A VARIETY OF AILMENTS
-the medicinal uses of cannabis-
In the past, prior to its banning, cannabis was used for a variety of medicinial uses. Nowdays limited research has been done on further illnesses cannabis may benefit, however, with the current anti-marijuana stance almost worldwide, research has been difficult to undertake. Also the pharmaceutical companies are not very forthcoming in providing any capital for research, as cannabis being a plant is difficult to patent.
The following array of illnesses which marijuana is believed to assist is taken from Jack Herer's Hemp and The Marijuana Conspiracy and as he quite clearly points out these uses of cannabis do not apply to everyone. Like all herbs and medicine different people have different reactions.
ASTHMA
"taking a hit of marijuana has been known to stop a full blown asthma attack." GLAUCOMA
Cannabis is believed to be 2 to 3 times more effective as any current medication used for reducing ocular pressure. Unlike much of the pharmaceutical drugs or drops used for glaucoma treatment, cannabis has no toxic side effects to the liver or kidneys.
TUMORS
At the Medical College of Virginia, researchers discovered cannabis has a great potential for reducing both benign and malignant tumors. However research in this field has stopped and unfortunately does not look as though it will have a near resergence.
NAUSEA RELIEF especially from CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY
"Marijuana is the best agent for control of nausea in cancer chemotherapy," says Dr. Thomas Ungerleider, who headed California's Marijuana for Cancer research program from 1979 to 1984. Also marijuana is believed to help AIDS patients not only with relief from nausea, but also help them to regain their appetite.
BACK PAIN, MULTIPLE SCELEROSIS, MUSCLE SPASMS
Cannabis, either smoked or applied as a herbal pack or poultice, is believed to be the best, after morphine, muscle relaxant, back spasm medicine and antispamodic medication, known.
ARTHRITIS, CYSTIC FIBROSIS, RHEUMATISM
Cannabis is a tropical analgesic. Until prohibition it was commonly found in corn plasters, mustard plasters, muscle ointments and fibrosis poultices.
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