Modern science has found marijuana may have a place in treatment of numerous disorders. Let’s look at Marijuana’s past. In China, marijuana has been utilized as medicine for 4,000 years, treating vomiting, internal bleeding and as an anesthetic. As far back as the 18th century B.C., Egyptian texts refer to medical marijuana. The Islamic world applied use of Marijuana as early as the 8th century. In the 5 Middle East marijuana was put into their steam baths. Ancient Greek texts reveal both human and veterinary applications for medical marijuana.

Modern history reports marijuana use medicinally worldwide by the 19th century. It became less employed with the discovery of aspirin. Dr. O’Shaunghnessy, herbal professor of India, conducted animal tests in the 1830s and then applied it to human use for migraines, depression, pain and convulsions. Marijuana was found helpful in glaucoma to prevent blindness in 1973. Utilized against addiction, migraine and loss of appetite for chemotherapy patients early as the 1970’s, medical marijuana was studied by the US State Health Departments. In 2003 the paper “Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants” opened eyes to the benefits of medical marijuana for stroke, degenerative and Autoimmune diseases.

Two synthetic drugs have been created to mimic marijuana’s THC, yet they seem not to have the same effect or ease of dosing. Currently 13 US States have laws permitting the use of medical marijuana by prescription for numerous diseases. 21st century research shows marijuana’s usefulness for muscle spasms, digestive, bowel and mental health disorders, spinal cord injuries, Arthritis, Diabetic Retinopathy, Hepatitis C, Huntington, Parkinson, and Crohn’s Diseases. Marijuana’s use still remains controversial.