Few things on earth have been demonized in quite the same way as the humble marijuana plant. Seen as a gateway drug to harder substances such as heroin and cocaine, many believe cannabis to be a highly addictive, life-destroying drug that leads to depression, paranoia and psychological disorders. However, prescription drugs are actually far more addictive, and many contain toxic chemicals that cause irreversible damage to the human body. Cannabis is an ancient form of medicine that grows freely in many parts of the world and has a wide range of potential health benefits.
Cancer
Cannabis has been scientifically proven to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and even shrink malignant tumors. A study performed at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco found that cannabidiol, an active compound found in marijuana, prevented metastasis in certain aggressive cancers. Researchers at Harvard University found that cannabis was able reduce the rate of tumor growth by 50% in mice afflicted with lung cancer.
Alzheimer’s Disease
A 2006 study performed at the Scripps Research Institute in California found that the active ingredient in marijuana known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, stops the formation of Alzheimer plaques in the brain. THC prevents an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase which accelerates this process.
HIV
A recent study conducted at the Louisiana State University found that cannabis prohibits the spread of HIV cells in monkeys. It also provides relief from the side effects of HIV drugs such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea.
Pain Relief
Smoking cannabis can provide pain relief from a wide range of different conditions such as arthritis, migraines and painful injuries. It is said to be hundreds of times more effective than over-the-counter painkillers and is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Epilepsy
A special strain of medical marijuana has been developed to combat a rare type of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome which causes frequent, violent seizures and is difficult to control with medication. The strain is known as ‘Charlotte’s Web’ and earned its name from a young patient named Charlotte Figi who was brought back from the brink of death after treatment with cannabis oil.
Depression and Anxiety
Contrary to popular belief, cannabis can actually help with psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD and suicidal thoughts. Moderate use of medium strength cannabis can help to relax the mind and elevate the mood. However, heavy use of powerful strains of marijuana such as skunk has been linked to psychotic episodes.
Hepatitis C
A study conducted at the University of California in San Francisco discovered that cannabis not only relieved the side effects of Hepatitis C treatment, it actually improved the effectiveness of the medication. Researchers found that cannabis helped them to achieve a “sustained virological response” meaning that the virus was undetectable in the human body after treatment.
As cannabis is a natural, free resource that thrives in almost any environment, drug companies are terrified of the prospect of people being able to grow their own medicine. This would result in the loss of billions of dollars for the pharmaceutical industry who are desperately lobbying for it to remain illegal. Still, some businesses have started to see the potential of this plant and are not selling different CBD products, including great cbd cream products.