According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Cannabis is the most commonly used psychotropic drug in the United States, after alcohol. In 2018, more than 11.8 million young adults reported marijuana use in the past year, showing an increase of 22% from 2010. With an increase in use, it makes sense that the cannabis industry is projected to grow to a market size worth of $73.6 billion by 2027. There’s no better time to join the industry than now.
Being in the cannabis industry can mean different things for different people, maybe you’re a grower or a dispensary owner or maybe even an investor–whichever it may be, one thing is always the same, you know about cannabis and what it can do for people. Knowing about the benefits and changing landscape of this plant is great, but do you know where to find the science behind it? Today we want to give you some useful data and let you know where you can read more about it to grow your knowledge of cannabis.
So what are the benefits of cannabis? There are a few that come to mind, and even more when talking about CBD as well, but today we’ll focus on marijuana uses.
- Marijuana is used for pain management
- Marijuana is used as a muscle relaxant
- Marijuana is used to manage nausea and weight loss/gain
A few studies have been done by researchers at Harvard, the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within the cannabis field to show how greatly marijuana can actually accomplish the above for many individuals.
PAIN MANAGEMENT
The most common use of marijuana is for pain management. According to Harvard Health, while marijuana isn’t strong enough for severe pain, think a broken bone, it is quite effective for the chronic pain that plagues millions of Americans, especially as we age. Part of the allure of marijuana is that it is clearly safer than opiates, which can lead to addiction or overdose, and it can take the place of NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen (Advil and Aleve, respectfully) if people can’t take them due to problems with ulcers, their liver, or their kidneys.
This study, which cites Harvard Health and done by Clinical Crossroads, tells us that the use of marijuana for chronic pain is supported by high-quality evidence of 6-12 completed trials in which patients presented with chronic pain as a result of various diseases. Using marijuana for pain management can actually be broken down further to separate forms of chronic pain.
MUSCLE RELAXANT & NERVE PAIN INHIBITION
Another use for marijuana is as a muscle relaxant, or for treating another kind of chronic pain, nerve damage pain. Studies have shown that marijuana can successfully be used for pain caused by multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and most other conditions where muscle or nerve pain are common factors.
There has even been research done on the effects of marijuana use for those who have endured traumatic spinal injuries, providing further proof that marijuana is medicine for those who suffer from some kind of chronic pain.
NAUSEA AND WEIGHT LOSS/GAIN
The last marijuana benefit we want to address is that of managing nausea and weight loss or gain in cancer and HIV/AIDS patients. Marijuana has been seen to ease chemotherapy side effects by quelling nausea, suppressing vomiting, increasing appetite, relieving pain, and soothing anxiety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has even approved THC-based medications, dronabinol (Marinol®) and nabilone (Cesamet®), prescribed in pill form to treat nausea in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy and to stimulate appetite in patients suffering from AIDS. Several other THC-based drugs are currently on trial in the UK and Canada to create more approved cannabis-related medicine.
The study of cannabis and it’s derived parts has proven beneficial by providing us with the accurate information we need to treat people with chronic pain and other diseases. As great as this all sounds, you’re probably wondering why it matters to you.
We’ll tell you: You’re in the industry!
You should know everything you possibly can about the plant that drives your industry forward. Plus, being knowledgeable shows you care about what you do.
MARIJUANA AND INSURANCE
Another thing that shows you really care about your business and your industry is reading up on cannabis business insurance from Insurance Canopy.
Another thing that shows you really care about your business and your industry is reading up on cannabis business insurance from Insurance Canopy.
Your coverage will depend on a few factors such as your:
- Type of business
- Type of products
- Company value
- Geographic location
- Claim history
- Coverage limits
Each cannabis-related business is unique and your needs may vary. We can help you find coverage that will keep you protected from potential financial loss due to claims and lawsuits, disasters, and other covered perils.
Without the proper insurance you’re at risk for a lawsuit that could financially drain you and run you out of business, in the cannabis industry having proper insurance is of even more important given the substance you work with. Insurance Canopy could protect you!
