Here are ten health conditions, both medical and psychological, for which there is some empirical evidence supporting the potential benefits of cannabis:
Chronic Pain: Cannabis has been shown to be effective in managing chronic pain conditions such as neuropathic pain and pain associated with conditions like multiple sclerosis or arthritis. Studies suggest that cannabinoids have analgesic effects. [Source: Hill, K. P. (2015). Medical Marijuana for Treatment of Chronic Pain and Other Medical and Psychiatric Problems: A Clinical Review. JAMA, 313(24), 2474–2483.]
Epilepsy: Cannabidiol (CBD), a compound derived from cannabis, has demonstrated efficacy in reducing seizure frequency in certain types of epilepsy, particularly in children with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. [Source: Devinsky, O. et al. (2017). Cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy: an open-label interventional trial. The Lancet Neurology, 16(3), 262-272.]
Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabis, particularly THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), has been used effectively to alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. [Source: Whiting, P. F. et al. (2015). Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA, 313(24), 2456–2473.]
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Symptoms: Cannabis has been reported to help manage symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis, including spasticity and neuropathic pain. [Source: Koppel, B. S. et al. (2014). Systematic review: Efficacy and safety of medical marijuana in selected neurologic disorders: Report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology, 82(17), 1556-1563.]
Anxiety Disorders: Some studies suggest that CBD, a non-intoxicating component of cannabis, may have anxiolytic effects and could be beneficial for individuals with anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder. [Source: Blessing, E. M. et al. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 825-836.]
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Preliminary research indicates that cannabis may be helpful in reducing symptoms of PTSD, such as intrusive thoughts and nightmares. [Source: Bonn-Miller, M. O. et al. (2017). Use and Effects of Cannabinoids in Military Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 74(15), 1157-1164.]
Glaucoma: Cannabis has been shown to lower intraocular pressure, which can benefit individuals with glaucoma by slowing the progression of the disease. [Source: Tomida, I. et al. (2006). Effect of sublingual application of cannabinoids on intraocular pressure: a pilot study. Journal of Glaucoma, 15(5), 349-353.]
Insomnia: Some individuals report improvements in sleep quality with the use of cannabis. Certain cannabinoids may have sedative properties that could help individuals with insomnia. [Source: Babson, K. A. et al. (2017). Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature. Current Psychiatry Reports, 19(4), 23.]
Appetite Stimulation in HIV/AIDS: Cannabis has been shown to increase appetite and help with weight gain in patients with HIV/AIDS who experience appetite loss and wasting syndrome. [Source: Badowski, M. E. & Yanful, P. K. (2018). Dronabinol oral solution in the management of anorexia and weight loss in AIDS and cancer. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 14, 643-651.]
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD): Some studies suggest that cannabis may help alleviate symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, including reducing inflammation and improving quality of life. [Source: Naftali, T. et al. (2014). Cannabis induces a clinical response in patients with Crohn's disease: a prospective placebo-controlled study. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 11(10), 1276-1280.]
It's important to note that while these studies suggest potential benefits, the use of cannabis for medical purposes should be carefully considered under the supervision of healthcare professionals, as there are also potential risks and side effects associated with cannabis use.
Conversely, here are ten health conditions for which there is currently no or insufficient empirical support to show that cannabis can be helpful:
Alzheimer's Disease: Despite some preliminary research suggesting potential benefits of certain cannabinoids for Alzheimer's disease, robust clinical evidence supporting cannabis as a treatment for cognitive decline or dementia is lacking. [Source: Salloway, S. et al. (2020). Two Phase 3 Trials of Semagacestat for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(4), 341-350.]
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): While anecdotal reports suggest improvements in certain symptoms of ASD with cannabis-based treatments, well-designed clinical trials are needed to establish efficacy and safety. [Source: Zuckerman, K. E. et al. (2019). A Scoping Review of Cannabis Use and Autism Spectrum Disorder: What We Know, What We Don't Know, and Implications for Future Research. Autism Research, 12(4), 551-563.]
Depression: Although some individuals may report mood improvement with cannabis use, evidence supporting cannabis as an effective treatment for depression is limited and inconclusive. [Source: NIDA. (2020). Marijuana and Depression. National Institute on Drug Abuse.]
Schizophrenia: There is concern that cannabis use may exacerbate symptoms of schizophrenia or increase the risk of developing psychosis in susceptible individuals. Evidence supporting cannabis as a treatment for schizophrenia is lacking and controversial. [Source: Volkow, N. D. et al. (2014). Effects of Cannabis Use on Human Behavior, Including Cognition, Motivation, and Psychosis: A Review. JAMA Psychiatry, 71(3), 292-297.]
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): While cannabis may cause a temporary decrease in blood pressure, long-term effects and benefits in managing hypertension remain unclear and require further research. [Source: Ravi, D. et al. (2018). Cannabinoid Use in Medical Practice and Public Health: Risks and Benefits. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 7(9), 280.]
Osteoporosis: There is currently no evidence to support the use of cannabis or cannabinoids in the treatment of osteoporosis or improvement of bone health. [Source: NIA. (2020). Osteoporosis. National Institute on Aging.]
Tourette Syndrome: Although some anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabis may help manage tics associated with Tourette syndrome, rigorous clinical studies demonstrating efficacy and safety are lacking. [Source: Müller-Vahl, K. R. et al. (2018). Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is effective in the treatment of tics in Tourette syndrome: a 6-week randomized trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 79(6), 17m11526.]
Obesity: While cannabis use is associated with increased appetite (the "munchies"), it is not considered an effective treatment for obesity due to potential adverse effects and lack of substantial evidence supporting long-term weight management. [Source: Le Strat, Y. & Le Foll, B. (2011). Obesity and Cannabis Use: Results From 2 Representative National Surveys. American Journal of Epidemiology, 174(8), 929-933.]
Migraine Headaches: Limited and conflicting evidence exists regarding the efficacy of cannabis or cannabinoids in preventing or treating migraine headaches. More research is needed to determine their role in migraine management. [Source: Baron, E. P. (2015). Comprehensive Review of Medicinal Marijuana, Cannabinoids, and Therapeutic Implications in Medicine and Headache: What a Long Strange Trip It's Been …. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 55(6), 885-916.]
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder): There is insufficient evidence to support the use of cannabis in managing symptoms of ADHD, and its use in this context may have potential adverse effects on attention and cognitive function. [Source: Cooper, R. E. et al. (2017). Cannabinoids in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A randomised-controlled trial. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 27(8), 795-808.]
It's important to note that while cannabis shows promise for certain medical conditions, more research is needed to clarify its therapeutic potential and to identify any potential risks associated with its use for various health conditions. Always consult with healthcare professionals before considering cannabis as a treatment option.
