In case you haven’t noticed, we are in the midst of a medical marijuana revolution.
Due to the number of questions and the mystery surrounding the science behind the substance, Dr. Sanjay Gupta wanted to provide some information. He has been researching medical marijuana for the past few years.
His investigation has led to three CNN documentaries, the last of which is Weed 3: The Marijuana Revolution. This will air at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Gupta received questions via Twitter. This is what you wanted to know:
How does it affect me?
Readers were curious about the effects medical marijuana has in relieving symptoms of various conditions and asked questions about how it could help in everything from serious illness and neurological conditions to chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Gupta discussed the 10 diseases where research into medical marijuana could have an impact and how the substance helped end a young girl’s severe seizures, in addition to mentioning other studies.
He claimed that the potential benefits of medical marijuana for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are actually the subject of a study approved by the federal government. Here’s what it’s believed: Marijuana could suppress dream memory and allow sufferers to focus on the present.
How the drug might affect spasms linked to people who have multiple sclerosis has also been investigated.
Medical marijuana could also be an important option for people who depend on pain relievers since pain reliever overdose is the leading preventable death in the United States, Gupta said.
Why don’t other doctors talk about it?
Many of the questions surrounding medical marijuana can be attributed to not being discussed much.
Teaching about medical marijuana is still a taboo in medical school. But Gupta also presented the science directly, and showed what effect marijuana has on your body.
Readers also wanted to know why people are so against the legalization of marijuana. Decades of misinformation, Gupta said.
What are the downsides?
Because medical marijuana is so misunderstood, there is naturally a fear of possible side effects. There are legitimate, long-term concerns with the developing brain, Gupta said, and suggested that readers look for the research of Dr. Staci Gruber, who has conducted numerous studies on the use of medical marijuana and the brain function.
Isn’t it dangerous?
When confronted with questions rooted in fear regarding medical marijuana, Gupta confessed that he used to think the same thing: that marijuana is dangerous if there are no proven benefits. After doing extensive research, he said he changed his mind about marijuana.