Cannabis has many believers; people who’ve experienced some life changing experience with it that claim that the plant is a miracle drug, capable of fixing any and all diseases. While some of these claims are true and have been documented by the patient, a lot of them haven’t been backed by the necessary science and evidence. This is no one’s fault; legal restrictions on cannabis have made it impossible for interested parties to conduct the necessary research that could push marijuana into becoming a respected drug and a viable cure for many illnesses.
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Opposers of the plant discredit the current studies that have been conducted because there haven’t been any human trials, but the evidence and results they’ve provided are incredibly positive. Preclinical research has shown why cannabis is so versatile and why it provides relief for a variety of health problems.
This is all due to our cannabinoid receptors (our endocannabinoid system), which react to the different components of the plant and produce healing results. These receptors are located throughout the entirety of our bodies, which is why marijuana can have healing effects in different areas that, on the surface, have little to do with each other. The largest quantity of receptors are located in our central nervous system which spreads throughout different areas of our body, like our brains, spine, skin, bones, heart, liver, glands, reproductive organs, and more.
Research and studies claim that the endocannabinoid system affects vital functions, playing a big part in our sleep, mood, pain, movement, memory and cognition.
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Having in mind that cannabis affects the previously mentioned areas, many researchers theorize that deficiencies and diseases can be attributed to a lack of endocannabinoids. Illnesses like fibromyalgia, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome, are believed to be caused by “clinical endocannabinoid deficiency.”
There are over 400 photo chemicals in the cannabis plant. An estimated 113 are cannabinoids, of which we still haven’t discovered their true potential. More research and scientific trials need to be conducted so some conclusive evidence can be gathered.