Many researchers have attempted to study the effects that cannabis can have on conditions such as epilepsy, pain and others. While it can be difficult to draw concrete conclusions, the research does seem to show benefits to cannabis use. A study conducted at NYU for example, showed a 39% decrease in seizure activity over 14 weeks in patients suffering from epilepsy. In this study and others like it, CBD has been shown to act as an anticonvulsant.
Part of what makes cannabis compounds effective at treating various ailments is the 50+ cannabinoids they contain that interact with the body’s central nervous system. So many potential positive effects that provide relief from a variety of conditions, without the addictive qualities of so many traditional medications.
There have been many significant findings from medical research into cannabis usage. In January 2017 a review of all research conducted on cannabis since 1999 was released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Their findings showed significant therapeutic effects for a number of ailments, especially pain.
The drug also looks promising for adults MS related muscle-spasms, there was evidence that cannabis-based medications could reduce symptoms. For patients going through chemotherapy, oral cannabis products were effective in preventing common side-effects such as vomiting and nausea.
There is no known recorded case of anyone ever dying from an overdose of cannabis. It is a useful treatment for countless ailments, with reduced risk of harm or side-effects. Some experts have gone as far as to recommend cannabis as an alternative to traditional addictive painkillers, or in combination with painkillers at a lower than normal dose.
In the United States, regions that have legalized cannabis for medicinal use have seen drops in opioid-related deaths. In fact, these same regions have shown significant reduction in the number of prescriptions for painkillers being written by Doctors when cannabis is an alternative available to their patients.
In a 2018 study by the European Journal of Internal Medicine, almost 3000 people aged 65 and older took part as they used cannabis to treat a wide range of ailments from chronic pain to cancer. A staggering 90% of respondents said their condition improved, with the average level of pain dropping from an 8 out of 10 to a 4. 15% of the people reduced or completely stopped use of painkillers as a result. Only a small number of participants reported side-effects, and all were minor, including dizziness and dry mouth.
