Medical Marijuana Tinctures: What is a cannabis tincture, and how is it used?

Medical Marijuana Tinctures

Marijuana tinctures are herbal preparations, that are made by extracting plant compounds, using ethanol alcohol. Most tinctures are prepared with a commercial-grade, consumable liquor, ranging from 80-180 proof, or 40-90% ethanol content, with the final preparation being between 25-90% alcohol. Medical marijuana tinctures are commonly made using 151 proof alcohol. The higher the ethanol content of the alcohol used, the more cannabinoids (and other compounds), will be extracted making a more potent final product. For example, not only will a cannabis tincture made with 80 proof (40% Alc. by Vol.)Vodka have less alcohol content, but it will also pick up less active ingredients from the marijuana during the cannabis-tincture making process, than a tincture prepared with 151 proof (75.5% Alc) Rum, or 190 proof grain alcohol. A tincture should be prepared with with a spirit that contains the highest ethanol content available for optimum results.

Using Marijuana Tinctures

Tinctures are typically administered by placing a few drops to a dropper or 2 full of the final infused product under the tongue. Since the alcohol draws the other extracted constituents into the bloodstream fairly rapidly, it usually only takes a few minutes to feel some effect. Some patients claim almost-instant effects, while others claim up-to 15 minutes until cannabis tinctures begin to kick-in. Dosage is adjusted, simply by waiting 15-20 minutes before judging effect, then adding a few more drops if needed. If dosage is too strong, simply wait for it to wear off and take a little less next time. Many people like to add a few drops of their cannabis tincture, to a cup of tea or other beverage. This is mainly done by those who are looking to mask the taste of the cannabis in the tincture. When you mix the tincture with another substance and swallow it however, it will not be absorbed under the tongue but in the stomach, meaning it will take much longer to feel the desired effects, and they may not be as strong. The method of administering marijuana tinctures recommended by most, is placing a few drops under the tongue and simply waiting for it to absorb.

Storing Cannabis Tinctures

All tinctures should be packaged and stored properly, in order to ensure maximum shelf-life and efficacy. Since light, air, humidity (or lack of), and temperature can all effect the final product over-time, it is very important that your marijuana tincture be stored correctly. Store marijuana tinctures in amber glass bottles, for best results. The dark color of the glass, helps keep harmful light out of your precious cannabis tincture. Since many of the compounds in cannabis are sensitive to light, it is best to keep them stored completely away from it. Storing your final product in a dark-glass bottle, in a cupboard or closet, will help protect it from loss of potency/quality. 1 oz. Amber-Glass Dropper bottles are the best for storing herbal tinctures in smallbatches.

Making Marijuana Tinctures

There are several methods for making marijuana tinctures. The main methods of cannabis tincture making would be: Cold Tincture & Hot Tincture Making a cold-tincture involves leaving the cannabis and alcohol mixture in a cool-dark place for up to 2 weeks and allowing them to do their thing without heating them. This leaves more of the active constituents intact, leading to better results according to some. Making a hot-tincture preparation, involves heating the alcohol and cannabis together in order to speed up the extraction time. There are several methods or recipes for making a tincture in this fashion. The hot-tincture method of making marijuana tinctures is also known as making green dragon. For more information on cannabis tinctures, or for recipes on making marijuana tincture, or Green Dragon, check the following links. The material provided by the following sites was instrumental in writing this article. http://www.knowmarijuana.com/2010/12/03/unraveling-the-mystery-of-the-tincture/ http://www.medicalmarijuanafaqs.com/2011/07/01/does-medical-marijuana-have-to-besmoked/ http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/medical-use-of-cannabis-video/marijuanatincture/ http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/3005.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tincture
http://www.epubs.utah.edu/index.php/ulr/article/viewFile/143/125.

