Marijuana has become a recreational drug at state levels over the course of the past decade. What was once a criminal offense, is now something that people use for either medicinal purposes or recreationally, and should be destigmatized.
A misconception people may have about marijuana is that the only way to consume it is through smoking it, but there are many other ways for it to be consumed if smoking isn’t the ideal option. These methods include edibles, vaporizers, tinctures and topicals.
All of these methods have different factors as far as reaction time and how much of an effect a person can feel. For example, edibles may take longer for someone to feel the effects because they need to clear the digestive system before getting into the bloodstream, versus smoking which someone will feel those effects immediately.
Marijuana is known to help treat patients with the symptoms they experience suffering from anxiety and depression. One of these is mood regulation, and consuming marijuana can give its users a euphoric effect, which may help a depressed patient feel more optimistic. Another symptom marijuana can help with is sleep improvement. People who experience anxiety and depression typically experience sleep problems and some cannabis compounds help achieve better sleep.
According to Texas Cannabis Clinic, “The cannabis plant contains hundreds of cannabinoids but the most effective for medical purposes are delta-9-trtahydrocanabinol (THC) and cannbidol (CBD) which have the ability to interact with body’s endocannaboinoid system (ECS). The ECS plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes, including mood, pain, appetite and sleep.” Marijuana is also known for being an alternative treatment for people who are experiencing pains ranging from conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and many more. People with these conditions are often prescribed opioids to tolerate the pain but opioids are very addictive and people who use them once for a condition typically tend to heavily rely on them after.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “Cannabis can be an effective treatment for pain, greatly reduces the chance of dependence and eliminates the risk of overdose compared to opioid-based medications. Medical cannabis patients report that cannabis is just as effective if not more than opioid-based medications for pain.”
A common stigma with marijuana users is the concept of “munchies,” meaning once they consume it, they get more of an appetite and intake more food than they typically would. This can be beneficial for those patients who are undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy who experience suppressing appetite symptoms.
According to Scientific American, “The receptor CB1 found in cells throughout the body. When activated by anti-nausea drug dronabinol – which is also a component of marijuana (Cannabis sativa) – CB1 prompts the release of hunger-promoting hormones.”
Marijuana is still overcoming its stigmas from over the years of it being illegal. Over time more is better understood about the drug and its benefits. These benefits are life altering to some and should be looked at more for the benefits the user gains than just the high they feel.
