Benefits Of CannabisBenefits Of Cannabis

Following the legalization of marijuana in many states in the United States in recent years, interest in the benefits of cannabis may increase. Recreational cannabis is legal in 18 states, and medical marijuana is legal in some form in 36 states. However, some may ask: what are the benefits of cannabis? 

Thanks, we’re here to help. Whether it’s knowing when to use it, how to use it, or whether cannabis products are legal to buy and use in your state, we’ve got everything you need to understand the benefits of cannabis. 

Anyone who is interested in using marijuana but doesn’t know where to start can find value in this guide that provides general information for making other decisions. 

What is marijuana? 

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems and seeds of one of two plants: Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica. Many people use the terms cannabis and marijuana interchangeably, even scientific researchers. However, cannabis can be a more general term, so it helps to clarify whether you’re referring to (or reading about) THC-containing marijuana or just the type that comes from the cannabis plant family (Hemp). Marijuana specifically refers to: 

  • Products made from dried flowers, leaves, stems and seeds of cannabis. 
  • Products with high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active substance that produces what we commonly call “the high.” 

What does THC mean? 

Tetrahydrocannabinol. Here’s what you need to know about it. 

  • The cannabis plant produces compounds called cannabinoids, the two most common of which are CBD and THC. 
  • CBD (or cannabidiol) – This is the second most popular cannabinoid. It comes in different forms (edible, chewable, oil, etc.) and is legal in 46 states. It is commonly used to manage stress and pain as well as insomnia. 
  • Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – THC is responsible for the euphoric effect associated with recreational marijuana. 

Simply put, if you’re using a cannabis product that doesn’t provide a high level of relaxation combined with marijuana, it could be CBD. If it produces this effect, it may be THC. 

Understanding the benefits of marijuana 

Few marijuana products have been approved by the FDA, so companies cannot claim that their products have health benefits. However, hundreds of studies have shown that people who use marijuana experience beneficial effects. 

Although medical marijuana is legal in 36 states and recreational use is legal in 18 states, it is difficult for scientists to conduct research on marijuana. The problem is that marijuana is still illegal under US federal law. This makes medical research difficult. The federal government has considered ways to make it easier for researchers to study marijuana because we need to know everything about its effects, but so far the situation has not changed. 

Until now, the FDA has only approved marijuana for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Currently, scientists are investigating the use of marijuana to treat various diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and anorexia. The strongest evidence for its usefulness is in the treatment of chronic pain, epilepsy, nausea (especially in chemotherapy patients), obesity with HIV, and muscle stiffness in patients with MS. Just because experts don’t currently have evidence that medicinal cannabis is useful in treating illnesses doesn’t mean that people aren’t getting some benefits from using it. In most cases, more research is needed before scientists can reach any conclusions.

Cannabis Use Disorder: Know the SignsCannabis Use Disorder: Know the Signs

As marijuana use becomes more common, with 38 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia legalizing the drug for medical and/or recreational use, use is on the rise, leading to questions of How much marijuana is too much?

As of April 2023, cannabis, or marijuana, is legal for medical purposes in 38 states, three territories and the District of Columbia. According to the Council of State Governments, you can use the drug recreationally in 20 states.

Despite its spread and increasing legalization, marijuana is still classified by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a scheduled drug, along with heroin and LSD, due to its high potential for abuse and lack of currently accepted treatment. For this reason, marijuana is still illegal at the federal level and, according to the analysis of drug use problems, can be dangerous. 

According to the CDC, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. About 48.2 million people (or about 18% of Americans) used it at least once in 2019. 

“Cannabis use problems are often associated with addiction, in which a person experiences withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug. People who use marijuana often report anxiety, difficulty in mood and sleep, decreased appetite, hunger, restlessness, and/or various types of discomfort that are highest in the first week after they stop and it lasts about two weeks,” says Nora Volkow, MD, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 

“When addiction and other things enter into the crisis of using cannabis, people cannot stop taking the drug, even if it affects many areas of their lives,” said Dr. Volkow continues. “Some studies show that nine percent of people who smoke marijuana will become addicted, a higher rate among those who started using in their teens.” Other studies show even higher numbers. 

What are the problems with using cannabis?