Anorexia

Anorexia is an acute loss of appetite, often associated with psychological factors. Various stomach disorders, reactions to medications, and the use of illicit narcotics such as cocaine or heroin can cause anorexia. Some forms of anorexia are thought to develop as an exaggerated response to cultural standards of beauty. The potential for relief of anorexia with the use of cannabis may depend upon psychological factors. Cannabinoids may have minimal appetite stimulation effect in cases of classic anorexia nervosa. The overwhelming evidence of hunger-inducing properties of cannabinoids, particularly the primary ingredient, delta-9 THC, in the physical condition of appetite loss known as cachexia is well-established.. Synthetic THC pills called Marinol are indicated for the treatment of anorexia, but physicians may risk losing their license by writing off-label Marinol prescriptions for patients suffering from anorexia not caused by the AIDS wasting syndrome or cancer chemotherapy. An appetite-enhancing effect of THC is observed with daily divided doses totaling 5 mg. When required, the daily dose may be increased to 20 mg. In a long-term study of 94 AIDS patients, the appetite-stimulating effects of THC continued for months, confirming the appetite enhancement noted in a shorter six-week study. THC doubled appetite on a visual analogue scale in comparison to placebo. Patients tended to retain a stable body weight over the course of seven months." A positive influence on body weight was also reported in 15 patients with Alzheimers disease who were previously refusing food. Surprisingly, THC also decreased the observed severity of disturbed behavior. In patients diagnosed with primary anorexia nervosa there was no measurable cannabinoid effect, presumably because the underlying pathological mechanism is not loss of appetite. -- Grotenhermen, Russo. Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential . New York: The Hawthorn Integrative Healing Press, 2002,. Grotenhermen, Review of Therapeutic Effects. Chapter 11, p. 128 Related sections: AIDS, Digestive Disorders, Psychoactivity, Stress Reduction
http://www.cannabismd.net/anorexia/

Tetrahydrocannabinol - THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active chemical in cannabis and is one of the oldest hallucinogenic drugs known. There is evidence that cannabis extracts were used by the Chinese as a herbal remedy since the first century AD. Cannabis comes from the flowering tops and leaves of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa (shown in the picture on the right). For centuries this plant has been widely cultivated around the world for its fibres, and indeed the word canvas, which is a material made from woven hemp fibres, takes its name from cannabis. However, cannabis is more commonly known as the source of the marijuana drug, although the word marijuana applies both to the whole plant, and to the resin from it (although this is sometimes also calledhashish). Cannabis contains approximately 60 different psychoactive chemicals called cannabinoids, of which the most important one istetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The mode of action of THC is still not properly understood, although it is known that of the two stereoisomers (mirror images), the (-)-form (the left-handed form of the molecule) is 10-15 times more potent than the (+)-form.

THC - the active component of cannabis

The cannabinoids belong to a class of chemicals called terpenoids, meaning terpenelike. These compounds occur as essential oils within many plants and some are involved in the formation of vitamins, steroids, pigments and odours. The perfume industry relies on compounds such as these, and they also find a variety of uses in the food and pharmaceutical industry as flavour and odour improvers. Terpenes can be linear (such as geraniol or citronella) or cyclic as in THC. Examples of some other simple cyclic terpenes are shown below.

menthol (peppermint oil)

-pinene (turpentine)

Camphor (from the camphor tree)

THC as an Illegal Drug The cannabinoids are basically non-polar molecules, with low solubility in water, so they are normally self-administered by smoking. The volatilised fractions are inhaled as a vapour and give rise to a number of physiological effects. These effects depend very much upon the expectations and mood of the user, the quantity taken, and the possible presence of other drugs (such as alcohol) in the body. Generally people experience a pleasurable state of relaxation, with heightened sensory experiences of taste, sound and colour. Repeated experiments have failed to show any short term dangers, although it hasn't been proven to be 'safe' in the pharmacological sense either. THC is non-addictive and there are no withdrawal symptoms. However, one of the side-effects of its use is to make the user drowsy, with reduced concentration and short term memory. As a result, it was made illegal in the UK for recreational use in 1928, although it is still legal in a number of other countries. Medical Uses Apart from the recreational uses and abuses, THC does have some medical uses. Its anti-emetic properties (inhibits vomiting) are particularly useful in the treatment of cancer patients on chemotherapy. Also, as THC increases the appetite and reduces the vomit response, it is starting to be used in the treatment of anorexia and other eating disorders. References:

Organic Chemistry, Morrison and Boyd (Allyn and Bacon, 1983). Biochemistry, L. Stryer (W.H. Freeman and Co, San Francisco, 1975). Molecules, P.W. Atkins (W.H. Freeman and Co, New York, 1987)

http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/vchemlib/mim/bristol/thc/thc_text.htm

THC(A) vs. THC: the difference in non-active and active THC cannabinoids
4

THC(A) vs. THC

THC is the main psychoactive constituent contained in the marijuana plant. While most of us have heard of THC, and know what it is, many people dont know about its nonpsychoactive pre-curser acid form called THC(A), also known as Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (isnt THC(A) a lot easier to say?).

