD. Those who are battling with Crohn’s disease, some of the negative symptoms associated with HIV, and cancer pain have seen benefits as well.

Contact Us Today

As with all treatments, medical marijuana may not be right for you. Or it could be exactly what you need to get back to feeling like yourself again. There are a lot of people out there who are suffering from chronic pain and other illnesses who have heard rumors or have done their own research on the Internet about the benefits of this drug. However, fear or shame prevents them from asking about it.

We feel that it is best for you to be open and honest with your medical providers. The only way that you are going to know if medical marijuana is the right choice for you is if you take the time and ask. If you are interested in learning more about this treatment, the professionals at Angelic Lift in Daytona Beach would love to talk to you. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!