(Newswire.net — August 17, 2022) — Medical marijuana uses cannabis and its derivatives to treat certain medical conditions or alleviate their symptoms. Doctors can now legally prescribe medical marijuana for various conditions. Some states have completely eliminated the qualifying conditions list, allowing doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for any medical conditions or cases they determine would benefit from the treatment.
Patients suffering from seizures can be prescribed medical marijuana, as recent studies have shown positive effects for those undertaking the treatment. Here is how medical marijuana can help.
How Is Medical Marijuana Administered?
Medical marijuana can be administered in various ways, with the most common methods being inhalation, oral, sublingual, and topical. Smoking involves inhaling cannabis smoke from a dried plant.
A doctor can administer medical marijuana through vaporization-heating cannabis to a point where tetrahydrocannabinol evaporates but does not combust, oral ingestion, and topical applications directly onto the skin.
How Can Medical Marijuana Help With Seizures?
Tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol are the substances that are thought to have a positive effect on the receptors in the brain.
Tetrahydrocannabinol and Seizures
Tetrahydrocannabinol is known for its psychoactive effects. It is believed to be responsible for some of the medicinal benefits of medical marijuana by blocking nerve pain signals, reducing muscle spasms, stimulating appetite, and reducing anxiety. Doctors may recommend tetrahydrocannabinol-based medical marijuana for patients who experience nausea or vomiting as side effects of their medications.
Cannabidiol, Medical Marijuana, and Seizures
Cannabidiol is known for reducing the intensity of seizures, including unprovoked ones. In the recent past, the American Academy of Neurology published a study in which three children with treatment-resistant epilepsies experienced reduced seizure activity while taking doses of CBD oil. Another study showed that CBD could help patients experiencing convulsive status epilepticus.
Medical Marijuana and Seizures in Children
There are very limited studies on the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana for children with seizures. Nevertheless, tetrahydrocannabinol has been successfully used to treat children with severe seizures, and its sedative, anti-inflammatory, and pain relief properties. One study showed that using medical marijuana combined with traditional medication resulted in a dramatic reduction in seizures.
Medical Marijuana and Seizures in Adults
Studies have shown that marijuana has anticonvulsant properties, but it is unclear how this applies to adults with seizures.
A case report indicated that a teenager was experiencing severe anxiety and self-injury due to unsuccessful treatment for unprovoked grand mal seizures, which were associated with status epilepticus. After one month of medical marijuana treatment, the seizures stopped, and all self-injury was resolved.
Why is Medical Marijuana Needed?
There is not enough research on the use of medical marijuana to support its medical value. Still, it is known that many children experience many seizure disorders and continue to need treatment. Those who experience frequent seizures have difficulty finding a pharmaceutical drug that helps treat their disorder.
These medications are often expensive and require a series of shots and an ongoing prescription over time. Some children may have to take these medications for the rest of their lives.
A good number of children experience seizures because they are experiencing trauma or due to complications from medication side effects or genetic defects. Many times no one knew the causes causing the seizures until after years spent in intense, difficult-to-control pharmaceutical treatment.
Side Effects Of Medical Marijuana
Although medical marijuana can rarely cause any severe side effects, it doesn’t mean it cannot affect the individual. Here are some of the possible side effects patients can experience, especially if the medical condition they are suffering from is prone to such complications:
Marijuana has proven to cause confusion, hallucinations, and heart palpitations.
- Weight loss
Marijuana has been linked to weight loss and appetite stimulation.
- Memory Loss
Studies have proven that marijuana causes memory loss and confusion.
- Paranoia
Studies have shown that marijuana can cause depression, anxiety, and paranoia.
Conclusion
According to the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act, “a patient with a debilitating medical condition” can possess medical cannabis. A debilitating condition is determined by an individual’s doctor, considering the patient’s current medical history and symptoms.
Epilepsy and cancer are two conditions that qualify individuals with these illnesses for the use of marijuana to treat seizures or chronic pain.
The patient must be registered in the state registry system and given a WV medical card before they can use marijuana. The patient must renew this card every year.