As science delves deeper into the cannabis plant more medical properties are revealed. Historical, the plant has been used for medicine in a variety of cultural, but through research has only started in the past generation. Currently, focus has been on the “fun” side of THC, not the difference in can make in long term wellness.
THC, cannabis’ most popular cannabinoid. It is the reason we feel elevated, lifted, high, however you classify it, it’s what gets us in a different headspace. THC stimulates neurons in the reward system to release the signaling chemical dopamine at levels higher than typically observed in response to natural rewarding stimuli. Simply put, cannabinoids regulate how cells communicate—how they send, receive, or process messages.
Evidence suggests medications with THC can be effective treatments for chronic pain, particularly neuropathic pain (pain caused by nerve damage), nociceptive pain (pain caused by ongoing inflammation and related damage) and nociplastic pain (pain arising from the altered function of pain-related sensory pathways).
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Currently around 50% of research has focused on the harmful effects of THC and cannabis, but more research is starting to be done on the potential of medical marijuana and TCH. The imited research completed suggests cannabinoids might:
- Reduce anxiety
- Reduce inflammation and relieve pain
- Control nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy
- Kill cancer cells and slow tumor growth
- Relax tight muscles in people with MS
- Stimulate appetite and improve weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS
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Anxiety disorders are common, affecting millions of people worldwide. Over 7 million Canadian and U.S. adults have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, but the number of people experiencing anxiety likely is significantly higher. Research data show with all things being equal, THC appears to decrease anxiety at lower doses and CBD helps in all doses.
For veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and looking for alternative ways to treat it, the first FDA-regulated study on the benefits of smoked cannabis yielded favorable results in 2021 showing THC can help veterans.
