More than two decades after the push for medical cannabis began in earnest, dozens of states are now on board with it. Thirty-nine states, along with the District of Columbia, now issue medical cannabis cards to patients deemed eligible under state law. But eligibility is determined by several factors, not the least of which is an applicant’s current health status.
The big question for patients is this: is medical cannabis right for my condition? Maybe, but maybe not. As a patient, you need to consider two things. First is the medical condition you are dealing with. Second is whether medical cannabis represents the best way to provide symptom relief.
Medical Cannabis Is Not Curative
Consumers should be aware that medical cannabis is not curative in nature. Treating with cannabis is little more than using the substance to relieve symptoms. Take chronic pain. It is the number one reason patients apply for medical cannabis cards.
Consuming cannabis does not cure the disease, injury, or illness causing a person’s pain. It’s recommended only for pain relief. Medical cannabis is like other pain medications in this regard. There is no curative relief promised.
States and Qualifying Conditions
Although a growing body of evidence shows support for medical cannabis as a treatment for certain conditions, it is clear that it’s not a magic potion suitable for any and all medical conditions under the sun. In other words, medical cannabis isn’t appropriate for every health problem. In fact, the list of conditions for which it is suitable is surprisingly small.
Each state has its own list of qualifying conditions. In Utah, a state with one of the most solid medical cannabis laws in the country, the list includes all the most common conditions nearly every state recognizes. They include:
- Persistent (chronic) pain
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Chronic nausea
- Certain seizure disorders
- Cancer
BeehiveMed, an organization that helps Utah patients obtain medical cannabis cards, says state lawmakers added acute pain to the list of qualifying conditions a couple of years back. They were targeting patients expecting to experience significant acute pain following surgery. Rather than forcing them to use prescription opioids, lawmakers gave them the opportunity to choose medical cannabis instead.
Is It the Best Choice?
Even if a person’s condition is on a state qualifying conditions list, this doesn’t necessarily mean medical cannabis is the best course of treatment. This is one of the big reasons states require medical exams before issuing cards. Let us use Utah as an example once again.
State law requires that medical providers attest to two things when recommending medical cannabis:
- That the patient has been diagnosed with a qualifying condition; and
- That medical cannabis is the most appropriate way to provide symptom relief.
State requirements are the same regardless of the condition being treated. Even acute pain is subject to the standards. If a surgeon determined that there was a better way to relieve a patient’s post-surgical pain, he could not legally recommend medical cannabis.
Waiting on the Science
Most medical cannabis users lean on it to provide relief from chronic pain. As for all the other conditions various states approve, we are still waiting on the science. More research is being done thanks to public pressure. But we don’t know nearly as much about cannabis as we do prescription medications already approved by the FDA.
The long and short of it is that medical cannabis isn’t appropriate for every health condition. As for whether it’s appropriate to yours, that is up to you and your doctor to decide.
