After becoming legal for medicinal use, Marijuana cards administered by Marijuana doctors in Florida were able to be obtained. One of the most common patients prescribed medicinal Marijuana cards are cancer patients. It has been proven in studies that Cannabis can alleviate nausea which is a symptom of chemotherapy.  Studies also show that for patients struggling to eat such as HIV patients, Marijuana has helped. According to cancer.org, recent studies have shown that smoking. Marijuana can decrease growth in cancer cells, as well. However, smoking causes cancer, right? So, what about smoking marijuana? Smoking is the most common way people consume marijuana, and there is debate on whether or not it can damage lungs and cause cancer, even when it is prescribed to alleviate cancer side effects. Let’s take a look at this question. The answer is not cut and dry.   Smoking Marijuana  According to the American Lunch Association, there are concerns with it comes to consuming by smoke. Of all the methods to consume, the easiest and most common ways are through smoking using glass pipes, rolling papers, or larger devices like bongs or vaporizers. All of these methods involve getting the smoke into your lungs to get the benefits. Generally, all smoke is going to be harmful to the lungs even if it isn’t tobacco. Marijuana smoke contains many of the same substances as tobacco smoke that make it harmful. Those include Benzopyrene, Phenols and Nitrosamines. While smoking marijuana in general will not be the best for you, if it’s a preferred method of consuming it, there are some options that are better than others. If you are going to smoke it out of paper, it is safer to use rolling papers than a hollowed-out cigar that you have removed tobacco from, more commonly known as a blunt. Using rolling papers, or making a joint is slightly safer and will carry less carcinogens since it will have not touched tobacco. If you’re smoking marijuana, the experience is going to be different than a cigarette. The amount you are inhaling is usually larger, and kept in the lungs for a longer amount of time. If you are smoking with rolling papers, tar builds up and you will inhale more of it as you continue to smoke it. Studies have shown that smoking marijuana can cause bronchitis and chronic cough. Smoking anything comes with a risk to your lungs and has potential to cause damage, so it would be wise to consult with a doctor. Florida medical marijuana doctors can help you make the right choice if marijuana is recommended to you for medicinal purposes.   Vaping Another way to ingest marijuana is to vaporize it. Instead of smoke, you inhale vapor into your lungs. Vaping has not been around long enough for there to be concrete evidence on what it will do to your lungs or if it causes cancer, but it has been found to cause a problem called popcorn lung. This creates air pockets in the lungs and the tiniest airways called bronchiolitis obliterans become inflamed. While dangerous, this health problem has not been proven to cause cancer.   Secondhand Smoke Another worry is of secondhand smoke for people around others who are using marijuana for medicinal purposes. It is well known that tobacco secondhand smoke can have lasting effects, but as far as marijuana smoke goes there’s no concrete evidence. The smoke does in fact release carcinogens, but whether secondhand smoke has caused cancer is still unknown.   Smoking Tips  If you still intend on smoking marijuana, here are some tips to do it as safely as possible. Again, there is still a risk to smoking but ways to make it a cleaner experience. Did you know that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the primary cannabinoids found in cannabis?  

• Glass Pipes
  • There are many smoking devices out there, but glass is the way to go. It is easy to clean, and has been the tried and true way to smoke marijuana for ages. DO NOT use plastic. Plastic contains chemicals that will be detrimental to your health even if it does not cause cancer.
• Don’t Inhale for Long Periods
  • Everyone’s first smoking tip with marijuana is usually to hold the inhale as long as possible. In order to avoid potential lung damage, don’t do this. Having smoke sit in your lungs is bad. If you want to smoke more, just take another hit.

  Alternatives  To sum it up, there’s no concrete answer on the subject. Smoking marijuana involves factors that can cause cancer, but since it was not legal until recently, there are not a lot of concrete studies to say one way or another. If you are planning to see a marijuana doctor in Florida for a medical marijuana card, be sure to come with questions. If you are concerned about smoking causing cancer, there are plenty of alternatives.  

• Edibles
  • Edibles are a fantastic alternative to smoking. They come in many varieties. Baked goods, candies, oil to cook with, and so many others. When you are consulting with your marijuana doctor edibles are an excellent choice. They typically come in a variety of dosage amounts, so you can find what works best for you.
• Tinctures
  • An alcohol-based cannabis extract, this product comes in a bottle with a dropper and can be added to things. Usually the best method for a tincture is to add it to a beverage. Something like a sparkling water might do just fine.
• Topicals
  • If you are worried about ingesting marijuana at all and want the chronic pain benefits, try a lotion or cream. They can be rubbed on problem areas and this eliminates the entire risk of getting lung cancer.

