For nearly one hundred years, cannabis was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia. That was until the American Medical Association removed it in 1942. In 1985, pharmaceutical companies began to experiment and develop medicine with THC, one of the primary cannabinoids found in marijuana. At that point, it was redistributed by doctors willing to illegibly scribble those prescriptions for patients.

Since then, a cannabidiol (CBD) derived drug called Nabiximols has been approved in parts of Europe and Canada to treat multiple sclerosis symptoms, but it has yet to be passed by the United States. Despite these obstacles, millions of people fight for the right to access and use hundreds of cannabis products in hopes of reaping some of the incredible therapeutic benefits that this herb has to offer.

We at Medithrive would be morons if we did not say this, so bare with us. I promise, I’ll make it quick! We are not doctors, nor do we claim to be expert medical advisors. Please, seek the advice of your healthcare provider before using cannabis products for therapeutic purposes.

Now, without further adieu, I present the medicinal uses and effects of marijuanna from some of the best academic sources available (which you can find cited below).

Cannabis as a Treatment

One of the top reasons for medicating with cannabis is to effectively reduce if not eliminate chronic pain. The potential that this herb has for pain relief is not only powerful, but safer than opioids. It also doesn’t hurt your stomach or stress your kidneys like NSAIDs. If I were to list every possible health condition that could benefit from cannabis as a painkiller, we would be here all day!

Although it has been tested for post surgical pain, it shines most with nerve pain. Many people who suffer from severe migraines find instant relief, especially if it is taken on the onset of an episode. Are you familiar with that nagging sensation when a migraine is coming? There have been multiple reports by doctors and patients alike that cannabis has the potential to prevent migraines when taken during this time!

Besides pain management, cannabis can be used as an effective treatment for the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of Appetite
• Tension
• Insomnia
• Weight Loss
• Seizures
• Tremors

It’s found to be particularly helpful to prevent wasting syndrome prevalent in HIV patients. This therapeutic “weed” can also treat the negative effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients. Marijuana’s stomach soothing and appetite whetting capability combats nausea and vomiting which are common side effects of harsh pharmaceutical drugs used to fight many diseases.

Another way that it combats pain is through relaxation. Cannabis works as a muscle relaxant in a way that doesn’t impede people’s daily activities. Unlike most prescription medications designed for this purpose, the right marijuanna strain and dosage doesn’t cause drowsiness or sedate them. For many, cannabis has offered chronic sufferers their life back.

Here are just a few of the diseases, conditions, and disorders people (even children) are successfully using cannabis to treat:

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Dementia
• Schizophrenia
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Crohn’s Disease
• Endometriosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Huntington’s Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Interstitial Cystitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS

Find Cannabis products Near Me

To consume marijuana, there are many different methods available to you. When newbies consider using cannabis, the idea of “weed” or “pot” stirs images of hippies with joints and bongs; However, smoking isn’t the only way to consume it; there are also patches, pills, edibles, and topicals. The dosage and strain best for each individual’s needs will vary. For this reason we urge you to research the subject thoroughly and consult a professional.

The diversity of products available today is continuing to grow and develop as people become more aware of the beneficial therapeutic effects that cannabis has to offer. If you live in the San Francisco Bay area, why don’t you take a look at our store to browse our selection and see for yourself?

Bibliography and Recommended Reading

Grinspoon L, Bakalar JB. 1997. Marijuana: The Forbidden Medicine.
New Haven, CT: Yale University Press; Mathre ML, ed. 1997. Cannabis in
Medical Practice. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

Mack, Alison, and Janet E. Joy. Marijuana as Medicine?: the Science beyond the Controversy. National Academy Press, 2001.

Institute of Medicine. 1999. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, p. 60, 141,

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24625.