Do you know that use of medical marijuana to cure diseases reduces the need for other medicines?
A study found that patients using marijuana to cure pain and other conditions have an extra benefit. Because it leads to decrease in everyday dose of prescription painkillers.
A study found that various people are using medical marijuana to treat various health problems. It helps them to get rid of other prescription drugs.
Medical marijuana refers to the use of complete unprocessed marijuana plant or its extract. It helps in curing a symptom or disease.
But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recognize marijuana plant as the medicine.
The marijuana plant contains cannabinoids. The chemicals present in marijuana are beneficial in treating a variety of symptoms and illness.
Cannabinoids are the chemicals related to the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is the marijuana’s important mind altering agent.
Marijuana plant has more than 100 cannabinoids other than THC. Cannabinoids are strong and lead to serious health problems when misused.
You may know that body also produces cannabinoids chemicals by its own. It helps in regulating memory, concentration, pleasure, body movement, thinking, appetite, and awareness of time, pain and also the senses which are taste, smell, sight, touch, and hearing.
A study conducted at University of Georgia’s Department of Public Administration and Policy. It suggests that the states that have legalised medical marijuana laws are in more benefit.
Because they found a significant reduction in a prescription for ailments, treated using cannabis. And due to this more and more states are legalising the medical marijuana laws in their states.
Furthermore, it is also found that there is no reduction in prescriptions of drugs that treats other diseases, for which marijuana is almost ineffective.
A study found that use of medical marijuana could also play a key role in declining overdosed deaths due to opiates. Several opiates are hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, oxycodone (Oxycontin), and morphine.
It also suggests if you don’t use an opiate ever, then you will not lead to a path of opiate misuse and death.
To find more results whether marijuana reduces need for other medicine or not, other studies conducted.
The study conducted to analyse data from Medicare Part D. It included all the prescriptions filled by the Medicare Part D from 2010- 2013.
The aim of this study is to compare the difference in prescriptions drug trends between the states that have legalised medical marijuana and those who have not.
The study focused mainly on nine conditions or diseases for which medical marijuana is effective. These conditions include glaucoma, pain, nausea, psychosis, sleep disorders, spasticity, and seizures.
And pain is also considered because medical marijuana is most effective in curing it.
Results found that greatest decrease is on prescriptions for painkillers. The decrease was in the states that have legalised medical marijuana law. There were almost 1826 fewer everyday doses of painkiller prescribed, on an average per year.
Hence results showed decline in prescriptions for states that passed marijuana compared to that didn’t.
Hence, there is 3 – 4 times greater reductions found in prescriptions of marijuana treatable diseases. The results also account for depression, anxiety, nausea, seizures, and psychosis and sleep disorders.
The reduction in prescriptions was significant. And averaged between the 265 and 562 everyday doses per year.
Hence medical marijuana is a better substitute for drugs that creates side effects in treating respective diseases. Because medical marijuana reduces the need for other drugs.
It is also found that there is no reduction in prescriptions of medicines to treat diseases, for which medical marijuana is almost ineffective. Like the spasticity and glaucoma diseases.
According to Yale University Prevention Research Center in New Haven, Conn. Medical marijuana may not be good for every people, but there are many people for whom it is beneficial.
Hence medical marijuana avoids the need for other medicines, for the diseases, it is effective in treating.
Hope the above- mentioned information is helpful for you.
