Why Pot is Becoming the New American Medication

If you have been following news and updates related to cannabis in the United States, you probably have noticed how much progress we have made in the last couple of years in terms of legalization and accessibility. It is true that more and more states are deciding to legalize medical marijuana, and many have even gone as far as legalizing adult use of cannabis for recreational purposes. While there are many factors that have contributed to the progress being made with marijuana laws and regulations in this country, we owe a lot of it to the pandemic. We are all sick and tired of the pandemic at this point in time, and it has affected each and every one of us no matter where we are in the country. 

The pandemic has created a lot of political division, economic uncertainty, and financial strain for most of us in the United States, but it has also helped government officials and health professionals to take medical marijuana more seriously. Why is that so? Well, we have seen that dispensaries in the United States are basically pandemic-proof, meaning that the demand for marijuana during the pandemic has not only stayed the same, but even grown to new levels! 2020 was a record year for cannabis sales in the United States, and more Americans than ever before are starting to use medical marijauna as a means of self medicating various conditions, especially mental health disorders. Today we are going to be talking about how important pot has become to the American people, and why I think that this will ultimately lead to the federal government legalizing weed for all adults over the age of 21 in the United States. 

Did you get depressed during the pandemic? Well, you would not be alone. In fact, reports show that the rates of depression in the United States have nearly tripled since the pandemic began. The research suggests that nearly 28% of adults in the United States have reported worsening symptoms of depression. That is more than one quarter of the entire country’s population! It is definitely true that people’s mental health has taken a hit during the pandemic, and it can really be hard to find treatment options during this time. Especially when the pandemic was at its height back in the summer of 2020, it was really hard to find a doctor to actually treat mental health disorders since everything was so backed up. Plus, starting some of the common antidepressants and other medications that are on the market today can be really hard on the body and mind. 

That is why more and more Americans are beginning to use marijuana as a means of managing their mental health disorders. The great thing about using cannabis for mental health problems is that there are so many options out there that offer unique effects, and since there are so many strains and different types of cannabis products, you really can never run out of things to try. There are a lot of misconceptions about using cannabis for mental health needs, especially when it comes to treating things like depression and anxiety. In fact, you do not even need to get high in order to use cannabis for depression. Research has shown that using CBD infused products can be extremely effective at increasing energy levels and heightening one’s mood. If you are someone that has been struggling with depression, using medical marijuana may be a good treatment option for you if you feel inclined to try it. I hope that this article has been helpful!

What Would Happen if Cannabis Became Federally Legal?

People who pay close attention to the cannabis policies in the United States like myself have been eagerly awaiting for the federal government to legalize medical marijuana for many years now. After all, there are a lot of signs that we are heading that way very soon. Legalizing cannabis on a federal level would be huge. The United States has had a long history of demonizing and stigmatizing cannabis and making the American people feel very wary of it. However, this stigma is starting to change as more and more people are coming around to the idea of medical marijuana usage in the United States. In fact, the cannabis industry continues to boom in our nation as more and more people head to the dispensaries that keep popping up. There are currently about 39 states that have legalized medical marijuana, and it will not be much fartther of a push to secure those last 11 states that are holding out on us. However, the federal government will need to step in at some point. I can imagine some states like Idaho and Nevada being very slow to ever come out with medical marijuana programs until the federal government makes a bigger move. Have you ever wondered what would happen if the government legalized medical marijuana in our country? Well, now you don’t need to live in curiosity, because I am going to be writing about it today. So buckle up and keep reading this article to learn more about cannabis. 

One of the first things that would happen if the government legalizes medical marijuana nation-wide is that it would become decriminalized. There have been many people that have sadly been incarcerated for marijuana related charges. In the event that cannabis becomes completely legal across the United States, these people would be able to apply for expungement. The real tragedy about our prison system and marijuana is that the majority of people that get arrested for using cannabis are people of color. Perhaps this could be a way to do some justice and fix part of what is wrong with our justice system. It also makes it hard for people who are trying to get a job or an education but are dealing with an arrest on their record due to using cannabis. It is really unfair. This would allow people to start again and get out of prison for something that is now legal in the majority of states. 

Another thing that would happen if the federal government legalized marijuana is that you could travel anywhere with cannabis without restrictions (though the quantity you have will still matter for sure). The way that state medical programs and policies are set up right now makes it really hard to travel across state lines with marijuana. Some states can still arrest you for using cannabis, while others do not care at all. If weed was legalized across the nation, people would no longer have to worry about which products and how much THC are in them when they are traveling from state to state. The whole system is a bit complicated for my taste anyways. 

