If you live in Florida, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the fact that medical marijuana is available in the state. Although it requires registering with the state, getting a medical marijuana card, and extensive evaluation from a doctor, it’s still beneficial to the population. Highly trained in specialized Florida marijuana doctors can prescribe medical marijuana for a multitude of different ailments in afflictions. It might seem highly restrictive and complicated to get medical marijuana in the state, but there’s a reason these policies are in place. Protecting the population, dealing with limited supplies, and ensuring the doctors are doing what’s best for their patients are all valid reasons such processes exist. Whether you’re seeking medical marijuana for chronic pain or another element, it’s a good idea to know what types of illnesses might benefit from treatment. Here’s a guide to some of the qualifying conditions in Florida for which medical marijuana might be prescribed.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disease that affects millions of people every day. It comes with seizures, spasms, and other problems that can affect daily life in an adverse way. Living with epilepsy can be tough and restrictive. Fortunately, there is some promise that CBD and certain strains of medicinal cannabis can help mitigate the symptoms of this disease. Instead of drugs like Tegretol that might affect other functions, CBD strains can help relax patients and treat their illnesses. In recent years, advocacy for CBD as a treatment for epilepsy has been growing and the drug shows promise for helping patients with this terrible affliction.
Cancer
Cancer, and all its various forms, affects millions of people every year. Often terminal, cancer can be difficult to treat. Instead of opting for chemotherapy or other treatments, many people have been turning to cannabis as an alternative or supplemental treatment. According to the American Cancer Association, some studies have proven that marijuana can help ease some of the after-effects of chemotherapy. It can also help treat neuropathic pain. The most significant role marijuana plays in treating cancer is to alleviate pain. This makes it incredibly useful in treating this terrible disease.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma can happen to anybody. It’s a disease that involves extra fluid building up in an optic nerve. This fluid ends up damaging the nerve which causes vision loss and other problems. It’s the most likely culprit to cause blindness if you’re over 60. Recently, doctors have been exploring cannabis as an option for treating glaucoma. Some studies suggest that cannabis can reduce the compounds that cause it. Others suggest it can alleviate pain. Additional research is needed in this area, but this is strong evidence that marijuana could help anyone suffering from glaucoma manage their symptoms.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that can drastically affect your everyday life. Although there isn’t enough evidence right now to prove the efficacy of medical marijuana and treating Parkinson’s, CBD might help eliminate some of the symptoms for a time. This is predominantly in reducing anxiety, helping sleep, and preventing nausea. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of research available yet to conclusively prove cannabis can treat Parkinson’s, but what research is available is quite strong. Hopefully, at some point in the future, more evidence will emerge that medical marijuana will be an effective treatment for the debilitating ailment.
Other Qualifying Conditions
There are, of course, many other qualifying conditions but hopefully, this list is giving you some valuable information to get you started with learning more about medical marijuana in Florida. Neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, post-traumatic stress disorder, and similar afflictions all qualify under Florida’s law. All you need to do is consult with the licensed doctor, figure out the best course of treatment, and go on from there.