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5 Major Benefits of Taking Marijuana, According to Doctors

There's a reason more and more states are making it legal.
FACT CHECKED BY Alek Korab

In a first-ever legislation draft, Senator Chuck Schumer and his Democratic party have just proposed making marijuana legal at the federal level. Marijuana is now officially legalized in 18 states, with medical marijuana being legalized in 37. Doctors have been using medical marijuana to treat several different conditions, including forms of cancers, and neurological conditions. Here are five major benefits of using marijuana, according to doctors. Read on to find out more, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You May Have Already Had COVID.

1

Pain Management

Senior woman suffering from pain in hand at home.
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Marijuana contains cannabinoids, which can help people manage their chronic pain. The cannabinoids can alter the brain's pain perception pathways, which make people feel less pain. Doctors recommend that marijuana can be used to treat conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and endometriosis. It can also be used to treat migraines and headaches. A study from Harvard Medical Center, suggests that medical marijuana can be used to replace nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen. 

2

Mental Health Benefits

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One of the most common uses for medical marijuana is to benefit someone's mental health. Marijuana has a natural effect on the brain's limbic system, which can calm people down. A study in Clinical Psychology Review, calls marijuana a natural treatment for people with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic-stress disorder. For people with PTSD, marijuana can help reduce nightmares.

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3

Helps Neurological Conditions

Doctor attentively examines the MRI scan of the patient.
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Marijuana has been prescribed for several different neurological conditions. Marijuana contains CBD, and several CBD-based medications have been used to treat neurological conditions. The FDA approved a medicine containing CBD as a treatment for epilepsy in 2018. A study from Cureus shows that medical marijuana has also been proven to help with both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. 

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4

Reducing Inflammation

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The CBD in marijuana can also help reduce inflammation in the body. Reducing inflammation can benefit a person's overall health. It can also be used to treat conditions like Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. 

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5

Helping People Sleep

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Marijuana can be used to improve people's sleep. Many people with insomnia, and other sleep disorders, can use marijuana before going to bed. "Marijuana is an effective sleep aid because it restores a person's natural sleep cycle, which so often falls out of sync with our schedules in today's modern lifestyle," says Dr. Matt Roman, a medical marijuana physician. Marijuana can also help people without sleep disorders. The AAST states that marijuana helps people have uninterrupted sleep.

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6

Final Word From the Doctor

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There are a lot of benefits to using medical marijuana. Dr. Peter Grinspoon advises doctors to "whether you are pro, neutral, or against medical marijuana, patients are embracing it, and although we don't have rigorous studies, we need to learn about it, be open-minded, and above all, be non-judgmental." You should also be careful. Marijuana does not work for everyone, can have horrendous side effects, and should only be used with permission from a doctor, says Grinspoon. And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Anna Bechtel
Anna Bechtel is a freelance writer currently based in Hamden, CT. Read more about Anna