Pennsylvania is a populous state in the U.S. comprising of five geographical regions including, the Erie Plain, Allegheny Plateau, Atlantic Coastal Plain, and Piedmont. It features a 140-mile long waterfront along the Delaware River and Lake Erie. It also has a vibrant economy and health care sector, which includes medical cannabis.
In 2016, the state General Assembly approved the Medical Marijuana Act to make the possession, sale, and consumption of medical cannabis legal. However, before you can use medical marijuana for health purposes, you should secure a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania.
Qualifications for Medical Marijuana Use in Pennsylvania
Under the Act, a patient should have at least one the mandated qualifying diseases to secure a card and lawfully use medical cannabis in the state. You should get a certification of your medical condition from a state-licensed physician before you can apply for a permit. Here are some of the qualifying conditions:
- Severe, chronic, or intractable pain
- Sickle cell anemia
- Huntington’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Intractable seizures
- Neuropathy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Loe Gehrig’s disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Anxiety disorder
- Glaucoma
- Autism
- Epilepsy
- Cancer
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crohn’s disease
Health Benefits of Medical Cannabis
Based on various studies, the health and therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana continue to grow. You can legally reap these benefits if you have a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania. Here are some of them:
- Diabetes prevention and regulation – Based on a study by the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis (AAMC), cannabis effectively stabilizes blood sugars, enhances blood circulation, and lowers blood pressure.
- Weight loss aid– Marijuana helps regulate insulin levels in the body and manage calorific intake, thus, preventing weight gain.
- Alcoholism treatment – Alcoholics can turn to cannabis to treat their addiction to alcoholic beverages and avoid the adverse health effects of alcohol.
- Lung capacity expansion – According to the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, the moderate or occasional use of cannabis improves the lung capacity of users. The research also showed that marijuana use does not adversely affect lung function.
- Broken bone treatment – Based on a study published in the “Journal of Bone and Mineral Research,” Israeli researchers found that the marijuana component called cannabidiol facilitated the healing of broken leg bones in rats. The scientists also found that the element strengthened the bones during the healing process.
- Improve cognitive performance and focus of ADHD/ADD patients – A study found that people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) showed better concentration and job performance after consuming cannabis. According to Doctor David Bearman, marijuana increases the brain’s dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for cognitive processes like attention and memory.
- Alleviate Hepatitis C treatment side effects – Cannabis can help lessen the side effects of hepatitis C treatments. Among the side effects which can last for months are fatigue, depression, muscle pain, and nausea.
The health and therapeutic benefits and applications of medical marijuana continue to increase. A growing number of U.S. states are already legalizing its use due to its effectiveness. You, too, can benefit from medical marijuana by securing a medical marijuana card.