What is THC(A)?
THC(A) is actually the bio-synthetic precursor to THC. What this means is, over time and given the proper environmental conditions THC(A) will actually convert into THC. This conversion takes place in a couple of different ways and is commonly referred to as decarboxylation, or decarbing your cannabis.

Properties of THC(A)
Before being converted to it;s psychoactive form, THC(A) still has many therapeutic benefits while being void of psycho-activity such as aiding in sleep, inhibiting cancer cell growth, and suppressing muscle spasms as you can see from the chart below.

Properties of THC
THC has many separate properties, once it has been converted from THC(A). It has been shown to reduce vomiting and nausea, relieve pain, stimulate the appetite, and also reduces muscle spasms.

What most people dont realize is, that cannabis actually contains very little THC in its natural plant form. As a matter of fact, upwards of 80-90% or so of the THC found in cannabis is actually in the form of THC(A) until it goes through a process known as decarboxylation. Since decarboxylation instantly takes place while being smoked, the differences in the THC(A)/THC levels are not as important when dealing with marijuana that will be smoked. Topical uses of marijuana On the other hand, if you are using medical marijuana or an extract to make a topical application, then you will need to have a better understanding of the differences in THC(A) and THC, as well as an understanding of what decarboxylation is and how it is achieved. When making medical marijuana preparations such as topicals, capsules, and other forms of medical marijuana that will not be heated past the decarboxylation threshold of 222 degrees Fahrenheit - it is important to know what THC(A) to THC ratio you need to achieve for the desired effects. Also important is knowing that by properly decarboxylating your marijuana, you can dial in the desired amounts of THC(A) and THC for a custom preparation that holds the benefits of both of these great cannabinoids. For example: lets say you want to make a topical that will be a good pain reliever, as well as having an ability to inhibit cancer-cell growth. In this case you would not want to fully decarb your starting material, since you would be removing the properties that inhibit cancer-cell growth. A full-decarb would change the THC(A) to THC with about 95% + conversion rate. If however, you were able to partially decarb your plant material before turning it onto a topical, you could dial in properties that would otherwise be lost. This would be very

beneficial in adjusting the efficacy of products being used by patients with more than one condition or symptom. With use of the above chart, as well as the information provided in the article I wrote called decarboxylation, you can begin to get a fuller-understanding of cannabinoids and how to use them to our advantage. By custom tuning our products to include not only different cannabinoids, but to also include different versions of the same cannabinoids we will be able to make recipes that will be perfect for almost any condition that medical marijuana is therapeutic for.

Custom decarboxylation processes for obtaining a custom ratio

By using custom ranges of temperatures and times to perform decarboxylation, you can fine tune the amount of THC(A) that is converted into THC for the perfect ratio or blend. This could be very beneficial in making products that have a broad-range of therapeutic benefits. As we learn more about the inner-workings of one of the worlds oldest herbs (cannabis), we are coming to the conclusion that marijuana is in fact medicine, and there are many ways to use it that we just have not found yet. By tweaking, experimenting and studying this plant we will be able to find many more uses for it in the future. http://www.medicalmarijuanafaqs.com/2012/11/20/thca-vs-thccannabinoids/#.UNAT7-RJPqE

Cannabinoids are

molecules unique to the cannabis plant. There are over 60 such cannabinoids in the plant including 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 9-THC Propyl Analogue (THC-V), Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabidiol Propyl Analogue (CBD-V), Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabichromene (CBC), Cannabichromene Propyl Analogue (CBC-V) and Cannabigerol (CBG). THC is the cannabinoid that has to date received most attention both from the scientific community and the general public. However, THC and other cannabinoids have been shown to have analgesic, anti-spasmodic, anti-convulsant, anti-tremor, anti-psychotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic and appetite-stimulant properties. Research is ongoing into the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of cannabinoids. Below House of Cannabis: House of Therapeutic National Marijuana are Lords The Lords 3 Science Scientific Science Uses & and & recent Technology Medical reports of interest: Report 1998) Report 2001)

Committee Ninth Evidence (November Committee Cannabis (March Institute the Second

