Qualifying Conditions
A patient must be diagnosed with at least one of the following conditions to qualify to receive a medical ID Card or a delivery device.
Cancer
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for Cancer
Epilepsy
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for Epilepsy
Glaucoma
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for HIV/AIDS
Crohn's
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for Crohn's
Parkinson’s
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for Parkinson's
PTSD
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for PTSD
ALS
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for ALS
MS
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for MS
Multiple Conditions
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for Multiple Conditions
Terminal Condition
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for a Terminal Condition
Chronic Pain
LEARN MOREMedical Benefits for Chronic Pain
Medical Benefits for Cancer
The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 6 deaths is caused by cancer, which is 8.8 million deaths a year, globally. Medical marijuana can help cancer patients with many aspects of the disease, from the symptoms associated with cancer itself to the side effects of treatments one may be undergoing.
Medical Benefits for Cancer
- Numerous clinical studies have shown that many individuals undergoing cancer treatment have used cannabis oil to successfully treat and manage the side effects of the chemotherapy and the pain of cancer.
- Medical marijuana has been shown to work similarly to opioids when it comes to helping treat intractable pain that many cancer patients live with daily.
- Medical marijuana has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, provide relief from nerve damage that accompanies chemotherapy, and even help with other side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and anorexia.
- Studies have shown that medical marijuana may be effective in slowing down or even stopping the growth of certain tumors by helping the cancer cells die, by preventing them from dividing, by halting the spreading and by starving the cells.
Medical Marijuana Benefits for Epilepsy
Epilepsy affects about 1 in 26 people in the U.S. alone, with a range of severity from relatively benign to disabling or even life-threatening. Medical marijuana has been shown time and time again to decrease seizure activity with minimal side effects.
Medical Benefits for Epilepsy
- Stories of medical marijuana being able to subdue seizure activity have been around for over 150 years. The CBD (cannabidiol) compound found in marijuana has long been known to possess anticonvulsant and antipsychotic effects. CBD works in the hippocampal region of the brain, which is the area where information is exchanged, as well as on the NMDA receptors, which play a major role in memory and learning.
- One study found that CBD enriched medical cannabis decreased the frequency of seizures in children who suffered from epilepsy by 85% and eliminated them all together in 14% of subjects. The children in this same study also reported increased alertness, ability to sleep, as well as better moods.
- One case report of a young epileptic girl found that medical marijuana decreased her seizure frequency of seizures from 50 per day to 2-3 per month. The same girl was able to stop taking her anti-seizure medication, eliminating the side effects they cause.
Medical Benefits for Glaucoma
More than 60 million people worldwide live with glaucoma and suffer from its potentially devastating consequences.
Medical Benefits for Glaucoma
- There have been many studies showing that cannabinoids can alleviate glaucoma-related symptoms because they lower the intraocular pressure and have neuroprotective engagements. One of the first studies done on glaucoma and medical marijuana found that the ingestion of cannabis lowered intraocular pressure by 25-30%.
- In late stage glaucoma, medical marijuana has been shown to be very effective in alleviating accompanying symptoms by lowering the pressure in the eye and protecting retinal cells.
- There have been many patients reporting of a lessening of glaucoma symptoms when using medical marijuana.
Medical Benefits for HIV/AIDS
Although not a common disease, the effects of HIV/AIDS can be devastating and eventually lead to death. There is currently no effective cure for HIV so once it is acquired, focus of the treatment is on controlling the virus and preventing the progression to AIDS.
Medical Benefits for HIV/AIDS
- There are treatments available like anti-retroviral therapy, but it has significant symptoms and side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, heart disease, and neuropathic pain. Multiple studies have shown that medical marijuana can help make many of the side effects from treatments more tolerable.
- Patients with AIDS who consume medical marijuana have reported significant improvement in their appetite, muscle pain levels, nausea, anxiety, depression and skin tingling.
- Regular cannabis use has also been shown to aid the chronic neuropathic pain that daunts AIDS patients.
- Research suggests THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) may block the spread of HIV during late stages of the infection. THC works by targeting the CB2 receptors in the brain, activating them to build new and healthy bacteria cells to block the virus from getting through the cell walls. To put in simpler terms, HIV kills cells protecting the cell walls and THC replaces them.
Medical Benefits for PTSD
PTSD is most common in soldiers and veterans, affecting up to 20% of the military population and 8% of the general population. PTSD is a crippling anxiety disorder that develops after a life-threatening and or traumatic event and prevents many people from living a normal life due to flashbacks, disturbed sleep cycles, anger and reoccurring memory of the said event.
Medical Benefits for PTSD
- Some of the current treatments for this disorder involve psychological support and prescription medication for anxiety and stress. A lot of the time these drugs fail to relieve a patient due to side effects which in turn prevent the patient from being able to live a normal life.
- Medical marijuana affects the Endocannabinoid System by interacting with the receptors responsible for calming the mind and reduce the stress.
- Many patients who have PTSD have been found to have decreased levels of cannabinoids, so the use of medical marijuana has been found to be helpful in increasing their levels and thus alleviating many of the psychological symptoms brought on by the disorder.
Medical Benefits for ALS
There is no known cure of ALS and few therapies available for ALS patients, Riluzole and Radicava being the most common. This means more effective therapeutic options for ALS patients is still needed.