  Conclusion  While there is no concrete evidence of marijuana causing lung cancer, it is important to air on the side of caution. When discussing options with your marijuana doctor in Florida, consider alternatives and the safest way to smoke it if you choose to. As we move towards a world with complete legalization on the horizon, more smokeless options have become available to avoid this entirely. If you are interested in getting a medical marijuana card in the State of Florida, contact us today for information on how to get started.

Medical marijuana is gaining popularity and public support by the day. It is estimated that medical marijuana sale numbers are estimated to reach 23 billion US dollars by 2025.

 

Medical Marijuana has now been legalized in 34 states in the United States including Florida and 33 others.  According to expert medical marijuana doctors, the drug when taken in medical form, can help treat symptoms of diseases including Glaucoma and Cancer and serve as a pain killer for muscle spasms and chronic pain however the primary use of medical marijuana is to help with nausea and vomiting.

 

The question arises, how exactly does medical marijuana help patients with nausea and vomiting and why does a marijuana doctor recommend it?

 

What causes Nausea and Vomiting?

To start of let’s get into the reasons behind nausea and vomiting. Nausea can be defined as the unease in the stomach that often occurs before vomiting and vomiting is, in most cases, the involuntary emptying of stomach content through the mouth.

 

Nausea and Vomiting can’t be classified as diseases but are warnings, reactions or symptoms caused by harsh chemicals in the body that are a consequence of a variety of different conditions or infections such as overeating, food poisoning, Motion sickness and migraines to name a few.

 

What is Medical Marijuana?

The medical use of marijuana can be dated back to over a thousand years as part of many cultures across the world. Chemicals found in the marijuana plant are used to make medical marijuana. The product is almost the same as recreational marijuana however it is consumed strictly for medical reasons.

 

According to a group of Florida marijuana doctors over a 100 different chemicals called cannabinoids, which contain healing properties, are found in medical marijuana.

 

Medical marijuana can be administered through various different ways such as capsules, dermal patches, dermal sprays and cannabis edibles.

 

How does Medical Marijuana work?

A study conducted in 1975 consisting of 20 subjects concluded that all of them got relief from nausea when they consumed THC, which is a chemical found in marijuana.

 

The cannabinoids found in the medical marijuana consist of active chemicals that are similar to the ones that your body naturally creates. These chemicals are involved in bodily functions including appetite, pain, memory and movement.

 

When the cannabinoids from the medical marijuana are released in the body they conduct chemical reactions that help control nausea and vomiting by suppressing them.

 

Chemotherapy and Medical Marijuana 

Cancer patients that are undergoing chemotherapy suffer from severe nausea and vomiting as a side effect.

 

The human body as a defense mechanism to chemotherapy trigger sensations of vomiting and nausea, which becomes extremely painful and causes severe discomfort for them throughout their treatment.

 

It is becoming increasingly common amongst cancer patients to take medical marijuana to suppress the nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. The drug makes drastic effects in helping them control these sensations and poses no risk to their health.

 

Many cancer patients preferred medical marijuana over regular pain killers as they were a lot more effective for them.

 

HIV and Medical Marijuana 

The side effects of medicines consumed for the treatment of HIV/AIDS include severe nausea and loss of appetite as well. Medical marijuana is now commonly prescribed to HIV patients by Marijuana doctors in Florida to help control these symptoms and side effects.

 

It is seen that HIV patients who consume medical marijuana during their medical treatment seemed healthier and didn’t suffer from loss of appetite.

 

Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana 

 

Pros 

 

Effective in Controlling Nausea and Vomiting

We have established earlier that medical marijuana is highly effective when it comes to controlling nausea and vomiting. More and more people who suffer from severe nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, HIV treatment or other reasons are now shifting to the drug instead of consuming regular medicines, as it’s more effective.

 

Relieves Chronic Pain 

Medical Marijuana has proven to be highly effective in drastically reducing chronic pains such as neuropathic pains. The cannabinoids tend to block the pain receptors in the body, hence drastically reducing it when consumed.

 

Helps with Appetite Loss 

One of the major side effects of HIV and Cancer treatment is nausea, which results in loss of appetite and weight loss. A marijuana doctor in Florida will prescribe the drug in order to combat the loss of appetite.

 

Many Options of Consumptions 

Contrary to popular belief, medical marijuana can be consumed by many other ways than smoking. There are Marijuana oils, edibles and topical treatments available in the market.

 

A Better Option 

This may come as a shock but in many cases medical marijuana is actually a safer option to battle nausea, vomiting, chronic pain or muscle spasticity. Many pain relievers sold in the market can be extremely dangerous for the body and have adverse effects in the long run.