Technology of Sciences Assessing

Academy of and Medicine

of Science

Medicine Base (1999)

Therapeutic

There have recently been a number of high-profile cases involving the prosecution of therapeutic

Cannabis

Users

&

the

Law

users of cannabis: the memorandum by the Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics (ACT) (p. 26) has highlighted a number of them. The decision to prosecute, taken by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), does not seem to be consistent from region to region. Moreover, in some cases, juries have acquitted therapeutic users who do not deny the offence, but plead therapeutic use in mitigation; in other cases, defendants have been found guilty and sentenced. Ministers sought to deny that therapeutic cannabis users were subject to "postcode prosecuting". They stressed that the number of therapeutic users who were prosecuted was extremely small when compared to the total of 89,000 cases involving cannabis in 1998.[10] He also said that the variation in the outcome of cases for therapeutic users was less than for other offences, including the recreational use of cannabis. The number of cases of therapeutic users of cannabis being prosecuted is certainly small. Exact statistics are difficult to obtain, however, as the Home Office does not maintain a record of those prosecuted for cannabis use who claim therapeutic use as a defence. The Minister further said that he had no intention of changing the current position, whereby the decision whether or not to prosecute for cannabis-related offences is made locally by the Police and the CPS. He did, however, emphasise that discretion could be exercised at three levels of the prosecution process: by the Police; by the CPS; and by the Courts. Guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on dealing with cannabis offences specifically refer to therapeutic use, and recommend that a caution is usually appropriate; the CPS guidelines require that any prosecution should be in the public interest; and the Court of Appeal issues guidance that the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use can often be met by a fine. (Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis - March 2001)

AIDS Arthritis Brain Multiple Nausea Anti-Tumor Asthma Epilepsy Glaucoma Schizophrenia Migraine Eating General AIDS

Wasting

Syndrome Injury/Stroke Sclerosis Chemotherapy Effects

associated

with

cancer

Disorders Pain Wasting Syndrome

AIDS wasting syndrome, a common and often fatal outcome of HIV infection, is defined as the involuntary loss of 10 percent of body weight or more that is not attributable to other disease processes. It is critical for HIV and AIDS patients to maintain a healthy appetite and body weight to avoid opportunistic infections. Medical cannabis appears to help counter the appetite loss, nausea, and pain associated with HIV and AIDS and their commonly prescribed medications. Presently, medical organizations specializing in AIDS research are some of strongest advocates for legalizing medical cannabis, calling it "potentially lifesaving medicine".

Arthritis

Arthritis refers to any more than 100 inflammatory joint disorders characterized by pain, swelling, and limited movement. Arthritis involves the inflammation and degeneration of cartilage and bone that make up the joint. Experts estimate that more than 31 million people in the United States alone suffer from various degrees of the disease. Common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Emerging evidence implies that cannabis can help alleviate symptoms of both conditions. Cannabis' pain reducing properties are well documented and emerging evidence indicates that it holds anti-inflammatory qualities. Dale Gieringer, author of the paper "Review of Human Studies on the Medical Use of Marijuana," cites three animal and laboratory studies documenting cannabis' potential anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, a 1988 study by an British research team found the cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol) ameliorated inflammation in mice.

Brain

Emerging research indicates that cannabinoids possess neuroprotective properties (1,2). Researchers at the National Institutes for Mental Health (NIMH) demonstrated in 1998 that the cannabinoids THC and cannabidiol (CBD) are potent anti-oxidants in animals. (3) Doctors rely on anti-oxidants to protect stroke and head trauma victims from exposure to toxic levels of reactive molecules, so-called "free radicals", that are produced when the brain's blood supply is cut off. Head injuries and strokes cause the release of excessive glutamate, often resulting in irreversible damage to brain cells.

Injury/Stroke

Multiple

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting the central nervous system. MS exacerbations appear to be caused by abnormal immune activity that causes inflammation and the destruction of myelin (the protective covering of nerve fibers) in the brain, brain stem or spinal cord. Common symptoms of MS include muscle spasms, depression, and incontinence (involuntary loss of urine) or urinary retention.

Sclerosis

In a 1998 review article published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review, Drs. Linda Growing et al. observed that the distribution of cannabinoid receptors in the brain suggests that they may play a role in movement control. The authors hypothesized that cannabinoids might modify the autoimmune cause of the disease. If so, it is possible that cannabis may both relieve symptoms of MS and retard its progression.

