Medical marijuana uses the marijuana plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. It's basically the same product as recreational marijuana, but it's taken for medical purposes.
The marijuana plant contains more than 100 different chemicals called cannabinoids. Each one has a different effect on the body. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the main chemicals used in medicine. THC also produces the "high" people feel when they smoke marijuana or eat foods containing it.
What is medical marijuana used for?
Researchers are studying whether medical marijuana can help treat a number of conditions including:
Alzheimer's disease Appetite loss Cancer Crohn's disease Diseases effecting the immune system like HIV/AIDS or Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Eating disorders such as anorexia Epilepsy Glaucoma Mental health conditions like schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Multiple sclerosis Muscle spasms Nausea Pain Seizures Wasting syndrome (cachexi)
