Is medical cannabis safe and effective?

September 8, 2021·5 min read·seo

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Is medical cannabis safe?

The most common uses of medical cannabis are pain management, body and mind relaxation and insomnia. Strains with a big CBD percentage or high on terpenes like linalool can do wonders in case of anxiety, nausea or inflammation.

is medical cannabis safe

While cannabis-based medicines are based on only two cannabinoids -THC and CBD- your home-grown medical cannabis has all the cannabinoids and terpenes of the plant. These work together in complete synergy to give you the best results.

In this article we will explore the effectiveness and safety of medical cannabis.

Medical cannabis effectiveness on cancer patients

Health practitioners in some countries prescribe cannabis for cancer patients. Amongst the benefits of medical cannabis, they highlight the treatment of:

Nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy
Loss of appetite and loss of body weight in cancer patients
Severe-refractory cancer-pain

cannabinoids and terpenes

There are +450 chemical compounds in cannabis plants. Amongst these, at least 113 are cannabinoids and over a 100 are terpenes. However, pharmaceuticals only count on two compounds: THC and CBD. Three cannabis-based medicines have been approved in several countries:

Dronabinol (MarinolⓇ) and Nabilone (CesametⓇ): based on synthetic cannabinoids. Used to prevent or reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea in cancer patients. In the US the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has recently approved them both.

Nabiximols (SativexⓇ): developed as a treatment for multiple sclerosis but also used as a pain-reliever in cancer pain. Formulated from cannabis extracts. This oral spray has been in use for years in 21 countries.

Medical cannabis strains

Here is a quick description of the effects and possible therapeutic uses of the three types of cannabis varieties:

Sativa

The “head high” one, uplifting, stimulating. Medicinal Sativa strains are recommended to beat depressive states, for pain relief, muscle relaxation, to treat insomnia and to stimulate appetite. Our best Sativa-dominant medical cannabis strains are:

CBD 1:1 Silver Lame Haze Auto (1:1 CBD:THC ratio, less psychoactive but strong body stone)
Golden Lemon Haze Fem (High on THC, long-lasting effects, pain-relieving)

Indica

The relaxing one, with strong body effects. Your night time buddy. Its CBD ratio can be higher. CBD does not produce a high. Indica strains are also recommended for pain relief, muscle relaxation and insomnia. However, these babies come with an extra bonus: an anti-epileptic effect and an anti-anxiety one. Our best Indica-dominant medical strains are:

CBG Zerodue Fem (up to 15% CBG, 0,1% THC. Anti-inflammatory, appetite inducing, anti-depressive. Not psychoactive)
CBD Critical XXL Fem (10% CBD, 0,5% or lower THC. Winner of the medicinal category at the 2021 Highlife Cup. Very aromatic strain, not psychoactive, relaxing)
Girl Scout Cookies Fem (High on THC. Anti-nausea, appetite stimulation. Happy high!)
O.G. Kush Fem (Extremely high on THC, pain-relieving)
Northern Lights Fem (Strong body stone, anti-anxiety, happy and long-lasting high). More info about Northern Lights Autoflower.
Candy Dawg Auto (Very high on THC, best for relaxing)
Sherbet Fem (High on THC, good against stress)

Hybrid

This is the blend of the two mentioned above. Hybrids are Indica-dominant or Sativa-dominant, so you get an idea of what to expect from them.

There are many factors that can vary the effects of each variety, click here to learn more about them.

Medical cannabis uses

Some of the health benefits of medical cannabis are:

Appetite stimulation
Pain relief
A remedy for migraines and headaches
Relieving nausea and vomiting
Anti-inflammatory properties (CBD and CBG)
Reducing anxiety
Preventing seizures
Muscle spasms treatment
Treatment of insomnia

medical cannabis symptoms

Medical cannabis is also used as a relief of some symptoms of the following:

Cancer
Epilepsy: treatment of Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (approved by the FDA)
Glaucoma
Alzheimer’s disease
HIV/AIDS
Multiple sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Crohn’s disease
Post-traumatic stress disorder

Medical cannabis benefits

There are hundreds of strains that have been bred to treat specific conditions. Every medical cannabis grower carefully selects its own unique blend, according to the conditions to treat.

The benefits of medical cannabis are:

The vast presence of therapeutic cannabinoids and terpenes, and the complementary effects of these
Customizing your own remedies according to the symptoms to treat
The wide range of intake methods (smoking, edibles, tinctures, balms, concentrates)
Avoiding far stronger prescribed drugs, like opioids
The magic of doing it like your grandparents: at home, with your own resources and probably from your own garden 🙂

Know your strains, do your research and try out these natural remedies. Back to basics!

medical cannabis

Medical cannabis side effects

More research on the actual amount and properties of the components of marijuana must be done in order to determine its long term side effects. These could vary depending on the way of consumption (smoking, vaping, edibles, etc) or on individuals (age, weight, tolerance, etc). Short-term known side effects can be:

Impaired memory
Difficulty with thinking and problem-solving
Reduced coordination
Dry mouth
Altered sense of time
Mood swings
Altered senses
Anxiety
Dizziness
Fatigue
Drowsiness
High or low blood pressure (hypertension/hypotension)
Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)

NOTE: CBD-rich strains have proven to have less side effects than THC-rich ones.

Who should take medical cannabis?

Anyone with enough knowledge about medical cannabis should be able to take it. In case of serious conditions, we advise checking with a health professional. Depending on your country of residence, you could be prescribed cannabis!

As for its effects on animals, there are already CBD for pets are products available for them but there is no consensus amongst vets. More study needs to be done on our pets’ endocannabinoid system.

Why should medical cannabis be legalized?

The legalization of medical cannabis in several countries has led to more scientific research about both its therapeutic benefits and its potential side effects. Countries like the US, Canada, Uruguay, Luxembourg, Mexico or Morocco contribute to expanding the current limited research being done on medical cannabis.

Is medical cannabis legal? Unfortunately not everywhere, but it is steadily gaining space.

Legalization facts: In December of 2020, the UN voted to recognise the potential medical value of cannabis. There are 43 countries where medical cannabis is legalized. What states in the US allow medical cannabis? There are currently 36 and four territories.