The economy will also begin to grow super fast as the cannabis industry begins to boom after the federal legalization. Think of all the tax revenue that would come into the government’s greedy paws. Many states are already realizing huge amounts of tax revenue from year to year directly from their medical programs. These state governments are able to use cannabis taxes to help with healthcare, infrastructure, debt, and a ton of other things as well.

Why Cannabis is a Safe Alternative

If you have been driving around in any state that has legalized cannabis dispensaries, you probably are familiar with all of the billboards that support and advertise medical marijuana. It is really not uncommon to see billboards from more than one company offering their cannabis products and services. You may also be familiar with an advertisement that says “less risk, more relief”. While you may not really think about the benefit of lower risk when it comes to using cannabis, this can be a huge reason that a lot of medical marijuana patients have applied for their card. The reality about marijuana is that, generally, it is much safer and more natural than a lot of prescription medications and treatment options that exist in our medical world today. 

Marijuana is inherently less dangerous than medications like opioids, which are steadily becoming the most dangerous form of prescription in the entire world. Did you know that opioids related deaths increased over the past few years? While the fight to end the opioid epidemic had some sway, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a lot of that progress to be lost. When it comes to prescription opioids, a lot of people are using them for managing pain and other such conditions. The CDC’s recent data has shown that synthetic opioids on the black market today are more likely to contain harmful chemicals like fentanyl. Guess how many milligrams of fentanyl is enough to kill a person? Shockingly, it is just about 2 milligrams. That is why marijuana can make some really good changes to our medical world and how doctors prescribe for pain relief. 

So how can there be no risk with using marijuana? Isn’t it a drug? After all, it was an illegal drug for so long - there has to be something dangerous about it. Well, you may be surprised to find out that there has never been a recorded case of someone dying from a marijuana overdose. There have even been tests done on animals back in the 1970s to see how much THC would be enough to kill something, and the scientists found that all the monkeys survived. When it comes to marijuana in its natural form, it is basically impossible to overdose. It is a very naturally safe drug and one that does not really cause harm when used properly. What if people were able to turn to using marijuana instead of prescription opioids? How is it that marijuana has been made illegal, why companies continue to shill out new synthetic medications that kill more people every year. 

It is honestly a tragedy. Moreover, smoking weed is even less dangerous than drinking alcohol, which is also completely legal in the United States. Did you know that the CDC reported excessive drinking of alcohol as one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States? It is really a shame that weed has gotten such a bad reputation for so long. While marijuana is generally much safer than opioids and alcohol, it does not exist without some potential risks as well. Some of the ones that you should know about include developing a dependency or addiction. Like any drug or medication that alters one's mood or behavior, there is always that risk of getting addicted to marijuana. If you are someone that gets addicted to things really easily, maybe consider this risk before you start using weed regularly. Another risk is decrease in brain development of young adults and teens, which has become a very big stigma among the anti-cannabis communities in our nation.

Cannabis and diabetes

Cannabis is something that can help with many things. But can it affect blood sugar? Are there edibles which are sugar free? We’ll go into this and see how this can impact the way this condition works. 

What Diabetes is 

Diabetes is when your body is unable to control the blood sugar, and then, it causes the body to struggle with balancing it out. We do need glucose, since that is a common part of ensuring that our bodies are fueled, but too much, it can create diabetes, and then the blood is literally stuck there, since they are not making enough insulin to use. Some of the symptoms of the short-term include a much larger thirst and peeing more, but it can actually cause kidney problems, heart disease, and the like. This also can put you at risk for light-threatening conditions too. 

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 and type 2. Type 1 of course is genetic at its roots and is considered an autoimmune condition.  Tis is basically where the immune system attacks your pancreas, and then it stops it from making insulin. Most people don’t pay much attention to the results of this, and it can control the way the blood sugar reacts. 

Type 2 is the more common one, a result of different choices in lifestyle, since obesity can increase the way the fat and other tissue is there. It can cause high glucose to be in the bloodstream since your liver, muscle and fat cells, and ten the pancreas then amps this up to help then store this, this results in a lot of problems, and then, it can cause a lot of problems as well. 

Can Cannabis help with This 

Some people wonder this, especially in a preventative measure, but because there aren’t a ton of trials that are human controlled, the data we have to go off of is basically what paints the picture of the way cannabis can help with this. 

