Medical marijuana refers to the use of cannabis to treat a disease or condition. It is an all-encompassing term, but medical cannabis can be used to alleviate the symptoms of numerous chronic conditions. When creating and marketing your cannabis product, you should consider the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis and determine where you plan to position your product. Understanding what patients are looking for to relieve their symptoms will help you create and market a better product.
Here are four of the most common conditions prevalent in those who use medical cannabis to improve their health and wellness.
Chronic Pain
Upwards of 50 million adults in the United States suffer from some form of chronic pain. While some conditions can be cured by medical intervention, others can only be managed through practices such as physical therapy, acupuncture, and massage
While some chronic pain sufferers may also turn to medications to manage their pain, others are concerned with high dosages and the potential for addiction.
Fortunately, in recent studies, cannabis has been shown to have remarkable therapeutic effects on chronic pain.
Average reported pain relief from medical cannabis was substantial. Average pre-treatment pain on a zero to ten scale was 7.8, whereas average post-treatment pain was 2.8, giving a reported average improvement of 5 points. This translates to a 64% average relative decrease in pain. (NCBI)
Patients who suffer from chronic pain typically want a product that will give them a relaxed, pain-relieving, result. Most prefer an indica or hybrid strain with a higher CBD to THC ratio.
Chemo-Induced Symptoms
While cancer rates have recently seen a slight decline, the number of people diagnosed every year is still staggering.
In 2021, 1,898,160 new cancer cases and 608,570 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States. (ACS Journals)
Depending on the type of cancer diagnosed, patients will undergo treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplants.
While all these treatments can have challenging side effects, perhaps none puts patients through more turmoil than chemotherapy. Fortunately, those undergoing chemotherapy may benefit from cannabis products to help manage these side effects.
A number of small studies have shown a link between inhaled (smoked or vaporized) marijuana and a decrease in chemo-related nausea and vomiting. Strains that are high in CBD tend to work best for antinausea. Because cannabis can be so beneficial to patients, there are medications based on cannabis compounds designed to treat chemotherapy side effects.
MS-Related Spasticity
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative neurological disorder that leads to intermittent and/or sustained involuntary activation of muscles.
People who suffer from MS may experience, among other symptoms:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Tremors
- Involuntary muscle contractions
- Uncoordinated movements
Based on evidence from controlled trials, experts have found that oral cannabis extract can lead to a modest reduction in a patient’s levels of spasticity. Although more evidence is needed, studies indicate that cannabis may help muscle control and bladder problems, providing necessary relief for those with MS.
Anxiety
There are times when we all feel worried and stressed. Some people, however, experience extreme levels of both, leading to a diagnosis of clinical anxiety. When that happens, they may experience physical, mental, and emotional symptoms.
Fortunately, there are treatments for anxiety. Alongside counseling and/or therapy, cannabis can help alleviate some of the more extreme symptoms.
It’s important, however, to ensure that cannabis is used correctly in this instance. If not, cannabis use may actually make anxiety worse.
What does it look like for anxiety sufferers to use cannabis “correctly”?
First, it seems the form does matter. Studies have found that CBD oil is the form of cannabis that best helps with anxiety, reducing symptoms by up to 58%. Second, it’s important to remember that there are some links between some forms of cannabis and increased levels of anxiety. Patients seeking cannabis products for anxiety should consider choosing products containing CBD only or use THC at lower doses.
MaxQ Technologies Can Help
Patients who have suffered from unrelenting chronic illnesses know that even a small hope of relief can have a huge impact on their quality of life. Medical cannabis is valuable to both you and your customers as long as you properly understand its benefits and position your products accordingly.
To hear more about how you can leverage the therapeutic effects of cannabis in your business, please feel free to contact us.
