Medical marijuana therapy, also known as cannabidiol (CBD) or medicinal cannabis, has been gaining popularity around the world for several years. This trend is a result of growing awareness of the potential health benefits and changing social and legislative attitudes toward cannabis.

Medical benefits

1. Relief from chronic pain:
   • Medical marijuana is widely used as a means of relieving chronic pain, especially in diseases such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.
   • THC, the main psychoactive substance in cannabis, helps reduce the sensation of pain, while CBD reduces the unwanted side effects associated with THC.
2. Treatment of symptoms of neurological diseases:
   • Many patients suffering from neurological diseases such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease report improvements in their symptoms with cannabis therapy.
   • Cannabinoids can affect the nervous system, reducing epileptic seizures, reducing spasticity and alleviating other neurological symptoms.
3. Treatment of nausea and lack of appetite:
   • People undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from cancer often experience nausea and loss of appetite. Medical marijuana can help alleviate these symptoms by improving mood and increasing food intake.
4. Help in dealing with stress and anxiety:
   • Cannabis therapy is being studied for its potential in treating anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With its calming properties, medical marijuana can help reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.

Changing social and legislative attitudes

1. Legalization and availability:
   • In recent years, many countries have liberalized their laws regarding the use of cannabis for medical purposes, which has increased the availability of the treatment.
   • In Poland, medicines based on medical marijuana are legal and are issued by prescription, although cannabis cultivation for medical purposes is not authorized.
2. Education and awareness:
   • The growing popularity of medical marijuana is linked to increasing public awareness of its potential health benefits and safety of use.
   • Pharmaceutical consultations, courses for patients, and the activities of organizations dedicated to educating about medical marijuana all contribute to raising awareness of this form of therapy.
3. Cross-sector cooperation:
   • Changing social and legislative attitudes are fostering cooperation between the medical sector, the pharmaceutical sector and patient organizations. Such cooperation contributes to a better understanding of the benefits and risks associated with the use of medical marijuana.

Summary

Medical marijuana therapy is gaining popularity due to its potential health benefits, such as relief from chronic pain, treatment of neurological diseases and chemotherapy-related symptoms, and assistance in coping with stress. Changing social and legislative attitudes, including the legalization and availability of the therapy and growing awareness of its safety and efficacy, are also contributing to the growing interest in medical marijuana. While concerns remain about the long-term effects of cannabis use, a growing number of studies and clinical practice reports are providing increasing evidence of its potential as a therapeutic agent.