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What Does Weed Help With: The Health Benefits

This post is part of our Best Dispensary in San Diego series, sponsored by Cannabist.

Decriminalization of marijuana is on the rise as more science-backed discoveries about the healing properties of marijuana come to surface, offering us a hopeful future for this powerful and potent plant medicine. With more states recognizing the bountiful health benefits of weed–reflected in updated laws and regulations to accommodate modern times–it’s important as ever to understand what exactly marijuana can do for society. 

If you’ve ever asked yourself–what does weed help with? This article is for you. Whether you’re suffering from an intense migraine, a 2-day hangover, period cramping, or have been struggling to get a wink of sleep, it’s time to consider weed as a remedy. Even if you don’t face any current mental or physical adversities and are more so curious about recreational use, let’s learn how simply incorporating weed can help elevate your life!

What Is Medical Marijuana?

Before we dig any deeper into the innumerable physical and mental health benefits of marijuana, let’s cover the basics. There is a difference between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana, which–in layman’s terms–is merely intended use. Medical marijuana patients are prescribed a specific strain and dosage for the purpose of treating an ailment, and recreational marijuana is marijuana use for those who want to feel a buzz, feel more social, and experience all the awesomeness that marijuana can offer. The intention of a user smoking recreational marijuana could simply be to get high, whereas the intention of a medical marijuana user is most often more of a need to treat specific unpleasant symptoms they experience and prefer to take a more holistic approach to remedy.

No matter the scenario, marijuana provides plenty of health benefits. Of course, recreational marijuana users can also seek marijuana as a way to help things like anxiety, chronic pain, hypertension, etc. without having a prescription, though they must be over the age of 21 and in a state where marijuana is legalized to legally purchase and use it.

While certain states have not yet recognized marijuana to have medicinal value, marijuana is still acknowledged by countless doctors as a treatment that can alleviate everything from lack of appetite and nausea to depression and severe mental and physical conditions.

Has the FDA Approved Medical Marijuana?

The FDA has not yet approved marijuana for medical purposes or uses, and there is no telling when the FDA might update their regulations to include marijuana as an FDA approved drug. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration takes precautions to ensure the safety and efficacy of modern medicines, so all we can do is be patient as the lengthy process continues.

That being said, the FDA is beginning to approve a handful of synthetic cannabis-derived drugs, including Marinol, a medication used to reduce symptoms associated with nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy–most often prescribed to cancer patients. This is a step in the right direction for the cannabis world, indicating strides towards a brighter future for marijuana users–both medical and recreational. 

Which States Allow Medical Marijuana?

If you are curious to know which states currently allow medical marijuana, have a gander at this list. As of 2023, there are 37 states that have legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Keep in mind that in some of these states, recreational marijuana is still prohibited, requiring you to have a medical marijuana card to make a purchase. (Note: We believe this list to be accurate at the time of publishing; however, we recommend you independently verify the local laws wherever you are.)

As you can see, marijuana use is becoming widely accepted as having medicinal value, and we can only hope that with more time and research, the medicinal benefits of marijuana will be recognized across the globe!

Are Cannabis or Cannabinoids Helpful in Treating Health Conditions?

Ask anyone out there who uses weed regularly–either recreationally or for medical purposes–to truly uncover “What Does Weed Help With?” You’ll come to find that it is one of the only medicines in the world that can treat such a wide array of mental and physical conditions.

Tracing back to our great ancestors, records show that cannabis has been known to have medicinal value and used in medicinal practices for centuries. While the FDA has yet to approve cannabis as a treatment for any medical conditions, it has been proven cannabis contains chemical components that have the ability to stimulate various receptors within the body and brain. This activation ignites medicinal and therapeutic effects in the central nervous system, as well as the immune system. Cannabis is an elite mechanism to treat tons of health conditions ranging from cancer-related side effects such as nausea and vomiting to seizures from epilepsy. 

What Are The Health Benefits of Sativa?

The known benefits of the marijuana strain sativa are good and plenty. For one, sativa can aid in pain reduction, elevate your mood, and give you that boost of energy you need to complete tasks or feel confident in a social setting. Sativa is known to be more of an uplifting strain, allowing you to accomplish more and have a productive day. No couch potato tendencies over here!

The benefits of sativa don’t stop there! Not only is sativa the perfect cure for social anxiety, but sativa strains are also understood to be better for certain psychological disorders, including but not limited to anxiety, PTSD, depression, and more. That said, it is best to consult with a budtender or seek advice from a doctor regarding what specific strains are right for you.  

What Are The Health Benefits of Indica?

While botanists and scientists are still working to uncover more medicinal and health benefits of the marijuana strain indica, it is safe to say there are countless benefits indica has to offer. Indica is the preferred strain for lowering anxiety due to its calming and relaxant properties, and it is also useful in conquering sleep deprivation and sleep disorders. It can help slow your body and mind, alleviate nausea and vertigo, assisting you in getting back to a state of balance and peace.

If you suffer from chronic pain or inflammation, indica has beneficial effects to help you reduce unwanted symptoms. Arthritis, psoriasis, and some autoimmune disorders are lessened with the help of indica.

Need energy? Sativa is your best match. Need sleep or to chill out? Indica all the way!

So now that we’ve covered “what does weed do to your body,”  Let’s run it back.

The Health Benefits Of Marijuana

Marijuana has many therapeutic properties and a considerable range of health benefits. It can subside pain due to period cramps and other physical conditions, it can lower blood pressure and help you maintain a sense of calm, it can even become the ultimate hangover cure by reducing nausea and headaches.

It really is the cure all! More specifically, it can help with adverse side effects of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and so much more. Take a peek at some other articles we wrote below that go into depth on how marijuana can cure specific issues that your body and brain are experiencing.

As you can deduce, the health benefits of marijuana are plentiful. Each bullet point should direct the user to their respective pages. 

How To Purchase Marijuana

If you’re looking to purchase weed to experience its beneficial properties, we highly recommend you check out Cannabist San Diego. Cannabist is a hip dispensary right off the freeway in Pacific Beach, San Diego, and they offer a plethora of marijuana goodies for every occasion. Looking to treat chronic pain? Hoping to ease your anxiety or depression? Desire to slip into a state of utter relaxation? Eager to get to bed, but can’t seem to fall asleep? Cannabist has the cure, and you can eat it, smoke it, bake it, apply it to your body, or drop it into your morning coffee. 

Conclusion

Next time your body feels out of whack, or you’re not feeling 100%, do some more research on whether weed might be able to treat what you’re experiencing. You’d be surprised at how powerful this plant medicine truly is! No more silly questions like “What Does Weed Help With?” When your parents or old-fashioned aunt asks you why you dabble with weed, you’ll have a whole list of reasons to share with them!