Medical Conditions Commonly Treated with Cannabis

Medical marijuana, or medical cannabis, uses the cannabis plant or its chemicals to treat various symptoms or conditions. It generally comes in the same forms as recreational marijuana, but there are also highly purified and lab-made versions for specific conditions.

The cannabis plant has over 100 different chemicals called cannabinoids, each affecting the body in different ways. The main chemicals used in medicine are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the compound responsible for the “high” people experience when smoking marijuana or consuming THC-infused foods.

What Is Medical Marijuana Used For?

In states where medical marijuana is legal, it is approved for a range of conditions. The specific conditions it may be used for can vary depending on the state and might include:

Severe and chronic pain
Multiple sclerosis and muscle spasms
Severe nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatment
Epilepsy and seizures
Alzheimer's disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
HIV/AIDS Crohn's disease
Glaucoma
Migraine
Anorexia
Extreme weight loss and weakness (wasting syndrome)
Irritable bowel syndrome
Post-traumatic stress disorder

It’s important to note that many of these uses may not be supported by strong scientific evidence. This is partly due to the difficulty researchers face in studying a drug that is illegal under federal law, even when permitted by states.

Additionally, cannabis is typically used to treat symptoms—such as muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis or appetite loss from HIV drugs—rather than addressing the underlying conditions themselves.

What are the medical benefits of cannabis?

Over the years, research has shown that cannabis might help treat certain conditions, including:

Chronic Pain

A large 2017 review of over 10,000 studies found that cannabis and cannabinoid products are effective for relieving chronic pain. Medicinal cannabis may be particularly useful for reducing neuropathic (nerve) pain.

Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

Some people use CBD oil to cut back on or replace prescription pain medications. Additionally, a 2017 review suggests that cannabis may aid people with alcohol or opioid addictions. A 2022 Canadian study also found that medicinal cannabis use correlates with reduced alcohol consumption. However, excessive or improper use of cannabis can lead to a cannabis use disorder.

Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, & social anxiety

A 2017 review found some evidence that cannabis can help relieve symptoms of depression and PTSD. However, researchers noted that cannabis is not suitable for treating conditions like bipolar disorder and psychosis. While promising, research on cannabis for psychiatric disorders is still in early stages and needs further investigation.

Cancer

Evidence suggests that oral cannabinoids can effectively reduce nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. Some small studies also indicate that smoked cannabis may help with these symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis

Short-term use of oral cannabinoids may improve spasticity symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis, although the benefits are modest.

Epilepsy

CBD is also used for treating two rare and severe types of epilepsy—Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome—that are hard to control with other medications. A 2017 study found that CBD significantly reduced seizures in children with Dravet syndrome. However, CBD use in epilepsy treatment is associated with side effects like drowsiness, decreased appetite, and increased body temperature.