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Though many people consider it a recreational drug, marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Venkata J. Bireddy, MD, and the team of professionals at Medi Clinics Primary Care LLC in Tampa, Florida, recognize the medical benefits of medical marijuana and offer prescriptions to all of their qualifying patients. To learn more, schedule a visit today by calling the office or requesting a consultation.
Marijuana, or cannabis, is a plant that contains two chemicals with medicinal properties:
“THC” stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and is a psychoactive chemical found in marijuana. When THC enters your body, it attaches to cannabinoid receptors in your brain, where it stimulates certain responses, like increased appetite and reduced pain.
“CBD” is short for cannabidiol. It’s another chemical compound in marijuana, though it doesn’t have psychoactive or intoxicating effects like THC does. The FDA recently approved CBD for medical use in treating certain types of epilepsy, though it’s thought to have many more medicinal properties, such as treating back pain, osteoarthritis, and even cancer.
For a long time, marijuana was an illegal drug, but many states in the US have recently legalized its use for both recreational and medicinal purposes. Florida legalized marijuana for medicinal uses in 2016 with the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, also known as Amendment 2.
According to the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, a doctor must diagnose a patient as suffering from one or more of the following conditions to be able to recommend them for medical marijuana use:
However, the law also states that a patient can qualify for medical marijuana use if a medical marijuana doctor determines that the medical use of marijuana would outweigh the potential health risks that consumption would pose to the patient.
Medical marijuana use in Florida has also recently become legalized for part-time residents, like snowbirds and seasonal residents.
Medical marijuana isn’t used to treat or cure diseases but is rather an effective tool in alleviating symptoms. Though research into the effects of marijuana is still being conducted, it’s thought to be effective in treating:
Even though medical marijuana won’t necessarily treat any of the underlying conditions causing these symptoms, it can improve your quality of life by making you feel better and making it easier to live with your condition.
For more information regarding medical marijuana, please read this informative article!
To learn more about how Dr. Bireddy and the team of professionals at Medi Clinics Primary Care LLC can help you with medical marijuana, schedule a visit today by calling the office or requesting an appointment t.
We are a primary care practice that offers immigration, telemedicine, and medical marijuana. Call us to book your appointment today.
