In 2016, Florida achieved a majority vote of 71.6% for Amendment 2, allowing more medical conditions to qualify for medical marijuana use. As of now, these medical conditions below are explicitly defined as qualifying conditions. However, patients should not self-medicate on marijuana alone.
Cancer
While the study of marijuana use on cancer is still in its early stages, marijuana doctors have found that the substance can help in reducing pain caused by damaged nerves, vomiting and nausea caused by chemotherapy, and potentially slow growth or even cause death in certain cancer cell types.
Epilepsy
The effects of marijuana on epilepsy have been studied for a number of years. Cannabidiol, found in marijuana, is believed to help control seizures. Recently, marijuana doctors discovered that cannabidiol was effective in treating certain groups of people with epilepsy for whom traditional therapies were ineffective.
Glaucoma
This condition is typically caused by high eye pressure. Traditional treatments for glaucoma include taking daily eye drops that help to lower eye pressure. An alternative treatment for people that cannot tolerate eye drops is to take marijuana because it can also lower eye pressure, although only for 3-4 hours at a time.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Marijuana doctors use the substance to treat symptoms of HIV/AIDS, including pain, nausea, vomiting and appetite loss. Patients can also use marijuana to restore weight and maintain essential nutrients. Additionally, marijuana alleviates neuropathic pain caused by HIV/AIDS treatments.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
People suffering from PTSD have an endocannabinoid deficiency, which can be potentially be countered with cannabinoids. Marijuana doctors use cannabinoids in marijuana to help enhance traditional therapies for PTSD, because cannabinoids decrease fear expression and disrupt the strengthening of fears in long-term memories.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Marijuana doctors use the substance to slow the progression of ALS as its neuroprotective ability protects the motor neurons that ALS attacks. It also has an antioxidant property which reduces the oxidative stress on cells that contributes to cell death. Additionally, marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol which can counter neurodegeneration.
Crohn’s Disease
Studies of the effects of marijuana on Crohn’s Disease are few and not fully understood. However, marijuana doctors believe that patients can use cannabinoid therapies to treat Crohn’s Disease as cannabinoids prevent the immune system from releasing inflammatory proteins and instead activate proteins to combat inflammation.
Parkinson’s Disease
Marijuana can help to relax muscles, which can greatly improve the quality of life for people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. They can potentially experience fewer tremors, get pain relief, sleep better and move with greater ease after taking marijuana. Additionally, standard treatments for Parkinson’s Disease usually include other risk factors. Some patients may prefer the side effects of marijuana over the risks of traditional medications.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis causes stiffness and muscle spasms, which marijuana can help to alleviate. Marijuana doctors also believe that cannabinoids may ease sleep problems in people with multiple sclerosis.
Other Debilitating Conditions
A person can still have access to medical marijuana even if their condition is not explicitly listed. The Florida law includes an “all other debilitating…” category, which enables a person to be qualified for medical marijuana use following their doctor’s discretion if their condition is comparable to those stated. www.FloridasMedicalMarijuana.com.