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Conditions Treatable With Medical Marijuana

Legislation was passed in 2008 allowing physicians to recommend (prescribe) medical marijuana to certain conditions. During legislative sessions in 2015, additional treatable conditions were added. The approved list of debilitating conditions that are eligible for treatment with medical marijuana are listed below.

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Autism Spectrum Disorder

There are four conditions or behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder to be considered an eligible condition:

  1. repetitive or self-stimulatory behavior of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized;
  2. avoidance of others or inability to communicate of such severity that the physical health of the person with autism is jeopardized;
  3. self-injuring behavior; and
  4. physically aggressive or destructive behavior.
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Cachexia

In order to manage cachexia, patients need to increase their food intake by managing vomiting and nausea, and according to anecdotal and scientific and evidence, using medical cannabis is an effective and safe method to do this.

Not only can medical cannabis help with increasing appetite, it treats nausea, vomiting, depression and general malaise that is experienced with cachexia.

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Cancer

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can help relieve pain and nausea, reduce inflammation, and can act as an antioxidant. Cannabidiol (CBD) can reduce anxiety and paranoia, and can counteract the “high” caused by THC.

Recent studies suggest that certain cannabinoids may slow growth and reduce spread of some forms of cancer.

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Chronic Pain

Your body creates its own cannabis-like chemicals that affect various processes like inflammation and pain. Cannabis works well to treat chronic discomfort due to these natural cannabinoid receptors we all have within our bodies.
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Crohn’s Disease

Some of the cannabis health benefits that address Crohn’s disease effects and symptoms include reducing inflammation through anti-inflammatory properties, providing pain relief through analgesic effects, lowering levels of anxiety, suppressing nausea and vomiting, and increasing appetite.
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Epilepsy

Many patients suffering from epilepsy and other seizure disorders have found great relief from medical marijuana, either taken on its own or in conjunction with other epilepsy medications. Some epileptics who cannot tolerate other anti-seizure medications have been able to use marijuana to successfully control their seizures.
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Glaucoma

Medical marijuana can lower intraocular pressure, stop inflammation, halt nausea or vomiting, and can relieve pain associated with glaucoma.
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HIV / AIDS

Marijuana/cannabis for HIV/AIDS can eliminate nausea, vomiting and appetite loss associated with HIV/ADS treatment. This can allow you to stop losing weight while getting enough essential nutrients to support your body. Medical marijuana also targets the neuropathic pain you feel when undergoing drug therapy.

Recent research has shown that marijuana can inhibit the inflammation of the brain that is associated with HIV/AIDS, as it stops the virus from attaching to your cells. It’s also been proven that cannabis can inhibit the virus replicating within your body.

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Muscular Dystrophy

Medical marijuana effectively relieves extreme pain, which accompanies muscular dystrophy. In most cases, marijuana is a better solution for pain relief than opioids because it can be used long-term for chronic pain.

Medical cannabis is also effective at reducing the length and severity of muscle spasms and cramps. Patients with muscular dystrophy can get very painful muscle cramps.

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Multiple Sclerosis

Medical cannabis for multiple sclerosis has some specific effects that relate to the disease. Some of those effects include:

Anti-inflammatory: MS causes inflammation related to the myelin damage. That inflammation and resulting damage causes the physical symptoms felt by MS patients, including motor control issues, weakness and spasms. Marijuana has an anti-inflammatory property that may reduce immune response and inflammation.

Pain relief: Pain is often a symptom of MS. That pain can be debilitating. Cannabis helps relieve pain, which can benefit MS patients who suffer from discomfort.

Antispasmodic: Another effect of cannabis beneficial to MS patients is the ability to reduce the frequency and severity of muscle spasticity.

Antidepressant: MS patients suffering from depression may benefit from the antidepressant qualities of marijuana. Studies have shown that THC, CBD and CBC can help with depression.

Abdominal issues: Cannabis may help with symptoms in the abdominal area, including pain, constipation and incontinence.

Sleep disturbances: MS patients who deal with sleep issues may find help from cannabis.

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Parkinson’s Disease

Marijuana may be an excellent alternative or addition to the medication regime of someone suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Medical marijuana offers a combination of anti-anxiety, antioxidant and pain relief all in one medication.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Medical marijuana activates the body’s cannabinoid receptors, providing incredible relief for a few of the most debilitating symptoms associated with the disorder, including:

Anxiety: One of the most common afflictions associated with PTSD is chronic anxiety. Cannabis with large amounts of CBD has been shown to reduce stress and fight anxious feelings. It also has mood enhancing abilities.

Nightmares: Nightmares are an intense side effect of post-traumatic stress disorder. Marijuana may have the ability to reduce REM sleep (rapid eye movement). This is the stage where the most vivid dreams occur. A decreased REM cycle may be effective at treating PTSD-related nightmares.

Insomnia: Due to the flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety that those with PTSD experience, many with the condition also have insomnia, and find it difficult to fall asleep. Even those who fall asleep are sometimes awoken by the intense nightmares caused by the disorder. THC has been shown to both reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep and improve the overall quality of sleep, both powerful incentives to those coping with insomnia.

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Severe Muscle Spasms

Marijuana works by reducing inflammation, which causes muscle spasms. When medical cannabis is used, cannabinoid receptors in your ECS bind with THC and CBD, another cannabinoid. By binding to cannabinoid receptors, THC starts an anti-inflammatory response which prevents inflammation and muscle spasms.
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Spasticity

Some sufferers of intractable skeletal muscular spasticity experience significant relief from their symptoms when using medical marijuana.
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Seizure Disorders

Many can experience relief from the following symptoms when treating with medical marijuana:

  • Nausea, vomiting or gastrointestinal discomfort
  • Sudden feelings of anxiety
  • Uncontrollable bodily movements, jerking or spasms
  • Headaches

Cannabis has anti-inflammatory and pain reduction properties that can help a patient during the recovery process after a seizure. Medical marijuana can also help to boost serotonin levels which foster better emotional health.

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Wasting Syndrome

Medical marijuana is an effective appetite stimulant. It also treats the vomiting, nausea, depression and general malaise symptoms of wasting syndrome.