Cannabis is a plant that humans have used for thousands of years. So it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most popular recreational substances in the world, with over 200 million people using cannabis every day.
But there are many other reasons to use cannabis, and not all of them are recreational. In this blog post, we will explore everything you need to know about the health benefits of cannabis.
The Health Benefits of cannabis
- Relieves Chronic Pain
One of the best-documented effects of cannabis is its ability to relieve chronic pain. Studies have shown that smoking or ingesting marijuana decreases pain levels by interfering with brain signals involved in the processing and regulating pain, thereby changing what you feel about the discomfort. The Mountain Annie’s Dispensary offers a wide range of options for patients to choose from for pain relief.
- Lowers Risk of Diabetes
People who smoke cannabis are less likely to get diabetes than people who don’t use marijuana. Researchers at Harvard University found that men with a long history of smoking weed had lower levels of insulin resistance. Therefore lower risk for contracting type II diabetes (the most common form) compared to those who didn’t smoke or hadn’t smoked in the past 30 days.
- Promotes Heart Health
Although smoking cannabis has the potential to damage your lungs, studies have shown that it can improve heart health by reducing blood pressure and inhibiting arteries from forming clots. These properties are caused by chemicals called cannabinoids which relax blood vessels through various pathways in the body.
- Reduces Risk of Cancer
Cannabis may reduce the risk and slow down tumor growth when used to treat certain cancers. Studies show that cannabinoids can inhibit cancer cell proliferation, metastasis (spread), and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death). Some studies also show cannabis has anti-tumor properties, which help destroy malignant cells in the brain, breast, lungs, and prostate.
- Reduces anxiety
It’s always been believed that smoking marijuana can trigger anxiety attacks, but recent research shows the opposite. A 2011 study found that a single dose of THC moderately improved patients’ ratings of their anxiety symptoms. A 2015 analysis showed mild or infrequent cannabis use might be associated with reduced odds of an anxiety disorder diagnosis.
Conclusion
Cannabis is one of nature’s best medicinal plants. Humans have used marijuana for thousands of years to treat various ailments, including chronic pain, type II diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and anxiety. Even though there are still many unanswered questions about the benefits of cannabis, it’s clear that marijuana is not just a recreational drug but has multiple health benefits.