Among drug use disorders, cannabis use disorder (CUD) is classified in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (DSM-5) using criteria that determine the behavior of the user. These methods include: 

  • Cannabis is consumed in larger quantities or for longer periods of time than intended 
  • There is a persistent desire or successful effort to reduce or control the use of cannabis. 
  • A lot of time is spent on the activities necessary to obtain, take, or recover from cannabis. 
  • A strong desire or craving to consume cannabis 
  • Continued use of cannabis leads to non-compliance at work, school or home. 
  • Cannabis use continues despite continuing or worsening social problems caused by the effects of cannabis. 
  • Do not give up or reduce social, professional or recreational activities because of cannabis use 
  • Cannabis is often used in dangerous situations 
  • Cannabis use continues despite knowledge of persistent or recurring physical or mental problems caused by or worsened by cannabis.

Addiction, as defined by either: (1) an apparent increase in cannabis use to achieve an overdose or desired effect or (2) a significantly reduced effect with continued use of the same substance face Withdrawal, manifested as (1) characteristic cannabis withdrawal syndrome or (2) cannabis, is withdrawn to reduce or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

CUD is defined as mild (two to three symptoms present), moderate (four to five symptoms present), or severe (six or more symptoms present). According to NIDA, among people aged 12 and over in 2021, about 5.8% (or about 16.3 million people) had a problem using cannabis in the last 12 months. 

Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder 

According to NIDA, CUD is similar to other substance use disorders and people with this disorder often have other mental health or substance abuse problems. For this reason, treating mental health problems can help treat marijuana addiction. Behavioral health treatments include: 

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches people strategies to identify and correct behaviors that lead to drug use 
  • Conditional control, which monitors target behavior and rewards positive behavior changes 
  • A motivational enhancement technique, designed to mobilize people’s internal motivation for change

Cannabis: What Is ItCannabis: What Is It

What is cannabis? 

Cannabis is a medicinal plant derived from Indian hemp plants such as Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. The main active chemical in cannabis is THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol). Cannabis is a depressing drug. Antidepressants do not cause depression. 

On the contrary, they reduce the activity of the central nervous system and information that circulates between the brain and the body. Consuming large doses of cannabis can also produce hallucinogenic effects.

Other names 

Cannabis is also called weed, pot, hash, weed, refer, dope, weed, mull, buddha, ganja, joint, stick, bucket, cones, skunk, hydro, fil di, smoke and hooch. 

What does cannabis look like?

The leaves of the cannabis plant are bright green and have a unique shape with five or seven leaflets. The surface of the flowers and leaves are covered with attractive resin.

Cannabis is used for the psychoactive effects (mind and mood changes) of THC and other active ingredients. THC is the chemical in cannabis that makes you “high”.

There are three main types of psychoactive cannabis: marijuana, hashish and hash oil. 

  • Marijuana is the most common and least common type of cannabis. Marijuana is the dried leaves and flowers of the plant. 
  • Hashish (“hash”) is dried cannabis resin, usually in the form of small blocks. The concentration of THC in hashish is higher than in marijuana, producing a stronger effect. 
  • Hash oil is a thick oily liquid, brown and black in color, extracted from cannabis. Hash oil is the strongest form of cannabis. 

Which one and why is it used?

Different types of cannabis are used in different ways: 

Marijuana is smoked in a hand-rolled cigarette (joint) or in a pipe (bong). Hashish is often added to smoked tobacco, or cooked and eaten in foods such as hash cookies.

Hash oil is spread on the tip or leaf of a cigarette and smoked. Cannabis and hash can also be smoked in a vaporizer. Vaporizers heat cannabis to a temperature that releases its active ingredients and reduces the toxins associated with combustion. 

The THC in cannabis enters the bloodstream through the walls of the lungs (if smoked) or through the walls of the stomach and intestines (if used). The blood carries THC to the brain, creating a “high” effect. Medicines that are inhaled enter the bloodstream more quickly than those that are ingested. This means that the effects of cannabis when smoked are faster than when consumed. 

Paper and textile 

Some strains of cannabis have few psychoactive effects. These plants are used to produce hemp fiber for use in paper, textiles and clothing.

Medical uses

Cannabis has been used medicinally for centuries. It has been reported that cannabis can help treat conditions such as: 

  • nausea and vomiting, especially when combined with chemotherapy 
  • weight loss and obesity, and people with HIV/AIDS, cancer or anorexia nervosa, because it can be used as an aphrodisiac. 
  • pain, for example in people with cancer and arthritis 
  • relief of the symptoms of some neurological diseases associated with muscle spasms, including multiple sclerosis and bone injuries 
  • glaucoma 
  • epilepsy 
  • asthma