Nausea associated

A large body of clinical research exists concerning the use of cannabis and cannabinoids for chemotherapy- induced nausea and vomiting. A review of the medical literature reveals at least 31 human clinical trials examining the effects of cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids on nausea, not including several U.S. state trails that took place between 1978 and 1986. In reviewing this literature, Hall et al. concluded that " THC [delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol] is superior to placebo, and equivalent in effectiveness to other widely-used anti-emetic drugs, in its capacity to reduce the nausea and vomiting caused by some chemotherapy regimens in some cancer patients".

with

cancer

chemotherapy

Anti-Tumor Effects

Emerging research indicates that cannabinoids may help protect against the development of certain types of tumors. Most recently, a Spanish research team reported in Nature that injections of synthetic THC eradicated malignant brain tumors - so-called gliomas - in one-third of treated rats, and prolonged life in another third by as much as six weeks. Team leader Manuel Guzman called the results "remarkable" and speculated that they "may provide a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of malignant gliomas". An accompanying commentary

remarked that this was the first convincing study to demonstrate that cannabis-based treatment may combat cancer. Other journals have also recently reported on cannabinoids' anti-tumoral potential.

Asthma
Asthma is a breathing disorder caused by inflammation and swelling of the small airways (bronchioles) that afflicts some 10 million Americans, killing more than 4,000 annually. When the bronchioles become inflamed, swollen, and filled with mucus, the airways constrict and patients have difficulty breathing. Asthma attacks are typically treated with "bronchodilators," drugs that relax and open the bronchioles, or anti-inflammatory steroids to reduce swelling. The Australian National Task Force on Cannabis determined, "Smoked cannabis, and to a lesser extent oral THC, have an acute bronchodilatory effect in both normal persons and persons with asthma".A handful of human studies demonstrate this effect, including one that showed smoking even low THC cannabis produced bronchodilation nearly equivalent to a clinical dose of isoproterenol. The House of Lords 1998 "Ninth Report" on cannabis acknowledged that cannabinoids seemed to work as effectively as conventional asthma drug treatments. Experiments using oral THC produced a smaller bronchodilator effect after a substantial delay, and proved to be a bronchial irritant when administered as an aerosol.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that afflicts nearly 2.5 million Americans. Patients suffering from epilepsy experience periodic, recurrent seizures triggered by the misfiring of certain brain cells. These seizures occur in various forms, ranging from mild to severe convulsions and loss of consciousness. Standard treatment for epilepsy involves anticonvulsants. While there are several studies and references by the Institute of Medicine, House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, Australian National Task Force on Cannabis, and others regarding cannabis' anti-convulsant properties, there are few human studies specific to epilepsy. A double blind controlled study on the effects of the marijuana compound cannabidiol (CBD) on epilepsy yielded favorable results. "Fifteen patients suffering from secondary generalized epilepsy with temporal focus were randomly divided into two groups. Each patient received, in a doubleblind procedure, 200-300 mg daily of CBD or placebo. All patients and volunteers tolerated CBD very well and no signs of toxicity or serious side effects were detected on examination. Four of the eight CBD subjects remained almost free of convulsive crises throughout the experiment and three other patients demonstrated partial improvement on their clinical condition".

Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disorder that results from an imbalance of pressure within the eye. The condition is characterized by an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) that progressively impairs vision and may lead to permanent blindness. Glaucoma remains second leading cause of blindness in the United States. The aim of glaucoma treatment is to reduce interocular pressure. Several human studies demonstrate that inhaled cannabis lowers IOP in subjects with normal IOP and glaucoma. Some animal studies indicate that cannabis can also be effective when administered topically (e.g. as an eye drop.) Two of the eight legal U.S. medical marijuana patients have used government cannabis to effectively maintain their eyesight for more than a decade.

