How Medical Marijuana Has Impacted Society and Healthcare Industry

The number of critically or chronically ill patients seems to rise each year, yet the amount of effective medications doesn’t. With so many sick people, it’s easy to understand the difficulties associated with treating each one. Every person is different, allowing for diseases to affect one person in a particular manner while another patient may be affected in a completely different way. Finding the right combination of medications and therapies can be complicated.

As we have seen with the overuse of prescription antibiotics, diseases become more resistant to conventional treatment methods. Because of the ever-changing structure of illnesses, doctors and patients find themselves struggling to find better options. The search for more powerful and effective medicines has led both patients and doctors to look back over time to the forgotten treatments used in the past.

Cannabis and Healthcare

Hundreds of years ago, Cannabis was commonly used to treat illnesses. However, with the change in public perception beginning in the late 1800s and early 1900s, marijuana was outlawed across the nation. In the 1970s, several medical professionals began a campaign to change how this often misunderstood plant was viewed from a healthcare standpoint.

Cannabis History and Legalization

Long known to be an effective treatment for pain management, doctors were finally able to convince some lawmakers that marijuana had beneficial healing properties. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize its use for patients who were struggling with chronic illnesses under the Compassionate Use Act. Since that time, more than two dozen states and territories have passed medical use laws with many more debating to make a similar change. Unfortunately, despite all the evidence, the federal government and the FDA have refused to follow suit.

Medical Marijuana in Healthcare

Long known to be an effective treatment for pain management, doctors were finally able to convince some lawmakers that marijuana had beneficial healing properties. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize its use for patients who were struggling with chronic illnesses under the Compassionate Use Act. Since that time, more than two dozen states and territories have passed medical use laws with many more debating to make a similar change. Unfortunately, despite all the evidence, the federal government and the FDA have refused to follow suit.

Depending on which state you reside, qualifying conditions may vary. To see if your illness is covered, patients can consult a qualified medical marijuana provider who can determine their eligibility. If approved, patients or their designated caregiver will receive a medical use card that will allow them to legally purchase products from one of the licensed dispensaries around the state.

Marijuana Health Facts

Medical Marijuana Health Benefits

While the effectiveness of marijuana for medical purposes has been highly debated, many patients and their doctors believe that it has the potential to be one of the most beneficial classes of medications available today. In studies, cannabis has been proven to manage pain, lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients, control certain types of seizures, combat nausea, improve appetites, control muscle spasms, lower anxiety, and the symptoms associated with PTSD. Besides, it helps to treat depression, and even help addicts recovering from opioid addiction and many other symptoms. Although each person will feel the effects of cannabis differently, once the right strain and dosage have been found, this medication can treat numerous ailments without the risk of dangerous side effects associated with traditional medicines.

How Medical Marijuana Changed Modern Healthcare Approach

We already know that cannabis is a very controversial treatment option that not all territories have accepted yet. However, more states are willing to follow the trend and are moving towards complete legalization. The main reason is that medical weed has already transformed the healthcare industry. The benefits we will discuss below are only the very first signs of MMJ’s positive influence on the modern world.

The Decrease in the Number of Opioid-Related Deaths

Opioids are one of the main medications prescribed for patients suffering from pain. The biggest downside of these drugs is that they can cause addiction. The opioid epidemic started slowly back in 1990 but in 2017 the US faced one of the highest numbers of deaths caused by opioid drugs – over 70,000. In 2018 this rate decreased by 5.1% and medical cannabis legislation is one of the reasons. The earliest studies show that states who have legalized medical weed at any level (complete legislation, medical use only, etc.) have had from 20% to 35% lower rate of opioid-related deaths than states that don’t provide any access to marijuana. 

Alternative Treatment

If you suffer from fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, or any other chronic disease that cannot be cured, marijuana can become a great alternative to medications that are usually prescribed in these cases. Traditional medications may not be effective or might cause an allergic reaction. It makes people give up on this type of treatment and suffer from various symptoms. Studies show that marijuana is especially effective for patients seeking for chronic pain relief that usually accompanies many diseases like arthritis, cancer, etc. 

Marijuana and Mental Health

Even though many patients are using medical weed and CBD-based products to treat depression and anxiety, there is still little evidence that marijuana affects human mental health. However, the lack of evidence doesn’t mean that scientists should stop conducting research. As a result, more studies on marijuana’s influence will be introduced in the future which, in turn, will not only provide people with more information on this weed but also develop the healthcare industry in general.

Conclusion

Although many people are still hesitant to turn to marijuana as a valid medical treatment, there is no denying the cannabis potential benefits. Patients and physicians now have the opportunity to use this and other alternative medications in the hopes that some of the worst diseases imaginable can be treated. Anyone suffering from a chronic, debilitating, or life-threatening illness should have the opportunity to choose a treatment that has helped others before. Patients who have already benefited from using medical cannabis for treatment only prove that marijuana and public health can actually coexist together. 

If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with an illness that does not respond well to traditional medications or if the side effects of your prescriptions are too intense, talk to your doctor today about medical marijuana. As more states implement medical cannabis use laws, the number of patients being helped will only increase. Get help today; your illness doesn’t need to have control over you any longer.

Get Your Medical Marijuana Card today!

Get the Medical Marijuana Card Appointment