Medical marijuana: What is it good for?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on March 15 to legalize smokable medical marijuana. Now, people who need medical marijuana have a new way of using it along with the oils, topical lotions, vapes, tinctures and capsules that already were available since 2016.

Here are answers to health questions you may be considering, as a medical marijuana patient or patient-to-be.

Medical marijuana can be used for what health issues?

The most common use for medical marijuana in the United States is for pain control. Marijuana is far less addictive than opioids and appears to ease the pain of multiple sclerosis, and nerve pain in general. Medical experts have called it a fantastic muscle relaxant, and it has been known to lessen tremors in Parkinson’s disease as well as help with fibromyalgia, endometriosis and interstitial cystitis

Medical marijuana has been used to stimulate appetite among HIV/AIDS patients and others who have a suppressed appetite due to a medical condition or treatment. It also is used during chemotherapy to manage nausea and weight loss, and can be used to treat glaucoma.

A highly promising area of research is its use for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans who are returning from combat zones. Medical marijuana is also reported to help patients suffering from pain and wasting syndrome associated with HIV, as well as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease.

What are the health risks?

Marijuana does have side effects. It can interfere with memory, attention, judgment, balance and cause disorientation, as well as unpleasant thoughts or feelings of anxiety and paranoia; it also can possibly worsen depression, mania, or other mental illness. Some marijuana users experience increased heart rate, decreased

blood pressure, dizziness or lightheadedness.

Smoke from marijuana contains many of the same toxins, irritants and carcinogens as tobacco smoke so lung problems could arise. Erik Beyer, director of cardiac surgery at Florida Medical Center, said research will need to be done on how smokable marijuana affects the lungs over time.

“You are holding in the smoke longer to get the effect, so there is a longer time frame of inflammatory component in your lungs,” he said. “Also, people tend to smoke joints to the very end as it gets hotter, the more potential to have more inflammatory component getting into your lungs. So, it makes sense to think that smokable pot could lead to lung cancer, but over time we will see if it’s true.”

If you are ingesting marijuana rather than smoking it, that has its risks, too, including the potential for poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The amount of THC can be difficult

to measure, particularly in edible products. And because using marijuana makes the heart beat faster, it could also lead to increased risk of stroke and heart disease, the CDC says.

Does smokable marijuana have a different effect than taking ingestibles?

When consumed, such as in baked goods, the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can take hours to be absorbed. However, when smoked or inhaled, the THC enters the bloodstream and goes to the brain quickly. The effects of inhaled marijuana fade faster than marijuana taken by mouth.

Is medical marijuana addictive?

The more you use cannabis, the more it increases the likelihood of developing problem use, according to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. In addition, it also increases the risk for developing dependence on other substances.

Are there any specific risks for pregnant women?

The psychoactive compounds in marijuana could lead to lower birth weights and developmental problems for babies whose mothers used marijuana while pregnant, according to the CDC.

What do the studies show?

A European study released March 19 by shows daily marijuana use — especially when high potency cannabis — is linked to an increased risk of developing psychosis. The study published in the Lancet Psychiatry Journal looked at chronic cannabis use in 11 major European cities and found THC was the culprit in the psychotic events. It has been difficult for researchers to study cannabis use in the United States because while legal in some states, it has not be federally legalized.

How do I get medical marijuana to treat my condition?

Doctors don’t formally prescribe medical cannabis, but rather recommend usage. In Florida, you need a physician’s recommendation to make a purchase at

medical marijuana dispensaries, which are now open around the state. If your physician isn’t comfortable with a recommendation, you can still find a doctor who specializes in cannabis treatment by seeking one online through resources such as the Medicinal Marijuana Association. Each state has its own list of medical conditions approved for treatment by medical marijuana.

What are the approved conditions for medical marijuana treatment in Florida?

Cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), crohn’s disease, chronic seizures, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic nonmalignant pain or a terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the certification.