In Canada, roughly one-third of a million people take medical cannabis to treat various ailments and conditions. As recently as 2015, there were only 25,000 such patients.
Doctors are more likely to authorize medical cannabis now than they were years ago, and researchers are still uncovering new things about medical cannabis. Let’s check out a few of the many conditions medical cannabis can help treat and see if any apply to you.
Pain, Inflammation, and More
Cannabis can be very helpful in easing pain and inflammation. The human body is filled with cannabinoid receptors that respond to chemicals known as cannabinoids, which are found in cannabis like THC and CBD.
Anandamide — derived from the Sanskrit word Ananda, meaning “bliss” — is an endocannabinoid produced by the body on demand, and it regulates pain, mood and appetite. Researchers have only recently discovered anandamide, and after finding it, they learned it has receptors that respond favourably to the cannabinoid THC, which happens to have a similar molecular structure.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and India’s ancient Ayurvedic texts documented the use of cannabis to manage pain millennia ago. Today, we’re verifying more about how cannabis can help ease pain, inflammation, soreness, and discomfort.
People turn to medical cannabis to treat migraines, joint pain, neuropathic pain, endometriosis, and more. Cannabis can also manage other symptoms successfully, including:
- Anxiety
- Sleep disorders
- Poor appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Epilepsy
- Gastrointestinal disorders (ex., Crohn’s disease)
- Mood disorders
- Migraines
- PTSD
Cannabis may help to treat a range of conditions, but everybody responds to the plant a little differently. Talk to your healthcare practitioner or cannabis-trained pharmacist to get medical cannabis information that is up to date and takes your holistic health needs into account.
Don’t Get Medical Cannabis from Dispensaries
Recreational cannabis can also help people feel better, but there are vital reasons not to get medical cannabis from a dispensary. “Budtenders” may know a lot about cannabis, but regulations in the Cannabis Act do not permit them to give patients medical advice.
Cannabis-trained pharmacists can recommend a cannabis product or cultivar after taking your symptoms and any other medications you’re usinginto account. They can also help you eliminate or reduce any side effects, should there be any.
Financially speaking, authorized medical cannabis is an eligible medical expense in Canada. So long as your medicine is purchased from a licensed medical seller where you’re registered, you may be able to claim cannabis medicine on lines 33099 and 33199 on your tax return.
There are licensed sellers that also offer discounts for seniors and veterans, and some even have monthly sales. They’re also likely to have a vast selection on hand, so patients can get the medicine they need.
Cannabis myths abound online and even in print publications. Cannabis can’t cure everything, but its healing power has a lot of range, and we’re still learning new ways it can help every year. It’s crucial to get verified medical information so you don’t miss out on the potential benefits of medical cannabis.
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