 

Aids in Controlling Muscle Spasticity 

Florida Marijuana doctors often prescribe medical marijuana to patients suffering from aching and cramping muscles. After consuming the drug patients have reported a drastic reduction in pain and stiffness in their muscles.

 

Cons 

 

Still Illegal 

Medical Marijuana, while legal in many states across the US, is still illegal under federal law. The medicinal value of this drug is also completely disregarded and rejected in most countries across the world.

 

Damages Lungs 

Regardless of what you smoke be it a cigarette or medicinal marijuana, there is undoubtedly damage being done to your lung tissues. Smoked marijuana also consists of compounds that may cause cancer, which is a major disadvantage of medical marijuana.

 

Short-term Memory may Suffer 

If medical marijuana is consumed regularly, in large amounts, for an extended period of time, there is a possibility that your short-term memory may be affected and you may have a hard time remember things.

 

Possibility of Addiction 

There is a high possibility that the consumption of medical marijuana could result in abuse and addiction. Taking the drug for medicinal purposes is a major gamble and requires a lot of self-restraint and control.

 

Could affect Cognitive Ability 

Again if consumed in large amounts for a very long time, medical marijuana could also have a negative affect and even impair your Cognitive ability. That is why it is necessary to consume in strict moderation and in accordance to how your medical marijuana doctor prescribed it.

 

Conclusion

The medical marijuana industry is a fast growing one. While the exact potential and benefits of this drug are still undiscovered and it is still under negative light for many, times are changing fast. More and more people are now accepting it and consuming it for its medicinal properties especially to counter nausea and vomiting. Contact us to get started today.

There is no evidence that CBD oil can be used to treat cancer in people. CBD does show promise for the management of some cancer related symptoms, including pain and anxiety, however, more research into appropriate amounts of CBD and its effects on humans is necessary.

 

While marijuana is not a magic potion to cure cancer, there is preclinical evidence in animal models and cell lines (cancer cells grown in petri dishes in the lab) to suggest cannabis might have an anti-cancer effect in humans. However, bear in mind that most drugs that perform similarly well in preclinical models turn out to not even shrink cancer or help people live longer when they are tested in definitive human trials.

Many years later, another study found similar results: Mice and rats given various doses of THC exhibited a “significant” dose-related decrease in the incidence of hepatic adenoma tumors and hepatocellular carcinoma (the most common type of liver cancer), as well as a decrease in benign tumors in other organs.

 

Multiple studies have since observed the a trend with breast, prostate (one of the most malignant forms of cancer), lymphoblastic leukemia cells, and skin tumors.

 

At least one clinical trial showed that patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme who were treated with a “proprietary combination of THC and CBD” in addition to a traditional pharmaceutical had a higher one-year survival rate (83 percent) compared to a placebo group (53 percent).

 

Another study found blood cancer cells that were treated with two synthetic endocannabinoids activated receptors that “mediated apoptosis,” or the death of the cells.

 

In certain cell lines of prostate cancer, similar findings were observed. There was significant cell growth inhibition followed by apoptosis in one particular cancer cell type in a “study which was designed to evaluate the in entourage effects of endocannabinioids such as 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, anadamine, and its synthetic analog methazolamide.”

 

Some cannabinoids inhibit the growth of tumor cells in test tubes and mice, but others encourage growth. For a more detailed breakdown of the current science, give this article a go. Human studies are still small and hard to come by.

 

One study of cannabis users found they had a lower risk of bladder cancer, but their risk of developing prostate cancer increased. The jury is still out whether any part of cannabis will treat cancer in the future. But if you’d like to learn more about the current research, have a look here. In the US, dronabinol, a drug containing THC, is sometimes prescribed for patients to deal with the side effects of chemotherapy.

 

What to expect when using medical marijuana

Medical marijuana comes in a variety of strains and each has different levels of active compounds and potency. This means the effects of medical marijuana will be unique to each person and can be hard to predict.

 

Medical marijuana products come in many different forms, including:

• edibles, such as cookies, candy, mints, or brownies
• dried leaves or buds for smoking
• oils for vaporing or mixing into tea, honey, or other food
• creams and other products that are applied topically
• sprays or tinctures that are used under the tongue or along the gum line

 

Many oncologists would prefer that their patients not smoke anything. At the same time, many women diagnosed with breast cancer are trying to prevent weight gain/lose weight related to treatment. So, oils, sprays, or tinctures may be a better option than edibles or dried leaves or buds. Still, every person’s situation is unique and the best form of medical marijuana will vary from person to person. All Natural MD.