Brain Awareness Month and Medical Marijuana

June is Alzheimer’s and brain awareness month. It is a month to spread awareness and educate people about neurological disorders (such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s) that can affect cognitive function to a crippling degree, and often make autonomy difficult (or impossible) for patients who suffer from it. It is of the utmost importance that neurological disorder symptoms be detected early, and treatment rendered as soon as possible if needed. Early detection and treatment gives the patient the best chance for quality of life. That is why, during the month of June, efforts are made to raise awareness and educate people about diseases that affect the brain. Medical marijuana has shown to have many uses, especially in patients suffering from neurological disorders. However, in Florida, medical marijuana use is not legally permitted in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, unfortunately. Studies have shown medical marijuana used to be therapeutically effective against disorders such as Parkinson’s and epilepsy. Currently, the two are covered under Florida’s Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, allowing medical marijuana uses for patients who suffer from one, or both disorders.

What is A Neurological Disorder?

A neurological disorder is a disease that affects the brain, spine and any of the nerves that connect the two. So what are neurological disorder symptoms? As we mentioned earlier, early detection is vital when fighting neurological diseases. Here are some of the things you should watch out for; and seek medical attention as soon as possible if you (or someone you know) experience: partial or complete paralysis, muscle weakness, partial or complete loss of sensation, seizures, difficulty reading or writing, poor cognitive abilities, unexplained pain, and decreased alertness. These neurological disorder symptoms may come on slowly at first, making early detection much more difficult. It is best to be honest with yourself, or honest with your family member if you notice a sudden onset of any of these symptoms. Especially if the symptoms were non-existent only a short while ago.

What Are the benefits of Medical Marijuana Use for Parkinson’s?

The benefits of medical marijuana for patients who suffer from Parkinson’s disease are emerging from the anecdotal stages, into making medical marijuana use one of the more preferred methods of treatment today. Many patients have claimed and demonstrated that therapeutic, medical cannabis use has provided them with: pain relief, reduced tremors, better quality of sleep, improved overall mood, and more ease of movement. These particular benefits are often attributed to the muscle-relaxing and pain-relieving properties associated with medical marijuana uses. So, why not just prescribe painkillers and muscle relaxers to patients who suffer from Parkinson’s? While it is true that medical cannabis does have a small number side effects, they often pale in comparison to the side effects associated with traditional analgesics and muscle relaxers. On top of that, other leading prescriptions for Parkinson’s treatment are known to cause: ankle swelling, blotching of the skin, constipation, diarrhea, hallucinations, insomnia, involuntary movements, memory problems, nausea, liver damage, problems urinating, and sleepiness. The list of side effects associated with medical marijuana use for Parkinson’s is much shorter and less severe; especially when considering a patient can opt out of the psychoactive side effects associated with medical marijuana by choosing cannabidiol oil, or CBD.

What Are the benefits of Medical Marijuana Use for Seizures?

The benefits of medical marijuana for patients who suffer from seizures are very similar to the benefits associated with medical marijuana’s treatment of Parkinson’s. Many of the traditional medications being used today come with a myriad of side effects such as: sedation, slurring of speech, unsteadiness, double visions, weight gain, hyperactivity, sleep disturbances, irritability, gum dysplasia, hirsutism, changes in mood, dizziness, bone density loss, skin rashes, and memory problems. The latest studies have shown that medical cannabis can reduce or eliminate seizures in nearly 50% of patients, without the laundry list of side effects of traditional seizure medication.

The benefits of Medical Marijuana for Neurological Disorders

We provide medical marijuana in Tampa, Beverly Hills, and Hudson FL for patients suffering from neurological disorders. For more information click here or make an appointment by calling 727-202-4325.