Migraine

Migraine is a type of episodic, recurrent, severe headache lasting hours to days. Migraine is typically accompanied sensitivity to light, intolerance to loud noises, and nausea or vomiting. Surveys indicate that 15 to 25 percent of women and five to 10 percent of men suffer from migraine. A century ago, physicians commonly prescribed cannabis for migraine. Famed physician William Osler wrote that it was "probably the most satisfactory remedy" for migraine in his textbook, The Principles and Practice of Medicine. Some patients and physicians are once again showing interest in examining cannabis' potential to treat symptoms of migraine. A recent article in the medical journal Pain (Journal of the Association for the Study of Pain) concluded that "cannabis delivered in the form of a marijuana cigarette, or 'joint,' presents the hypothetical potential for quick, effective, parenteral [non-orally administered] treatment of acute migraine." The author called cannabis a "far safer alternative" than many prescription anti-migraine drugs, and reported that a large percentage of migraine sufferers fail to respond or cannot tolerate standard therapies.

Schizophrenia

Cannabis' impact on patients suffering from schizophrenia is not well understood and often disputed. The Australian National Task Force on Cannabis cites anecdotal clinical evidence that "schizophrenic patients who use cannabis and other drugs experience exacerbations of symptoms, and have a worse clinical course, with more frequent psychotic episodes than those who do not". However, the researchers admit that "very few well controlled studies" have documented this relationship. In his book Marihuana The Forbidden Medicine, Dr. Lester Grinspoon (with James Bakalar) cites a pair of studies that found schizophrenic patients who used cannabis responded better to the disease than nonusers. One study reported that patients who smoked marijuana had "fewer delusions and, above all, fewer of the so-called negative symptoms, which include apathy, limited speech, and emotional unresponsiveness." The other study concluded that those who used cannabis had a "lower rate of hospital admissions than those who used no drugs at all. The paticipants said that cannabis helped them with anxiety, depression, and insomnia." Grinspoon also notes that in his own clinical experience, schizophrenics who regularly use cannabis generally regard it as helpful.

Eating Disorders
Survey data beginning in 1970 demonstrated a strong relationship between inhaling marijuana and increased appetite. This data also found a majority of cannabis users reporting that "marijuana made them enjoy eating very much and that they consequently ate a lot more.") Cannabis is also documented to enhance the sensory appeal of foods. Several human trials have established cannabis' ability to stimulate food intake and weight gain in healthy volunteers. Dr. Leo Hollister of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto, California presided over two separate experiments that found "total food intake, as well as reports of hunger and appetite, are increased after oral administration of marihuana." A later trial of 27 cannabis smokers and ten controls concluded that marijuana smokers ate more and gained more weight than non-smokers after 21 days in a hospital research ward. The cannabissmoking group immediately began eating less after ceasing their marijuana use.

General

Pain is a sensation of physical discomfort, mental anguish, or suffering caused by aggravation of the sensory nerves. It remains the most common symptom for which patients seek therapeutic

Pain

relief. Cannabis has historically been used as an analgesic, and was commonly prescribed by physicians in England and America in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many researchers now believe that cannabinoids hold promise as safe and effective pain reducers with no physical-dependenceinducing properties. Authors of the 1999 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, "Marijuana as Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," describe three types of pain that may be ameliorated by cannabinoids: somatic pain, visceral pain, and neuropathic pain. Researchers appear most interested in examining cannabis' ability to relieve neuropathic pain, which results from injury to nerves, peripheral receptors, or the central nervous system, because it is often resistant to standard opioids.

http://www.skunked.co.uk/articles/medicinal-marijuana.htm

Medical marijuana uses

There are many known therapeutic uses for medical marijuana. Throughout history marijuana, also called cannabis, has been used for almost everything from common aches and pains to more serious conditions and ailments like cancer and other diseases.

Topical uses of marijuana:

Medical marijuana will help treat many conditions when used topically including: rough or dry skin, arthritis, eczema, headaches, migraines, insect bites, scrapes, burns, sore-achy muscles, psoriasis, pain, rashes, rheumatism, inflammation, sunburns, stiff-muscles, tendonitis, and many other uses that the big pharmaceutical companies wouldnt want you to know about. via Medical marijuana, herbal balms and cannabis topicals Cannabis Chris.

Medical Marijuana for Pain

Marijuana is used to treat many different kinds of pain. Pain associated with inflammation may be remedied with use of a medical marijuana topical, and pain that is internal or more significant, may be helped by internally ingesting marijuana. Medical marijuana may be ingested by smoking, vaporizing, or even eating it. Eating medical marijuana in the form of a homemade capsule, or even in a baked good such as the classic marijuana brownies, is a great way to treat many chronic forms of pain without smoking.

