Medicinal or medical marijuana is cannabis recommended by a doctor as therapeutic treatment for a chronic and debilitating condition. Cannabis is cannabis, whether it's consumed for medicinal benefits or recreationally — the difference is in the use, not the plant. Healthcare practitioners may recommend that patients smoke, vape, ingest, or apply cannabis topically, depending on the ailment and what's legal in each state.
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Potential benefits of medical marijuana
Medical marijuana has a number of potential healing properties including:
- Antibacterial
- Antiviral
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-tumor
- Analgesic (pain-relieving)
In addition, medical marijuana has been approved in certain states as an alternative or concurrent treatment for diseases and conditions including multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, anxiety, and nausea.
Where to get medical marijuana
In the US, medical marijuana can be found in dispensaries in states that have legalized it. Medical marijuana is often subject to different taxes, testing procedures, and regulations than recreational marijuana, but this varies state by state.