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.