Medical Marijuana for Asthma

When an asthma attack kicks in the bronchial tubes are involuntarily contracted and the airways are partly cut-off from the air supply. This causes a sudden loss of breath and an inability to breath properly. Obviously, the inability to breath properly is a very serious condition one which may also cause panic, worsening the overall severity.

Medical marijuana is known to act as a bronchodiolator, which means that it opens up the airways allowing easier breathing as it relaxes the bronchial tubes. This effect is usually felt instantaneously after inhaling active cannabis compounds containing THC. This may be achieved by either smoking or vaporizing, with vaporizing being the better obvious choice. Not only will marijuana help reduce or eliminate the spasms and loss of breath, but compounds within marijuana are known to reduce mucous production. Reducing mucous production has an obious drying effect, making it even easier to breath since there is less blockage in the airway. via: http://www.medicalmarijuanafaqs.com/2012/04/05/cannabis-causes-cottonmouth/ Marijuana is also known as an anti-inflammatory which may help reduce swelling in the mucous membranes even furthering the overall effects. Asthma is the shortness of breath and wheezing caused by spasms of the bronchial tubes, overproduction of mucus, and swelling of the mucous membranes. Asthma kills more than 4,000 Americans each year. Clinical research shows that THC acts as a bronchial dilator, clearing blocked air passageways and allowing free breathing. (sic) via Medical Marijuana Asthma.

Medical Marijuana for Cancer

Many cancer patients have turned to medical marijuana for its appitite stimulating and antiemetic (anti-nausea) effects. As of lately, even more research is coming out showing direct anti-tumor effects of some forms of medical marijuana, especially in concentrated extract forms. All over the internet, and in medical marijuana communities across the country, people have reported using a highly concentrated form of all-natural cannabis extracts to treat cancer and other serious diseases with great results. These cannabis extracts are the natural essential oils produced by the cannabis plant. If you do a few searches on the internet for cannabis oil, RSO, or hemp oil, + cannabis, you should find a few of these stories.

Other uses for medical marijuana

Medical marijuana has many other uses. People use marijuana to help them relax when they are too tense, and to calm-down when they are overly anxious or having an anxiety attack. Some people use marijuana for migraine headaches and others for cramps and muscle aches. The more we do research on the cannabis plant the more we are finding many other conditions that are treatable with it. No matter what the reason a person has to use medical marijuana, the one thing that always seems to be a common factor is marijuana makes people feel better! other sources:

Marijuana and Asthma http://www.rxmarijuana.com/lisa.htm

http://www.medicalmarijuanafaqs.com/2012/09/28/uses-medicalmarijuana/#.UNAV8-RJPqE

CBD
90. Mechoulam R, Peters M, Murillo-Rodriguez E, Hanus LO (2007). "Cannabidiolrecent advances". Chemistry & Biodiversity 4 (8): 167892. doi:10.1002/cbdv.200790147.PMID 17712814. 91. ^ Grlie, L (1976). "A comparative study on some chemical and biological characteristics of various samples of cannabis resin". Bulletin on Narcotics 14: 3746.
10. Morgan, Celia J. A.; Curran, H. Valerie (2008). "Effects of cannabidiol on schizophrenia-like symptoms in people who use cannabis". British Journal of Psychiatry 192 (4): 306307.doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.046649. PMID 18378995
30. Ligresti A, Moriello AS, Starowicz K, et al. (2006). "Antitumor activity of plant cannabinoids with emphasis on the effect of cannabidiol on human breast carcinoma". J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 318 (3): 1375 87.doi:10.1124/jpet.106.105247. PMID 16728591. caryo Gertsch J, Leonti M, Raduner S, et al. (July 2008)."Beta-caryophyllene is a dietary cannabinoid".Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 (26): 9099104. Glenn Tinseth, "Hop Aroma and Flavor", January/February 1993, Brewing Techniques. <http://realbeer.com/hops/aroma.html> Accessed July 21, 2010.

CBN
Mahadevan A, Siegel C, Martin BR, Abood ME, Beletskaya I, Razdan RK (October 2000). "Novel cannabinol probes for CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 43 (20): 377885.

Effects

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY:Appetite and Cancer-Associated

Anorexia: A Review M. P. Davis, R. Dreicer, D. Walsh, R. Lagman, and S. B. LeGrand J. Clin. Oncol., April 15, 2004; 22(8): 1510 - 1517.