Top 10 Things Marijuana Can Help You With
Don't let the talking heads and outdated PSAs fool you. Cannabis isn't the boogeyman it was once made out to be. Despite the DEA still lumping it in with drugs like heroin under Schedule 1 because science apparently takes a backseat to bureaucracy, it's no secret anymore that marijuana has real, measurable benefits for all kinds of people.
For some, it's the go-to when stress and anxiety show up uninvited. For others, it's a lifeline during chronic illness, easing pain or coaxing sleep from behind the shadows of insomnia. It's even shown promise in medical studies, offering relief in situations where traditional meds just can't keep up. We're not talking about stoner stereotypes here. We're talking real-life stories backed by research, physicians, and a whole lot of experience from people who've been through it.
Now here's where you come in. What do you think weed actually helps with? What have you seen, felt, or heard that proves cannabis is more than just a political talking point?
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Anxiety and Depression
I've been using marijuana for 10 years now to battle my depression. It works great if you can keep yourself motivated when you're high. However, it can make your depression worse if you just smoke and sit around doing nothing. Being high makes me feel like a kid without a care in the world. I smoke, and suddenly I don't care that I'm depressed.
I must say that marijuana is just like any other medication for depression. It's not a cure, but a mask. However, it's the only thing that has given me enough distance from my feelings of depression to function.
Marijuana is very helpful, especially when it comes to this. Many people use alcohol to dismiss their problems, which is much more harmful than marijuana. Marijuana allows people to calm down and temporarily relieve themselves from their daunting thoughts or problems.
I've seen how horrible alcohol is, yet I believe some people can use it responsibly, which is what matters.
It's all about how you use it. Marijuana, though, calms people down. It helps people and should be legal in all 50 states.
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Cancer
Marijuana can help lessen pain and may also assist in destroying cancer cells. However, it is crucial to continue seeing your doctor and taking prescribed medications.
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Insomnia
Sometimes I find myself unable to fall asleep on a school night. I go outside, take a quick bong rip, and I'm all relaxed and ready to fall asleep. Once again, it's better than being prescribed drugs like Ambien, and it is non-addictive.
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Attention
This one may seem far-fetched to outsiders, but it's true. Read this and draw your own conclusion:
Millions of students worldwide, including myself, suffer from ADD or ADHD. The common solution is to prescribe drugs like Adderall, Ritalin, and other amphetamines. These drugs are in the same family as meth and are often considered "party drugs." I have been prescribed various ADD medications over the years, such as Adderall, Methylphenidate, and Dextroamphetamine (currently), and they can have a very negative impact on one's life. Personally, these drugs do help me focus, but there are many downsides. First, I've experienced a significant loss of appetite to the point where I have absolutely no desire to eat. Second, these medications completely alter my behavior. While on them, I am less talkative and sometimes emotionless. Third, they are easily abused. In the 8th grade, kids would ask me to sell them my medication. Is this really the solution to attention disorders? Drugging children?
Recently, I started my first year of college, and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that marijuana has helped me this year. How, you ask? For me, smoking improves my thought process for school. I think much deeper about relevant topics like politics, religion, etc., and it also increases my creativity. I wrote my first college paper while high and received one of the highest grades in the class, better than any paper I turned in during my senior year. Secondly, it increases my motivation. When I get high, I WANT to study because everything seems to make more sense, and I find that I absorb information much easier and remember it better (for certain subjects, that is. I never recommend trying to do math high). I've noticed that I learn better in subjects like history, sociology, and psychology while high because I'm more interested in what I'm learning and think about it from a more philosophical perspective.... read more
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Headaches
As an alternative to OTC drugs like ibuprofen and Advil, marijuana can be useful. Those medications can take a toll on your liver and lead to other complications. I'm not saying get stoned every time you have a headache, but smoking a small amount really does help.
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Weight Loss
It seems like an oxymoron, but it's true. Stoners tend to be slimmer than non-users. That's because cannabis helps the body regulate insulin production, manage caloric intake more efficiently, and regulate metabolism. Unlike alcoholic drinks like beer, which are linked to obesity.
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Diabetes
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Epilepsy
Medical marijuana shows a lot of promise for people who suffer from epilepsy or other seizure disorders.
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Creativity
"You see, I think drugs have done some good things for us. I really do. And if you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight. Take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs and burn 'em. 'Cause you know what, the musicians that made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years... real high on drugs." - Bill Hicks
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Pain
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Glaucoma
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Aggressive Behavior
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Loss of Appetite
Of course, it gives you the munchies.
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Addiction
Cannabis therapy can help people addicted to drugs like heroin or cocaine. Weed is not physically addictive, which can aid in the recovery process.
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Migraines
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Nausea
Weed is much better at treating nausea than many OTC drugs or teas with chamomile, mint, or ginger. I still recommend other options, though. You can't always smoke a joint.
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Eating Disorders