According to a study put in the journal of Medicine and how it looks at this, the data reported does demonstrate that the cannabis people do have much lower fasting levels of insulin and have a lower chance of insulin resistance, and it also shows lower glucose and lower circumferences of their waist compared to those past users. It also found that there were lover levels of obesity, so it suggests that it can help to manipulate the body in a more favorable manner. 

While it is something that doesn’t have controlled trials, there are preclinical studies that looked to see if cannabis can help with this. Right now, with the many different cannabinoids of cannabis, it’s something that definitely is a large part of the research on diabetes. 

THCV for example, does have a similar structure to the THC molecule, but this also does create different effects. It’s an agonist against the receptors that are CB1 within the ECS, but they also can produce a more psychoactive result at much higher levels and dosages. Some research from animals that centers around how THC may impact the metabolism of energy, appetite, how you lose weight, and the management of this is studied. 

CBD also can help too in some cases, since while it doesn’t create the psychoactive effects of this, it can be better for many for this reason. It also does offer neuroprotective results, and it can also help with reducing inflammation, so those with autoimmune diabetes can benefit from the anti-inflammatory aspects of this, and it can be something that’s beneficial for many too.

Cannabis and Pain Management

Cannabis is used for a lot of great things. Now, after a ton of research, a lot of lawmakers along with the public at large are realizing something cool: that cannabis is great for our body and our health as well. Cannabis is actually recognized as one of the top medical solutions today, with a bunch of people accepting this in a ton of different fields. One of the most common kinds of medical cannabis that’s out there, is the usage of cannabis for pain management. It’s great for discomfort along with pain and injury, it’s also a lot safer when compared with opioids and other kinds of medication that do form habits. 

The pain that a person deals with is definitely something that can be a detriment to the physical along with the emotional health that you have. Along with the discomfort from pain, it can also prevent you from typically enjoying a lot of the activities that you want to enjoy out in the world. You may also struggle with sleeping, and it can affect your performance when it comes to different activities. Medical cannabis can be the solution you’re looking for. 

Using medical Marijuana for Pain 

THC and CBD are two of the main compounds that are in cannabis. Both of these interact with your receptors and are typically responsible for a lot of the functions that happen within our bodies, including the sensation of pain and whatnot. Because there is a lot of soothing, anti-inflammatory aspects of this, CBD is great for eliminating and alleviating the issues that you have interacting with the receptors, and you’re going to get this with the regular usage of medical cannabis. 

Arthritis and MMJ 

A lot of people use different types of pain relievers for arthritis, which is something that causes a ton of chronic pain. cannabis is great for treating this, and it’s now an official medical condition that you can use cannabis for. 

What about Cancer Pains 

Neuropathy is quite common for a lot of cancer patients, and marijuana is one of the best options for alleviating this. It’s also why a ton of marijuana providers are starting to use this, as it can help with cancer, including some of the worst forms of this. 

Helping with exercise 

Cannabis is actually great for treating exercise pains and tensions. CBD alone is great for this, but marijuana also works well for this. It helps with the muscles and joint issues that you associate with the usage of this during physical activity. It can also help with lowering the pain that comes with active lifestyles in a lot of cases. 

It’s so popular that even some of the top athletes are starting to use CBD as a way to trat workout pain, and it’s also good for preventing pain from your workouts initially So yes, there are tons of great ways to use medical cannabis to treat pain, and if you have pain or any sorts of problems that come with this, you should reach out to doctors and get the help that you want. 

This is great because medical cannabis has gone from being something that was frowned upon with use, to something that even some of the top athletes are using in a lot of cases too. Not to mention, cannabis is great for alleviating the pain that comes from a variety of disease, so there is a lot that it can offer, and if you’re someone who likes to reduce the pain and the opioids that you use, this is one of the best, most surefire ways for you to do this. 

Using Cannabis for Pain Management

Many people in the United States suffer from what is called chronic pain. Chronic pain is an extremely broad category of physical conditions and encompasses a lot of different ailments, but the main thing about chronic pain is that it does not really go away on its own. By definition, chronic pain is here to stay. That’s what makes it so debilitating and so hard to deal with. Over the past few years, there has been a bigger push for patients with chronic pain to be able to use medical marijuana in the United States. 

The reason for this is because chronic pain can be very hard to manage with over-the-counter drugs. Prescription medications can also have some very bad side effects, including addiction. In fact, the reason there is such an opioid epidemic going on in the United States is because of people trying to treat different types of pain that they are experiencing. So can cannabis be effectively used to treat pain? Keep reading to find out! By the end of this article, I hope that you will be able to think more positively about using cannabis for treating different health conditions. Remember that medical marijuana is available in about 39 states in America, and each of those states have their own qualifying health conditions that you must be able to pass. 

