This article is solely based on the medical
benefits of marijuana. We are highlighting the positive aspects only, based on researches and scientific evidences.
Please note, Lifehack does not promote consumption of marijuana for recreational or prescribe it for any other purposes in that manner.
Before I begin, let me take you to 2737 BC. It has been described that during that period, the first direct reference was found in China in the writings of the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. The first use of cannabis product was used for psychoactive agents. In the writings, the focus was mainly on its power as a medication for rheumatism, gout, malaria, and funny enough, for absent-mindedness. The importance of medicinal value was focused mainly than the intoxication
properties. Gradually its use spread from China to India, and then to North Africa, and reached Europe as early as AD
500. Marijuana was listed in United States Pharmacopeia from 1850 till 1942. It was prescribed for different medical
uses such as labor pain, nausea, and rheumatism.
MEDICAL USES
From 1850s to 1930s cannabis started to grow famous for recreational purposes. As the intake of this drug increased
over time, The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified it as a Scheduled I Drug. So naturally controversies aroused
surrounding the medical use of marijuana. To make it more medical-friendly, its active ingredient THC was synthesized
in 1966, and finally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1985.
Since 1999, a number of studies have been done to show that smoked marijuana has pain reducing effects. In 1996, California became the first state to legalise the use of marijuana for medical objectives, and about 24 of the states now have some sort of medical marijuana legislation. You will be surprised to know why studies have been done on this herb,
and for your favor, here is the list of 20 medical benefits of marijuana you probably never knew!

1. Marijuana slows and stops cancer cells from spreading. It was found in the study, published in the journal Molecular
Cancer Therapeutics, that Cannabidiol has the ability to stop cancer by turning off a gene called Id-1. In 2007, researchers at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, reported that CBD may prevent cancer from spreading. The researchers experimented on breast cancer cells in the lab that had high level of Id-1, and treated them with cannabidiol. The outcome was rather positive, the cells had decreased Id-1 expression, and were less aggressive spreaders. In fact, the American Association for Cancer Research has found that marijuana actually works to slow down tumor growth in brain, breast, and lungs considerately.
2. Prevents Alzheimer’s.
THC, the active ingredient present in marijuana slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, a 2006 study led by Kim Janda of the Scripps Research Institute found out. THC slows the formation of amyloid plaques by blocking the enzyme in the brain that makes them. These plaques kill the brain cells, and potentially lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Treats Glaucoma.
Weed can be used to treat glaucoma, which increases the pressure in the eyeball, injuring the optic nerve and causing loss of vision. According to. National Eye Institute, marijuana lowers the pressure inside the eye, “Studies in the early 1970s showed that marijuana, when smoked, lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with normal pressure and those with glaucoma.”
These effects of the drug can prevent blindness.
4. Relieves Arthritis.
In 2011, researchers reported that cannabis reduces pain and inflammation, and promotes sleep, which may help relieve pain and discomfort for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers of the rheumatology units at several hospitals gave their patients Sativex, a cannabinoid-based pain-relieving medicine. After two weeks, patients on Sativex had a significant reduction in pain, and improved better sleep quality compared to placebo users.
5. Decreases anxiety.
In 2010, researchers at Harvard University suggested that some of the drug’s benefits may actually be reduced anxiety,
which would improve the smoker’s mood and act as a sedative in low doses.
Beware, though, higher doses may increase anxiety and make you paranoid.
6. Reduces severe pain, and nausea from
chemo, and stimulates appetite. One of the most common uses of medical marijuana is for people going through chemotherapy. Cancer patients going through chemo suffer from severe pains, painful nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. This can lead to further health
complications. Marijuana can help reduce these side effects, reducing pain, decreasing nausea, and stirring up the appetite. Also, there are other FDA approved cannabinoid drugs that use THC, for the same purposes.
7.Controls Epileptic seizure.
A 2003 study showed that marijuana use can control epileptic seizure. Robert J. DeLorenzo, of Virginia Commonwealth University, gave marijuana extract and synthetic marijuana to epileptic rats. The drugs stopped the seizures in about 10 hours. It is found out that the THC controlled the seizures by binding the
brain cells responsible for controlling excitability and regulating relaxation. The results were published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
Thanks for reading.
N.B: just a little, never too much. Jah bless!
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