Medical Benefits for ALS
- Studies have indicated that medical marijuana for ALS could relieve symptoms. Tests on lab mice suggest that medical marijuana can reduce inflammation, protect the brain and serve as an antioxidant.
- Results also bring up the possibility of medical marijuana managing other symptoms like loss of appetite and sleep.
- Research conducted by the California Pacific Medical Center shows that select marijuana compounds slow the progression of ALS and could extend a patient’s life by three or more years. The same center also found that THC can treat other ALS symptoms like muscle spasms.
- Unlike painkillers that could have harmful side effects to the body, medical marijuana enhances the cannabinoids in your body, which can relieve pain, naturally.
Medical Benefits for Crohn’s
Affecting around 700,000 Americans, Crohn’s Disease is a condition of chronic inflammation involving the GI tract, most commonly in the ileum or large intestine.
Medical Benefits for Crohn’s Disease
- The anti-inflammatory properties of cannabinoid have long been known to aid in the treatment of Crohn’s Disease.
- One study conducted found that treatment with medical marijuana improves the quality of life by helping with appetite, weight gain, decreasing amounts of bowel movements per day, and eliminating the need for steroid use.
- Inflammation is a major trigger for many of the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease. Medical marijuana use has been shown to prevent not only the release of pro-inflammatory proteins but also suppress the immune system, which continually attacks the gut.
- Patients using medical marijuana have reported an increased quality of life because of decreased pain and mental suffering, and increased stimulation of appetite, thus leading to weight gain.
- Others have also reported an increase in professional success because of being able to better focus at work.
Medical Benefits for Parkinson’s
Over 1 million people in the United States are living with Parkinson’s disease, and 10 million people worldwide. This disease primarily affects people over the age of 50 and is more likely in males. Symptoms of this disease include tremors, slow movement, muscle stiffness, balancing issues, and sleep disturbances. There is currently no known cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Medical Benefits for Parkinson’s Disease
- Medical marijuana can help with the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease because of its anti-anxiety, antioxidant, and pain relieving properties.
- The THC in medical marijuana prevents free radicals from forming and acts as a receptor whose stimulation leads to the formation of new mitochondria.
- Medical marijuana also has a neuroprotective effect which could slow the progression of Parkinson’s.
- In a study conducted in 2004, patients with Parkinson’s disease for use medical marijuana had a 30% reduction in tremors and saw continued improvement if used for more than three months.
- A recent study done in 2014, showed that patients who smoke medical marijuana had a significant improvement in motor disabilities.
- Medical marijuana can be a safe and natural addition to treatment for many patients who are finding it difficult to control their symptoms with standard therapy.
Medical Benefits for MS
Affecting more than 400,000 people in the United States and about 2.5 million people around the world, Multiple Sclerosis is a neurodegenerative autoimmune disease that affects the brain, spine and optic nerves.
Medical Benefits for Multiple Sclerosis
- There currently isn’t a cure, and most treatments consist of the administration of powerful drugs, medical marijuana can be added or even substitute some of these drugs that can have negative side effects.
- Medical marijuana provides relief from many side effects of Multiple Sclerosis, such as pain, GI distress, muscle spasms and even paralysis.
- The THC in medical marijuana has powerful anti-inflammatory effects in the central nervous system, which is crucial to fighting the disease.
- THC also promotes the creation of more brain cells to aid in the recovery from periodic attacks to the central nervous system.
- THC and CBD engage pain receptors in the brain to help ease the pain, aid in digestion, and calm inflammation in the stomach, all while stimulating appetite.
- Medical marijuana also aids in sleep, helping patients fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer.
Multiple Conditions
Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to Cancer, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Amyotropic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or Multiple sclerosis can be a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.
Medical Benefits for Multiple Conditions
- Regular cannabis use has been shown to aid the chronic neuropathic pain.
- Medical marijuana has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, providing relief from nausea, vomiting, and anorexia.
- The CBD (cannabidiol) compound found in marijuana has long been known to possess anticonvulsant and antipsychotic effects.
- Many treatments available for multiple conditions have harsh side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, heart disease, and neuropathic pain. Multiple studies have shown that medical marijuana can help make many of the side effects from treatments more tolerable.
- Patients with multiple conditions who consume medical marijuana have reported significant improvement in their appetite, muscle pain levels, nausea, anxiety, depression and more.
A Terminal Condition
More than 42% of Americans have a friend or relative suffering from a terminal condition. A terminal condition is an illness with no cure, and can most likely be expected to cause the eventual death of the suffering patient.
Treating Terminal Conditions
- Many terminally ill patients utilize medical marijuana towards the end of their life as a treatment to make their situation as comfortable as possible.
- Medical marijuana can be a natural source of pain relief, reduce inflammation, relax muscles, alleviate anxiety, improve mood, increase appetite and decrease nausea.
Chronic Nonmalignant Pain
Chronic nonmalignant pain is pain unrelated to cancer which persists beyond the usual course of a disease or injury that is the cause of the pain or more than 90 days after surgery or treatment.
Medical Benefits for Chronic Nonmalignant Pain
- Natural source of pain relief
- Reduces Inflammation
- Relaxes Muscles
- Alleviates Anxiety
- Improves Mood