How Medical Marijuana Benefits Different Patients

Marijuana—also known as cannabis and Mary Jane—has been used by various cultures since 2727 B.C. It has a long history of use as a recreational, religious, and medicinal drug, and in the form of medical marijuana, is used to treat various conditions. Though still illegal in many countries, the use of medical marijuana is now permitted by the U.S. Federal Government for the treatment of various disorders.

California was the first state in the United States to legalize the use of marijuana in 1996 through Prop 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. According to this Act, authorized patients and caregivers were given the right to possess and grow a legal amount of marijuana for personal medicinal use. Medical marijuana, when administered in prescribed dosages, can be consumed by vaporizing or smoking the dried buds, drinking and eating the extracts, or consuming capsules.

Medical marijuana has been used to treat patients suffering from chronic pain, migraines, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, Tourette’s syndrome, and those undergoing chemotherapy. Moreover, the consumption of medical marijuana has become big business in the United States, and numerous dispensaries, co-operatives, and wellness clinics can be found in different states. Medical dispensaries, however, have restrictions placed on them to promote safety. These dispensaries can only be found in restricted areas and the products are not directly accessible to the patients. By documenting every transaction and enforcing legal guidelines, patients are assured that the medical marijuana they receive is safe.