Medical cannabis ailments

With medicinal cannabis now legal in multiple states in Australia including New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, there is a growing interest in its use as an ailment. Research and clinical trials into the impact of medical marijuana are ongoing but there is evidence which shows that it can relieve symptoms of various medical conditions.

What are the medical benefits of cannabis?

The use of medicinal cannabis in Australia is governed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). All medicinal cannabis products that are available for prescription are carefully evaluated by the TGA before being approved. They conduct rigorous testing to ensure that approved medical marijuana products meet strict standards with respect to health, safety, effectiveness and quality.

The active ingredients contained in cannabis plant extract and subsequent cannabis products created are shown to provide effective treatment for medical conditions relating to:

• Chronic pain
• Inflammation
• Stress and mood
• Sleep disorders
• Eating disorders
• Mental illness
• Skin and nerve function

Anyone suffering from a listed medical condition should enquire with their local general practitioner or cannabis clinic reading eligibility and the most suitable cannabis products.

How is medicinal cannabis used for different ailments?

When accessing medicinal cannabis it is important to understand that there are a range of cannabis products available each of which are designed to treat different conditions. The cannabis plant contains up to 100 cannabinoids which trigger the cannabinoid receptors in the human body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Clinical trials and ongoing research have revealed substantial evidence to support the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Medicinal cannabis may be able to treat pain and relieve symptoms relating to the following illnesses:

Epilepsy

Medicinal cannabis and cannabidiol is being used to treat severe forms of epilepsy - particularly in children. The compounds derived from the cannabis sativa plant can reduce seizure frequency and their severity in some patients.

Chronic pain

An increasing number of patients suffering severe pain are turning to medicinal cannabis as a treatment option. The anti-inflammatory properties of the cannabis sativa plant can provide effective relief for chronic pain.

Nausea and vomiting

There is substantial evidence supporting the use of medicinal cannabis to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, pregnancy and other medical conditions. Marijuana medicine is also being prescribed to stimulate appetite and weight gain by increasing food intake for patients dealing with anorexia.

Multiple sclerosis

Products such as Sativex, which is approved by the TGA, are being used for treating spasticity symptoms suffered as a result of multiple sclerosis.

Cancer patients

Cannabis is being prescribed to relieve symptoms encountered by cancer patients. These include relief from severe pain and treatment for nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. There is not enough evidence to support the notion that medical marijuana can slow tumor growth.

Terminal illnesses

The use of medicinal cannabis to treat chronic or terminal illnesses continues to increase. It can benefit patients in palliative care suffering from neuropathic pain, sleep disorders and mental illness. This includes advanced cancer patients.

In many instances, medicinal cannabis serves a complementary role and is used in conjunction with other medicines. If a patient is receiving a treatment which causes nausea, medical professionals may prescribe specific medicinal cannabis products which will help combat this.

What strains are best for which conditions?

Living organisms have different species and the same applies to the cannabis plant. Grown in various environments throughout the world, alternate climate conditions and geography results in the cannabis plant developing different characteristics.

The strains of the cannabis plant are separated into three categories:

Indica

Shown to have a relaxing and calming effect on the user. The Indica plant is characterised by being short and stocky and having chunky leaves that grow broadly. This species grow faster than sativa and produce more buds and often contain higher levels of CBD.

Sativa

Associated with providing an uplifting and energetic feeling. The cannabis sativa plant can grow well beyond 3m in height producing longer and thinner leaves. A higher concentration of THC makes sativa based products suitable for daytime use.

Hybrid

A combination of the two is achieved when growers combine different parent plants to create new and unique strains. There are constantly new hybrid subspecies and varieties that are emerging making it difficult to identify the plant type from it leaf shape or branching pattern. Other factors such as climate, geography and soil content can impact the potency of the cannabis plant. The total number of cannabinoids must be measured to determine the effect of a particular cannabis strain.

This further highlights the necessity of using approved medicinal cannabis products rather than any illegal drug with unknown effects.

Medicinal cannabis treatments for chronic pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and more

Chronic pain, anxiety, depression and insomnia are among the medical conditions which medicinal cannabis is being prescribed. Below we look closely at three key areas; chronic pain, mental illness and sleep disorders.

Chronic Pain

This is one of, if not the most sought after reasons to access medicinal cannabis. When it comes to medical cannabis it is necessary to separate cancer related chronic pain and chronic non-cancer chronic pain (CNCP). The focus for non-cancer patients will more often than not be to relieve pain as a result of an ongoing condition or relieve systems following a medical procedure.

In comparison, cancer patients may require a combination of pain relief and prevention of nausea and vomiting. The medicinal cannabis products available through the Special Access Scheme (SAS) or Authorised Prescriber Scheme (APS) will vary depending on the medical purpose they need to serve. Patients with a spinal cord injury will receive different medication to those who suffering from cancer.

Mental Illness

There is a long history of the therapeutic use of cannabis and it is now becoming a more prominent option for medical professionals. In what is a growing mental illness list, medical cannabis is being used as a treatment option for anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder. The therapeutic properties in cannabidiol (CBD) can potentially replicate the effect of other medicines being used to treat depression and psychosis. The overall therapeutic effects of cannabidiol in particular are positive.

Sleep Disorders

Sleep deprivation can have serious adverse short-term and long-term effects on the human body. It can cause memory issues, mood changes a weakened immune system. Research has revealed that medical marijuana help with insomnia and improve sleep quality with limited side effects. Cannabis effects the endocannabinoid system of each individual differently meaning you may need to try multiple medical cannabis products to find the most suitable one for you.

Patients looking to access medicinal cannabis to treat a medical condition need to be aware that it cannot be used as the first treatment option. At this stage, the TGA will not approve an application for medical use of marijuana unless other traditional medicines have been explored. With more research verifying the effectiveness of medical cannabis to treat pain and psychotic disorders this will likely change in the near future.

Are there health risks associated with the use of medical marijuana?

The health effects of cannabis continue to be researched with clinical trials being conducted in Australia and around the world. The effects of cannabis vary greatly across the various medicinal cannabis products that are available. The active ingredients (CBD, THC or a combination) and the level of cannabinoids contained in the respective products will produce alternate side effects.

The effects of cannabis will also differ from person to person. When comparing THC and CBD directly, the former has psychoactive effects that may impair cognitive function. This is why the majority of synthetic cannabinoids that have been approved contain CBD.