When it comes to medical marijuana, there are a number of conditions and diseases we know it can treat. But there are also some bizarre medical situations where cannabis may also be able to help.
Here are the nine craziest conditions marijuana can actually treat:
1. Asthma
It may sound weird that a drug that’s most common way of consumption is smoking would help reduce asthma, but there are studies that indicate that using cannabis can help open up airways and decrease some of the issues associated with asthma.
2. Concussions
No, marijuana can’t prevent you from sustaining concussions. But after you suffer one, some studies suggest that using cannabis can help your brain heal afterwards. Now technically these studies have so far only been conducted with mice, but considering marijuana can help with other brain-related conditions in humans, it’s probably not too far out there.
3. HIV
While some states do allow medical marijuana for HIV/AIDS patients, that’s mostly to cope with the medications and treatment associated with the disease. But there’s actually a study from 2017 that shows that marijuana use can prevent patients with HIV from getting AIDS. THC is an immunosuppressant that prevents the function of a cell called Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell that’s been linked to HIV becoming AIDS.
4. Hepatitis C
Hep C is a viral infection acquired either through sex, sharing needles or blood transfusion. Studies in the past have shown that marijuana can help suppress the effects of the Hep C virus, and can even somewhat repair damage to the liver caused by it.
5. Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell Disease is a condition where a person’s blood cells are abnormally shaped, which causes problems with circulating oxygen around the body. The disease can lead to pain, inflammation and swelling, all of which can be treated by cannabis.
6. Spinal Cord Injuries
The ability for marijuana to relieve pain is well-documented, but there’s actually another way cannabis can help people with spinal cord injuries. Studies have shown that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in cannabis, can actually improve the motor function of people with these types of injuries. There are also studies that show that marijuana can help induce the growth of nerve cells, which may play a part in why its effective for spinal cord injuries.
7. Lupus
If you ever watched House, you’ll know Lupus is an autoimmune disease that leads to the body attacking itself for reasons that are not known. Believe it or not, using marijuana can actually sooth your immune system and stop the symptoms of Lupus from spreading.
8. Herpes
There are two forms of herpes, the one that leads to the common cold sore that the majority of people probably have in their body, and the one that affects the…uh…”nether regions.” Marijuana can actually treat both. CBD is both an antiviral and an anti-inflammatory. The antiviral helps suppress the herpes virus in your system, while the anti-inflammatory can help if you get an outbreak.
9. Leprosy
Leprosy is pretty rare nowadays, with only a few hundred thousand cases most of which are contained to remote parts of Africa and Asia. But there are a few hundred cases every year in the United States. And, believe it or not, marijuana can actually help. Leprosy is caused by a bacterial infection, and cannabis has proven antibiotic properties that can actually kill that bacteria. In earlier times marijuana was actually one of the more effective treatments for leprosy. Today we have modern drugs that do a much better job.
