People often confuse recreational and medical cannabis for the same product, but there is a distinction between the substances people use for enjoyment and those who need it to relieve pain and alleviate symptoms of medical conditions. Keep reading to discover what medical-grade marijuana is and what it’s used for today.
Its History
Do you need a brief history of medical marijuana? The medicinal use of this drug has a long history dating back thousands of years across a variety of cultures. Historically, it started in China and then spread through South Asia, into the Middle East and Africa. The ancient Greeks also had use for it, applying it to their animals. As a medicine, it became common through most of the world in the 19th century, and it entered the west in the 1880s. It was primarily used as a pain reliever until aspirin was developed.
India, like China, is another country with particularly …show more content…
Medical marijuana is also an excellent alternative option to opioids because of its far less addictive properties.
THC vs. CBD
Two main components within the plant cause people to act the way they do: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC gives users the “high” feeling while CBD is used to ease symptoms.
CBD is prevalent in medical use because of its non-psychoactive element. It has a great painkiller effect, is often recommended to combat anxiety, and it contains a number of other healing properties. The plant’s CBD content interacts with the body’s natural cannabinoid receptors. Receptors play a role in many different processes: metabolic regulation, cravings, pain, immune function. When the plant’s properties are inhaled or ingested by the patient, they activate the body’s cannabinoid receptors, producing a variety of feelings within the