Here Are 23 Key Health Benefits Of Cannabis That Everyone Probably Never Knew

By Spy Uganda

If Cannabis was a man, he would be in the Guinness book of world records as the most misunderstood on planet earth. Cannabis, Just like any other drug, when abused can be dangerous to your health, but when used appropriately, it can be the best thing to have been part of your life. I mean, as a medicine.

Cannabis can be found in various forms, and the health benefits of cannabis are ever-growing, it contains CBD which is a chemical that impacts the brain, making it function better and both substances can be extracted and enhanced for use through short path distillation. Here 23 health benefits of cannabis, when used properly.

1-Relief of Chronic Pain

There are hundreds of chemical compounds in cannabis, many of which are cannabinoids. Cannabinoids have been linked to providing relief of chronic pain due to their chemical makeup.

2-Improves Lung Capacity

Unlike smoking cigarettes, when smoking cannabis in the form of cannabis your lungs aren’t harmed. In fact, a study found that cannabis actually helps increase the capacity of the lungs rather than cause any harm to it.

READ ALSO: ‘Cannabis Could Control Spread Of COVID-19’-Researcher, Gov’t Pledges To Fund Project With $1.1 Billion

3-Help Lose Weight

If you look around, you will notice that the avid cannabis user is usually not overweight. That is because cannabis is linked to aiding your body in regulating insulin while managing caloric intake efficiently.

4-Regulate and Prevent Diabetes

With its impact on insulin, it only makes sense that cannabis can help regulate and prevent diabetes. Research has linked cannabis to stabilise blood sugars, lower blood pressure, and improve blood circulation.

5-Fight Cancer

One of the biggest medical benefits of cannabis is its link to fighting cancer. There is a good amount of evidence that shows cannabinoids can help fight cancer or at least certain types of it.

READ ALSO: How South Africa Conquered Colonial War Against Cannabis Farming, Consumption

6-Helps Treat Depression

Depression is fairly widespread without most people even knowing they have it. The endocannabinoid compounds in cannabis can help in stabilising moods which can ease depression.

7-Mend Bones

Cannabidiol has been linked to helping heal broken bones, quickening the process. According to Bone Research Laboratory in Tel Aviv, it also helps strengthen the bone in the process of healing.

8-Treatment for Glaucoma

Glaucoma leads to additional pressure on the eyeball which is painful for individuals with the disorder. Cannabis can help reduce the pressure applied on the eyeball providing some temporary relief to patients.

9-Alleviate Anxiety

While Cannabis is commonly known to cause anxiety, there is a way around that. Taken in monitored dosage and in the proper way, cannabis can help alleviate anxiety and calm users down.

READ ALSO: Min. Jeje Odong Orders IGP Ochola To Provide Security To Weed Farmers In UG As Business Becomes More Lucrative

10-Slow Development of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is one of many that is caused by cognitive degeneration. As we age, cognitive degeneration is almost unavoidable. Cannabis’s endocannabinoid contains anti-inflammatories that fight the brain inflammation that leads to Alzheimer’s disease.

11-Deal with Pain Linked to Arthritis

Cannabis is now commonly found as creams and balms which are used by individuals that have arthritis.

12-Reduces Side Effects Linked to Hepatitis C and Increase the Effectiveness of Treatment

The treatment for hepatitis C has numerous side effects that include nausea, fatigue, depression, and muscle aches. Cannabis can help reduce the side effects caused by the treatment while making it more effective at the same time.

READ ALSO: Gov’t Sets Tough Conditions For Cannabis Farmers

13-Treats Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Individuals with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can find some relief with the use of cannabis. Cannabis helps block off bacteria and other compounds that cause inflammation in the intestines.

14-Helps with Alcoholism

Another one of the many health benefits of cannabis is that there is no doubt cannabis is much safer than alcohol. While it may not be 100% risk-free, it can be a smarter way to curb alcoholism by substituting it with cannabis.

15-Shows promise in autism treatment

Cannabis is known to calm users down and control their mood. It can help children with autism that experience frequent violent mood swings control it.

16-Regulate seizures

Research conducted on CBD has shown that it can help control seizures. There are ongoing studies to determine the effect cannabis has on individuals with epilepsy.

17-Helps with ADHD/ADD

Individuals with ADHD and ADD have trouble focusing on tasks at hand. They tend to have problems with cognitive performance and concentration. Cannabis has shown promise in promoting focus and helping individuals with ADHD/ADD. It is also considered a safer alternative to Adderall and Ritalin.

READ ALSO: Health Minister Dr Aceng Mints Billions From Growing Weed

18-Helps with PTSD symptoms

PTSD doesn’t just affect veterans but any individual that goes through a trauma. As cannabis is legalised the impact it has on helping treat individuals with PTSD is being studied. Cannabis helps control the fight or flight response, preventing it from going into overdrive.

19-Helps provide relief to individuals with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis can be painful, and cannabis is known to provide relief for it. Multiple sclerosis leads to painful muscle contractions and cannabis can help reduce that pain.

20-Helps with tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease

For those that have Parkinson’s disease cannabis can help reduce tremors and pain while also helping promote sleep. It has also shown to improve motor skills in patients.

READ ALSO: European Union Okays Uganda’s Bid To Export Marijuana

21-It May Protect you From Coronavirus

While there is still very little known about COVID-19 and how it is prevented and/or treated, there seems to be evidence that suggests cannabis may help. Researchers are looking into whether the plant may reduce coronavirus susceptibility as well as its potential to stop deadly cytokine storms.

22-It May Aid In Serious Addiction Recovery

Cannabis may work as an aid in addiction recovery. In the midst of our country’s opioid crisis, patients have reported the plant’s ability to help soothe the withdrawal symptoms that come with detoxing from drugs like heroin or other opiates. And states with medical marijuana laws saw a 20 per cent drop in some opioid prescriptions.

23–It Can Help Ease Medication Side Effects For Those With AIDS/HIV

While cannabis cannot directly cure AIDS/HIV, it has been a recognized treatment for the adverse side effects of medications used to treat the disease since its initial outbreak in the 1980s. In fact, Michael Koehn’s lobbying for medical cannabis as a treatment for those with AIDS/HIV was the reason California first legalized medical cannabis in 1996.