Medical marijuana has long been used to treat chronic pain conditions. However, the problem is that there has been such a bad stigma surrounding cannabis for far too long. Many people still think of marijuana as an illegal, dangerous substance that will kill your brain cells and make you poor. Luckily, these stigmas are starting to change (slowly but surely). While there are not a whole lot of clinical studies that support using medical marijuana for chronic pain management, it has proven time and time again for medical patients to be an effective way of relieving some of their pain. So what about cannabis makes it such an effective treatment for pain? Well, it comes down to the cannabinoid compounds that are from the cannabis plant. When these compounds interact with the chemicals in our brain, they are super effective at treating our pain and helping us to relax. In fact, medical marijuana can be used very often without some of the nasty side effects that are associated with other pain management medications. If you or someone you know is dealing with chronic pain, you have come to the right place. I am going to tell you about some of the best marijuana strains available on the market today for dealing with pain.

This first strain is one that I have brought up several times in my other blogs. White Widow is one of the best strains for dealing with chronic pain, but it is definitely not for beginners. White Widow is an indica dominant hybrid that is extremely potent in THC. Are you wondering why it’s called the White Widow? It is due to how the cannabis buds have crystalized into a weird, but unique white color. This strain is great for relieving pain symptoms as well as calming your mind and body. It will help you to feel more relaxed and at ease both mentally and physically, and it will also help you fall asleep at night if you are having trouble with that. Another strain that is great for treating chronic pain is called Blueberry. This strain has been around for a really long time - since the 70s! It is one of the most notable marijuana strains and is great for pain management due to its high THC and CBD content. 

Cannabis and Panic Attacks

Cannabis is something that people may use to help relax and feel better, but for some people, it can actually do the opposite, and make you feel more anxious.  This is something that some people feel, and it’s important to understand that it can happen.

Can cannabis create this 

Cannabis has a ton of terpenes and cannabinoids. The thing with cannabis is that it’s not just a singular medicine, which is why you can use it for a lot of things. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach either.

One thing about THC though, is that if you take too much, it can cause other effects that you don't want to deal with. Have you ever experienced a medication that makes you anxious? That's similar to how cannabis can make you feel.  If you’re dealing with this, you might want to try another strain or medication dosage. 

The correlation of such 

There are different cannabinoids that are great for reducing stress.  The presence and the usage of 22-AG for example, can help with this, and there are different neurotransmitters that help with this. While we may not know the reason for the anxiety spikes in those that use cannabis, some research has found that there may be a link in 2=AG itself. They found that it does stimulate similar types of receptors, and usually, it reduces the connections of anxiety in these brain regions. 

Cannabis is something that might hold a possible key that’ll help with creating different medications that can help with mood disorders and even normal anxiety.

THC is your main psychoactive component, and it can cause different effects.  One thing that happens, is that THC may cause a sudden effect on the amygdala, which is responsible for anxiety, depression, stress, and even worry. 

So can Cannabis cause this? 

Well, some studies show that cannabis can help with anxiety, and also can help those who have tried Paxil and Zoloft actually reduce their anxiety, along with the depression. It works to help with this, in ways that regular antidepressants can. The side effects of antidepressants are hard for people to manage, and they can take a long time for it to work, and don’t offer symptoms that improve people’s lives. Cannabis does cause anxiety in some people, but ultimately, this is dependent on the strain.

If you’re someone with an anxiety disorder, you want to stay away from those strains that are high in THC, but instead get something with more CBD in this, as this one actually has anxiolytic properties that you can take advantage of, and it works better than most. 

Some studies have found that CBD actually is really good for social anxiety, and it can help with chronic pain, so combining this is actually good for you.

Cannabis Anxiety Disorders 

There are some people who do get anxiety disorders and triggers through the use of cannabis. With cannabis becoming a more popular substance than ever before, people are using this to treat different problems. Those who have too high of a dosage can cause people to experience major issues, including anxiety.  With this, if you start to deal with this, the doctor may prescribe a break. 

This is one that's still being studied, but usually, if you’re using too much, to the point where you feel distress or impairment in some settings, you can start to feel this anxiety, until you stop taking this. The symptoms can be severe, but if you stop using it, they typically go away.

Cannabis can help, but you have to be mindful if you have anxiety due to the effects of this that can linger.