What You Need to Know About Maryland Medical Marijuana

All across the United States, medical cannabis is inspiring a revolution in terms of how we approach medicine and self-care. Whether it’s reducing our dependence upon expensive and objectively harmful pharmaceuticals or embracing a gentle, all-natural, and sustainable approach to health and wellness, the “Green Wave” has brought real relief to millions of Americans. 

Tens of thousands of Marylanders are among those flocking to visit a medical marijuana dispensary. Maryland inaugurated its medical cannabis program in late 2017; since then, its popularity has skyrocketed. But in turn, this makes the need for cannabis education ever more acute. If you’re a resident of Maryland looking to explore the world of cannabis, here’s what you need to know about Maryland medical marijuana.

Medical Marijuana in Maryland: A More Natural Approach to Health and Wellness

While cannabis remains illegal at the Federal level, Maryland has officially recognized marijuana’s medical value since 2013, when then-Governor Martin O’Malley signed legislation to establish the state’s medical marijuana program, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC). And since the Commission actually became operational in late 2017, over 70,000 Marylanders have registered to become patients in the Free State. 

Why? Simple, really. Unlike many pharmaceuticals which tend to bring heavy and unwanted side effects, medical marijuana is a gentle and sustainable solution. Marijuana interfaces directly with the Endocannabinoid System, one of the body’s chief regulatory networks, to enact natural anti-inflammatory, stress-reducing, and other benefits. In effect, it’s as though marijuana “speaks your body’s language” rather than simply numbing your symptoms. And with that in mind, let’s explore some of the main reasons people visit a Maryland medical cannabis dispensary in the first place.

Medical Marijuana in Maryland: Top Reasons Marylanders Trust MMJ

Although as we mentioned marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, medical cannabis has a long and fairly uncontroversial history in the United States. Until the early 20th century, it was a common ingredient in many of the tinctures and drops sold in apothecaries and drugstores. That’s not all; long before then, Chinese physicians writing nearly 5,000 years ago recognized marijuana’s power to treat aches and pains, digestive issues and many of the other reasons we turn to medical marijuana today!

With that in mind, here are a few of the top reasons people visit a Maryland medical cannabis dispensary these days:

Pain relief: Perhaps the #1 reason people turn to medical marijuana, chronic pain is increasingly recognized as a serious condition in and of itself. Because cannabis is a natural pain-fighter and anti-inflammatory, it’s uniquely effective in treating mild to moderate pain. In addition to inhaling cannabis or taking it in tincture or tablet form, cannabis-infused topicals offer effective relief directly at the site of aches, strains and pains.

Reducing dependence on pharmaceuticals: As we mentioned earlier, medical marijuana is increasingly seen as a safer and more sustainable alternative to pharmaceuticals such as opioids. In 2016, a study by the University of Michigan found that cannabis, among other things:

-Decreased the side effects from other medications

-Improved subjects’ overall quality of life

-Reduced use of opioids, on average, by 64% 

Relief from PTSD: Studies have shown that medical marijuana reduces the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), one of the most common and potentially severe psychiatric disorders in the United States.

If you or a loved one suffers from these symptoms or conditions—as well as the other qualifying conditions recognized by the State of Maryland—we urge you to register with the MMCC so you can visit a Maryland medical cannabis dispensary and get on the road to better health and wellness.