Are There Any Side Effects of Medical Weed?
Medical weed has been legal for a while – but it’s still a dogma to most people. Whether you’re getting your medical weed from a reputed Venice Beach Weed Dispensary, a website, or an app – you’ll need to know what you’re getting into.
Recreational marijuana might be fun, but medicinal marijuana has a different purpose entirely. Cannabis is a wonderful plant, and it’s known to assist with a vast array of issues, diseases, and ailments. In this article, we’ll explore the difference between medicinal and recreational weed – and answer some of your most pressing questions about the side effects of medicinal marijuana.
Medical Weed vs. Recreational Weed
Medicinal marijuana and recreational marijuana are quite different – and while they both come from the same family of plants, their chemical composition is not the same. Recreational weed contains an abundance of THC, while medicinal weed contains more CBD.
THC is the psychoactive compound that gets you high, while CBD is a phytocannabinoid known for its many health benefits. Both of these compounds work by stimulating your cannabinoid receptors in your endocannabinoid system.
Every mammal has an endocannabinoid system, and that’s why CBD is a popular supplement for pets.
What is Medical Weed Used For?
Unlike regular weed, medicinal weed won’t get you high since it contains little to no THC, the main psychoactive compound in weed. However, it might help with an abundance of ailments and serve as a treatment to a vast array of illnesses.
The Benefits of Medical Weed
The benefits of medical weed are too numerous to list in one simple article. A few studies have found that medicinal marijuana can help in fighting cancer and ease chemotherapy side effects.
It can also help in reducing stress and anxiety, making them a fantastic alternative to synthetic drugs that might cause more harm than good.
People with Parkinson’s Disease and Epilepsy can benefit from medical weed use, as it lessens their symptoms by a considerable margin.
Consuming medicinal weed is a great way to increase your bone strength and improve your recovery after an injury or surgery – and since it’s an all-natural pain relief agent, you can rest assured your recovery will be as fast as possible and pain-free.
Lastly, medicinal marijuana may help patients suffering from diabetes. The use of medical marijuana is directly linked with decreased chances of developing diabetes and might help people regulate existing diabetes through its blood sugar stabilization effects.
These beneficial properties are just the tip of the iceberg of everything that medicinal marijuana has to offer.
Are There Any Side Effects of Medical Weed?
Nothing good in life comes without its fair share of cons. While its benefits significantly outweigh the disadvantages of medical weed – they still might deter some people from using the product.
Some of the most common negative side-effects of medical weed are:
1. Bloodshot Eyes
Marijuana might speed up your heart rate and dilate your ocular capillaries – causing bloodshot eyes. That’s only a temporary side effect and has no long-term effects on your vision.
2. Depression
This side effect is a bit ironic, as medicinal marijuana is renowned for its depression treating properties. Some users might experience depression symptoms after smoking weed, most likely due to its minor cognitive impairment properties.
3. Dizziness
Smoking medicinal weed could temporarily affect your cerebellum, responsible for balance and coordination, which might make you feel dizzy.
4. Fast Heartbeat
Both recreational and medicinal weed can dilate your blood vessels. That leads to reflex tachycardia, which means your heart can work faster to compensate for the blood-thinning effect.
5. Hallucinations
While medicinal marijuana contains far more CBD than recreational marijuana, it still contains THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana. Due to its minimal THC content, particularly sensitive users could experience hallucinations after consuming medical weed.
6. Low Blood Pressure
Medical weed dilates your blood, relaxes your blood vessels, decreases stress, and anxiety – thus significantly lowering blood pressure. While this is a beneficial side effect, people with regularly low blood pressure could be in danger after smoking medical weed.
Final Thoughts
Medical weed is chock full of health benefits and could help you deal with a lot of illnesses. While it does come with an abundance of pros, it still has some side effects – so make sure to consult a doctor or physician before you use weed for medical purposes.