Top 4 Health Benefits of Medical Marijuana

The push to legalize marijuana continues apace. Meanwhile, the use of medical marijuana is growing. Matching this trend, over twenty states have already taken the previously unprecedented step of legalizing the use of medical marijuana.

Currently, there is a lack of recent peer-reviewed studies on the benefits of marijuana when used for medical purposes. Fewer than seven percent of clinical studies of marijuana consider what medicinal benefits it may provide. However, with the change in the law in many states, this opens the door for legitimate studies to be conducted to further our understanding of other potential health benefits.

Here are the top health benefits associated with medical marijuana.

Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is related to pressure exerted on the eye that damages the optic nerve and eventually causes a complete loss of vision. A study by the National Eye Institute indicated that smoking marijuana was found to reduce pressure around the eye (intraocular pressure) for people with glaucoma (and other people in the study).

While this isn’t a cure for glaucoma, it is expected that the reduction of pressure on the eyeball slows its degeneration.

Prevent Epileptic Seizures

A study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in 2003 detailed how scientists at the Virginia Commonwealth University prevented epileptic rats from having seizures within 10 hours of receiving treatment. The treatment included a synthetic form of marijuana and a marijuana extract. The reason for the finding is believed to be because one of the active ingredients in the drug is tetrahydrocannabinol (aka THC), which binds brain cells relating to excitement and temperament control.

Stop Certain Types of Cancer from Spreading

The California Pacific Medical Center recently shared their results that using Cannabidiol disabled the Id-1 cancer gene. The Id-1 gene is multiplied many times in the body at a faster rate than non-cancerous cells. Breast cancer cells were tested under lab conditions. The samples were found to have a high incidence of Id-1, but after treatment, they spread far less virulently. More recent studies in Israel, Spain, and the USA have suggested that cancer cells can be eradicated using cannabis compounds.

Slows Down Alzheimer’s

A study published in Molecular Pharmaceutics in 2006 demonstrated that THC (one of the active ingredients in marijuana) slows down the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. The findings indicated that THC slows the creation of amyloid plaques due to the prevention of the enzyme that generates them. These plaques cause progressive Alzheimer’s.

Get in at the Ground Level

Rather sitting on the sidelines of these interesting discoveries, why not get involved? Advancing a career in nursing with the online doctoral nursing programs at Regis College is a great way to be at the forefront of this fascinating profession. Doctor of nurse practitioner programs are designed to bridge the gap between a master’s level education and a doctoral one for nurses who don’t want their career to stand still.

The world of medical marijuana and its myriad of uses is only just beginning. As more is learned about the active ingredients and their health benefits through clinical studies, a greater number of people will be able to receive affordable medical treatment.