Alzheimers disease is a brain disease in which the nerves cells in the brain malfunction and degenerate leading to confusion, disorganization, and agitation which makes caring for these patients difficult. Compounds in marijuana provide a calming effect in such patients.

Crohns disease is a disorder of the intestine caused by runaway inflammation that erodes the lining of the small intestine, producing diarrhea, bloody stools, and pain. The anti-inflammatory properties of marijuana relieve these symptoms in many patients.

Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive nerve and brain disease that causes failure of swallowing and breathing functions. Marijuana seems to relieve many of the painful symptoms of this disease.

Hepatitis C is a chronic viral infection of the liver that causes nausea, fatigue, and weight loss. Medications used to treat the infection cause even greater nausea; marijuana seems to decrease these sensations potentially allowing patients to continue medications that fight the virus infection.

I highly recommend considering MMJ tea instead of smoking MMJ.  Why Tea?
In degenerative disk disease of the spine, the spongy disks interposed between vertebrae experiencea failure in the outer layer allowing the inside of the disk to bulge and put pressure on nerve rootsthat exit the spinal cord at that location. In some cases, the outer layer doesn’t fail but the disk itselfshrinks, reducing the space between vertebrae which then press on the same nerve roots. In eithercase, compression of these nerve roots is associated with back pain which often spreads from the spineto the buttocks, legs and feet when disk in the lower back are involved, or to the shoulder, arms andhands when disks in the neck are at fault. This pain can proceed to numbness and muscle weaknesswhich impairs work ability and in most cases, disrupts sleep through the continuous discomfort oflying down. These symptoms can be reduced by opiate pain relievers (morphine, hydrocodone), anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen), spasm reducers (cyclobenzaprine), antidepressants (duloxetine), vitaminsupplementation (Vitamin D), topical anesthetics (Lidoderm), acupressure, massage, and hormonesupplementation (androgens). Spine surgery aims to relieve nerve root pressure by restoring thenormal distance between vertebrae while removing or repairing disks that have ruptured.
Patients who experience back pain despite surgery and many who have never had surgery have advisedme that marijuana tea has been tremendously helpful – not just to help them sleep but as a painmedicine adjunct. The vast majority of such patients are prescribed medications that are commonlyused to manage of chronic back pain but which have failed to deliver satisfactory pain control. Thesepatients have specifically identified tea made from MJ leaves as their best medicine. When challenged,they insist that tea is superior to smoked or vaporized MJ for relieving their pain. The recipes used forMJ tea are not standardized, however; what I can conclude with certainty is that the temperature ofthe solution does not exceed 100 ◦C or 212◦F – the temperature above which the water portion of thesolution simply turns to steam. So what is it about MJ tea that has made it the favorite of such patients?
I believe cannabidiol (CBD) is the answer. This cannabinoid is emerging as the most medically intriguingmolecule in MJ. Its concentration varies by plant strain but is generally highest in the leaf. Unlike itsrelative THC, CBD is much more sensitive to temperature – being chemically inactivated above 350◦F.Thus, the high temperature required with MJ smoking inactivates CBD, which makes smoking a pure THCdelivery system. In contrast, MJ tea preserves CBD chemical activity. Other forms of MJ preparationthat avoid the 350◦F temperature threshold would be expected to be as effective. Alternatives includelow-temperature baked goods and room-temperature extracts (tinctures) that are absorbed orally orthrough the intestinal tract. How do we explain the absence of a prescription medicine based on thiscompound? We don’t have to. Sativex® is a commercially produced MJ extract prescribed in Canada formultiple sclerosis. So how does CBD work, where does it act in the body, and what medical problemsmight it help? I’ve been watching scientific literature from around the world for the answers to thesequestions, and here is what I’ve found.

The marijuana plant contains around 100 different chemical compounds. THC is the best known ingredient but medically, may not be the most important. The other chemical of great interest medically is cannabadiol or CBD. This chemical is destroyed above 350 degress Fahrenheit. This means that smoking, vaporizing and even baking marijuana in cookies and brownies will destroy this chemical. This fact explains why patients report that tinctures produced at room temperatures, or tea seem to have the greatest benefit in reducing pain and inflammation. So, while we aren’t likely to see steamed marijuana served as a side dish any time soon, it is clear than edible forms of the plant produce the greatest relief in symptoms for patients. Incidently, edible forms have the lowest risk of lung injury as well giving 2 good reasons for choosing edible forms of medicinal marijuana. ONE IMPORTANT POINT: We don’t know the effect of marijuana on developing embryo’s and fetuses. Women who might get or are trying to get pregnant should avoid using medical marijuana just like they should avoid alcohol, tobacco, and most prescription drugs.

The pains in my leg and heel, from arthritis and past injury, were unbearable. You think you can live with it, but when there’s no alternative [and] beyond discomfort, you’ll try anything.  The Marijuana Program worked. The pain in my heel is gone and the arthritis is a helluva lot more manageable than I’ve ever experienced before. No, I’m not a “pothead.”  I’m a believer in a serious program.

Several degenerative nerve diseases result in painful, debilitating muscle contractions.  Multiple sclerosis is the most common but there are many others.  These disorders are difficult to treat and patients often struggle to maintain an active and independent life.  In many cases, patients using edible forms of MMJ have been able to reduce their symptoms and lead a more normal lifestyle.