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For decades, society was only ever told about the dangers of cannabis.
This was all part of the ‘war on drugs’ – a campaign that criss-crossed the planet for half a century, but that both the Global Commission on Drug Policy and United Nations have since branded a failure.
Now, as the number of nations that have legalised cannabis – whether for recreational use, medical purposes, or both – increases, people are learning about a very different reality.
That is, the many potential health benefits of cannabis.
Such as:
- Cannabis for pain relief
- Cannabis for anxiety
- Cannabis for sleep disorders
- Cannabis for mental health
- Cannabis for epilepsy
- Cannabis for arthritis
And many more.
Below, you’ll find a rundown of the medical benefits of cannabis, backed up by scientific research. And, because it’s vital to understand the full, unbiased picture, we’ll also explore the risks and side effects.
Pain Relief
The list of pain-related conditions is huge, and includes migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, back and neck pain, endometriosis and more.
Yet there is emerging data to suggest a link between cannabis and chronic pain, and how one can target the other.
For example, an evidence review from 2017 found that “patients who were treated with cannabis or cannabinoids are more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms.”
Given chronic pain affects more people worldwide than heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined – not to mention, the known risk of opioid-based treatments – this is a hugely optimistic sign.
Inflammation
Like chronic pain, proof of the relationship between medical cannabis and inflammation is becoming more and more reliable.
For example, research shows that certain compounds present in cannabis can have a direct effect on receptors in immune cells. These, when activated, work as an anti-inflammatory.
Long term, this provides hope that medical cannabis could play a role in the treatment of a wide range of health problems where inflammation is a core symptom – like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, and dementia.
Anxiety
For a long time, the conventional wisdom was that cannabis may cause anxiety. And, while this can be a side effect in rare cases (see below section), it skips the fact that people with anxiety disorders are often self-treat with cannabis.
Beyond the (potentially outdated) assumptions, recent trial evidence suggests that medical cannabis can have a positive impact on lowering anxiety symptoms. What’s more, choice of strain may deliver different effects, providing different levels of benefits for specific symptoms.
In the study, CBD-dominant strains were shown to have a clearer long-term impact on anxiety reduction, whereas THC had a more direct impact on mood.
Depression
As with anxiety, there’s a longstanding view that cannabis use can lead to depression (there is only limited data to support this). Again, statistics show that people with depression are twice as likely to use cannabis than those without it.
Meanwhile, the evidence base that implies medical cannabis is an effective antidepressant continues to grow. For instance, a recent analysis of 26 scientific
papers found that medical cannabis is likely a viable treatment for depression, pending further research.
Long-term, this may serve as a powerful, natural alternative to existing treatments, like antidepressants – especially as THC (the main active ingredient in the cannabis plant) can trigger a similar response.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
There is encouraging research to suggest medical cannabis may help treat PTSD.
Some evidence implies cannabis can target brain receptors to decrease hyperarousal and intrusive memories – both of which are common PTSD symptoms.
Reliable studies are in their infancy, however. In 2021, the first randomised control trial (RCT) showed little difference between medical cannabis and placebo, which highlights the need for more research.
Cancer Treatment
Research to explore the potential impact of medical cannabis on specific forms of cancer are on the rise, yet most so far has been limited to animal or lab-based studies.
What is well-established, however, is the strong bond between cannabis and cancer treatment.
For example, the evidence for nabilone – an anti-sickness drug for chemotherapy patients – has been clear for several decades. Yet, for a long time, a UK-wide ban on medical cannabis meant its use was not allowed.
Until 2018, that is, when cannabis was legalised in the UK for medical purposes. From there, nabilone soon became one of a small number of cannabis-based drugs available on the NHS.
Cancer Treatment
Research to explore the potential impact of medical cannabis on specific forms of cancer are on the rise, yet most so far has been limited to animal or lab-based studies.
What is well-established, however, is the strong bond between cannabis and cancer treatment.
For example, some patients may find they experience headaches, anxiety, brain fog, paranoia, drowsiness, mood swings, nausea, insomnia and an upset stomach, after taking their prescription.
This can sometimes be related to the strain, form, or other factors around your prescribed medication.
Of course, it’s possible that any short-term side effects are far outweighed by the positive benefit medical cannabis has on a health issue, so be sure to discuss risks and side effects with your doctor.
Summary
- Medical cannabis is now legal in many countries around the world. Some nations (but not the UK) have also legalised recreational use. This has seen rise to new research that showcases the potential benefits of cannabis.
- There is evidence to imply medical cannabis can have a positive effect on the likes of anxiety, inflammation, depression, PTSD and chronic pain. The most robust science, so far, is for how cannabis can reduce sickness in chemotherapy patients (with this particular treatment available on the NHS).
- Patients may experience side effects when taking a medical cannabis prescription, although these are usually mild and short term. Depending on the severity of a patient’s health condition, the benefit of their prescription often surpasses these risks.
To find out more about the health benefits of medical cannabis, contact Alternaleaf today.