Medical Cannabis 101

As new research is continually being published, we are starting to have a better understanding of the plant and its benefits within the human body. A growing number of people all over the world are seeking medical cannabis to find relief from a variety of conditions and unwanted symptoms including chronic pain, anxiety, arthritis, PTSD, and more. 

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent: “I am more convinced than ever that it is irresponsible to not provide the best care we can, care that often may involve marijuana.”

At first, the amount of information you can find online about medical cannabis can overwhelming. At Apollo, our healthcare team of physicians, nurse practitioner, and patient educators are here to guide you and help you in your research and medical journey. 

In 1964, a researcher from Israel led to a discovery about the endocannabinoid system (ECS). He discovered this system is innately present in all humans and affects almost every part of our body. It consists of two main receptors in the body known as CB1 and CB2. Our body produces cannabinoids and these cannabinoids send messages to the brain to regulate several different bodily functions including hunger, mood, sensations of pain, inflammation and temperature as well as many others. 

They are more than 500 different chemicals compound in the Cannabis plants, including at least 140 which are known as cannabinoids. The two most prominent are Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

CBD is non-intoxicating, which means it doesn’t have a euphoric effect. It is often used to treat conditions such as pain, inflammation, ADHD and many more. 

THC is the psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant and is associated with the euphoric effect that it procures. It is often used to treat conditions such as PTSD, pain, nausea and many more. 

As more research comes out, we continue to see positive results from other naturally occurring cannabinoids as well including CBN, CBG, CBDA, and more.