5 Common Qualifying Conditions for Treatment with Medical Marijuana

Updated on July 31, 2023

Many US states have legalized the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of a host of ailments, from chronic pain and severe nausea to HIV-AIDS, Alzheimer’s, PTSD, and even cancer. Thankfully, those in states that are yet to legalize it can still use CBD. This is a compound that is derived from the cannabis plant and can treat a very similar list of ailments. There is more information regarding CBD at CFAH.org. The states that have legalized medical marijuana have their own individual list of qualifying conditions for which you may buy and use medical cannabis, after obtaining a medical marijuana card.

Here are five medical conditions approved by most US states for treatment with medical cannabis products.

Nausea

Studies have found that THC and CBD reduce vomiting and nausea by binding or interacting with certain receptors in the nervous system. Managing nausea with cannabis or other natural remedy may be a better alternative to popping pills if you get nausea frequently.

Most states that have legalized cannabis for medical treatment have listed severe nausea as one of the qualifying conditions; however, there are minute differences in the way nausea is defined across states. Some require the presence of severe symptoms for allowing marijuana use for nausea.

Seizure disorders

Cannabis is well known for its anti-seizure effects and has been used for decades for treatment of epilepsy and seizure disorders. Cannabidiol (CBD), the chemical compound in marijuana, which does not cause a “high” unlike its psychoactive counterpart THC, has been shown to have a mitigating effect on the frequency of seizures in patients, including children with pediatric epilepsy.

PTSD

Medical cannabis is often used for treating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It has been seen that marijuana with high levels of CBD can help ease PTSD symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Veterans looking for relief from PTSD but not willing to rely on conventional medication are exploring cannabis as an alternative therapy to relieve mood disturbances and manage anxiety, lack of sleep, occurrence of nightmares and feelings of panic and fear.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the optic nerve gets damaged and may lead to permanent loss of vision if not treated in time. Medical cannabis products are increasingly being used across the US for treating glaucoma.

Both CBD and THC have been studied for their effectiveness in treating glaucoma, but not many ophthalmologists support using cannabis for mid-stage glaucoma. It has, however, found some favor in relieving the symptoms associated with end-stage glaucoma rather than treating the disease itself.

Chronic pain

Cannabis is widely popular as a natural remedy for chronic pain, including migraines, arthritic pain, neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, and pain caused by a malfunction in the nervous system (such as pain from fibromyalgia). Users report that marijuana products with a combination of both THC and CBD, like those you can find online on a site like wccannabis.co, are most effective for pain relief.

As every state has a different list of the types of pain approved to be treated with cannabis, check your state’s qualifying conditions and then apply for an authorization for buying marijuana from licensed dispensaries.

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