A recent survey conducted by Care by Design, a California-based medical marijuana company, found that 100 percent of participants who utilized medical marijuana for migraines, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and spinal cord injury reported reduced pain and discomfort.
The survey included 621 medical marijuana patients over a period of 30 days, and inquired about a wide variety of health issues. The health issues the patients utilized medical marijuana for included anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, addiction, arthritis, rheumatism, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, migraine headaches, central nervous system disorders, and cancer-associated symptoms, among others.Â
The report findings are listed below:Â
- 88.2% of patients reported that cannabis therapy improved their overall sense of well-being.
- 72.6% of all patients reported a decrease in pain or discomfort.
- All patients (100%) with headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and spinal cord injury reported a decrease in pain or discomfort.
- 64.2% of all patients reported an improvement in mood.
- 100% of patients with PTSD and spinal cord injuries reported an improvement in mood.
- Patients with fibromyalgia, headaches and migraines, PTSD and anxiety reported the greatest improvement in general well-being (as compared to other patient groups).Â
Medical marijuana has been widely researched in recent decades, as its use becomes more commonplace in America and around the world to treat various health conditions. The 2015 report by Care by Design has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, the findings are significant.
The use of medical marijuana has been found to improve health and well-being for patients suffering from chronic diseases. State laws have been shifting in favor of medical marijuana use, with a few select states, like Oregon, Colorado and Washington, voting in favor of the recreational use of marijuana, as well.
Approximately 80 percent of prescription pain pill use takes place solely in the United States, and every 19 minutes someone overdoses and dies from prescription pain pill use, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief medical correspondent, told Marlo Thomas of The Huffington Post in an interview. Marijuana could possibly be a safer alternative to prescription drugs for the pain and discomfort associated with a myriad of health problems.
What is your take on medical marijuana as an alternative to prescription pain medication?
—Stephen Seifert
Stephen Seifert is a writer, professor, adventurer and a health & fitness guru. His flair for travel and outdoor adventure allows him to enjoy culture and traditions different than his own. A healthy diet, routine fitness and constant mental development is the cornerstone to Stephen’s life.
Sources:
http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/files/2015/09/CBD-Patient-Survey-September2015.pdf
https://www.cbd.org
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/marijuana-versus-prescrip_n_7638988.html
