Cannabis: Miracle Plant or Snake Oil?
Everywhere you turn, there is yet another health condition it is claimed cannabis can help with. These days, it is nearly impossible to watch the news, follow social media, stream Netflix, or even talk to friends and family without hearing about how amazing cannabis is. From clearing up skin conditions to curing cancer, it is touted as being the miracle we have all been waiting for to cure anything and everything we are suffering with.
CANNABIS HEALTH
10/22/20233 min read
Cannabis has been used as medicine for almost 5000 years.
It is understandable that these bold claims have made many people skeptical. As the old saying goes, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Without question, there are some exaggerated claims when it comes to cannabis and not everything is to be believed, but once one looks at the history and science behind cannabis, the idea of dismissing it as snake oil or hippie hogwash may just be half-baked.
Debunking Cannabis
There are several groups of people who have set themselves on a mission to discredit the effectiveness of cannabis - anti-drug crusaders who see all non-prescribed drugs as inherently evil; special interest groups who will experience huge losses if cannabis use gains traction (such as big-pharma); and those who just can't believe it does what it is claimed it does (most often without ever having tried it themselves) and believe it is their civic duty to protect everyone from wasting their time and money on this useless plant. In all cases, their approach is usually predictable - re-post articles claiming cannabis is no better than a placebo (that is a whole other can of worms there), quote outdated information that has long-since been refuted, focus on the negatives while ignoring that there are risks with almost everything we consume or encounter in this world (re: liver damage and deaths from acetaminophen and other prescribed and OTC drugs, or even fatalities from falling coconuts for that matter!), and their most favourite one - argue there is no scientific proof to support cannabis as having medical value. It is true, much of the evidence surrounding the benefits of cannabis is anecdotal. Two major hurdles to having more "scientific" evidence are that with it being illegal in so many places, there are unreasonable restrictions on scientific testing - you cannot test what you are refused access to. Secondly, much of the testing that has been done has been conducted on animals and animal testing is highly flawed, as results most often do not translate to their human counterparts.
While scientific research has its place when trying to establish safety and efficacy, we already have almost 5000 years of documented use of cannabis as medicine, so more research into whether it works or not is over-rated, and any further cannabis research should instead focus on things such as interactions with other medications, reducing side-effects, and other health issues that can be treated by it, not whether it has medicinal value.
Despite the racially-motivated propaganda of the 1920's and 1930's that demonized cannabis and ultimately led to its being illegal for the better part of the next century, first-person accounts have continued to show promise for the use of cannabis as a mainstream treatment option for many conditions, and there has yet to be a single unbiased study proving cannabis is inherently dangerous or generally ineffective. There certainly are risks with it as with anything, there is absolutely abuse and irresponsible use that has led to a number of ER visits and other negative consequences, and there are some people it will not work for, but it is a more effective and safer option than many of the bottles lining pharmacy shelves. Strip away the politics and racism and look at the radical shift millions of people have experienced in their health after using cannabis, and those success stories are far more valuable than a handful of "peer-reviewed, scientific studies" disputing its use.
Master Control Centre
It is important to understand the reason cannabis is so effective for so many different conditions is because it impacts our body's endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS was only 'discovered' in the early 90's so it still is not completely understood, but what is known is that the ECS is the master control system for all other systems in the body (circulatory, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, etc.), and there are receptors that cannabis can bind to throughout the whole body. That is why it can affect a person literally from head-to-toe. Even with limited studies, there are still over 60 medical conditions that have been scientifically researched to determine the potential of various cannabinoids in improving mental and physical health - one plant, so very many uses.
BENEFITS
Below is a list of only a fraction of what cannabis can help. Of course, results are going to vary by person, but the possibility for relief of these conditions and their symptoms and side-effects does exist once you know how to use cannabis safely and effectively.
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Disclaimer: The thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this blog site are solely those of the author. They are not meant to be a substitute for professional medical and mental health guidance. Before following the advice given, it is always advisable to consult with your healthcare team to ensure no possible adverse affects or interactions with other treatments you may be using. Should you make the choice to use cannabis products, you do so at your own risk and assume all responsibility of a health or legal nature. The author does not encourage use of cannabis is those under 25 years of age, individuals in area where they do not have access to legal cannabis, or in individuals with pre-existing conditions that could be negatively impacted as the result of cannabis use.