What Science Says About Cannabis Treatment for Sarcoma

One of the most common reasons people are rushing to get their Medical Marijuana Cards in Florida is to help manage and maintain the symptoms associated with different cancers. Since 2016, weed has legally been sold in approved Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to those who have been recommended by a qualified physician and given the go-ahead by the state. 

DocMJ has been helping tens and thousands of people find relief with the help of medical marijuana. If you are curious to see if you or a loved one could benefit from the healing properties of pot, this survey will tell you in minutes. 

Cancer and Sarcoma

Cancer is a term used for a group of diseases in which abnormal cells uncontrollably divide and can usually invade other tissues, causing metastases and high rates of mortality and morbidity. There are over 100 different types of cancers already identified and, most likely, there are thousands of types of cancers according to molecular and genetic profiling that have not been classified yet.

Typically, cancers are named after the type of cell or the organ in which they begin. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start and are usually grouped into the these broader categories:

• Carcinoma: begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
• Sarcoma: begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.˘ in the cells of the immune system.
• Central nervous system cancers: cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
• Leukaemia: begins in blood-forming tissues like the bone marrow and causes large amounts of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.

Each form of cancer will produce different complications and require unique treatment options. Some of the treatment can cause unwanted side effects that cannabis can help manage as well.

What the Science Says

Marijuana consists of different chemical compounds, some in which your body naturally produces, that all work together in order to produce its healing properties. These chemical compounds are more commonly referred to as cannabinoids. Currently, cannabinoids are used in cancer patients to prevent wasting, emesis, and pain that comes along with cancer. 

In 1975 Munson et al. demonstrated that D9 -THC, D8 -THC and cannabinol (CBN) inhibited the growth of Lewis lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro as well as in vivo after oral administration in mice. Since that study, many cannabinoids have shown to have antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in various cancer types both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, there are other antitumorigenic parts of cannabinoids that are emerging, showing their ability to interfere with tumour neovascularization, cancer cell migration, adhesion, invasion and metastasization. 

The clinical use of THC is often limited by its unwanted psychoactive effects. For this reason, interest in non-psychoactive cannabinoids, like CBD, has increased. CBD has no ps

However, the clinical use of THC and additional synthetic agonists is often limited by their unwanted psychoactive side effects, and for this reason interest in non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids, such as CBD, has substantially increased in recent years. CBD has no psychotropic activity and, although it has very low affinity for both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, it has been reported to act with unexpectedly high potency in vitro as antagonist of CB1 receptors in mice. Besides its beneficial effects in the treatment of pain and spasticity and other CNS pathologies, several reports demonstrated that CBD possesses antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic effects and inhibits cancer cell migration, adhesion and invasion.

Medical Cannabis: Tips for Beginners

Everyone reacts to cannabis differently, but if you have cancer and are a medical marijuana patient, trying it could really help you out. Here are a few useful pointers if you do not know where to start or what to expect.

• Consider it an add-on, not a cure. While some studies have shown that cannabis might impact tumor cells, there is not enough research to know for certain. It is best used as a way to ease symptoms, not as a cure.
• Expect some trial and error. It might take some time to figure out which doses, strains, and delivery methods work best for you, but try not to stress too much over it. Everyone reacts to this stuff differently, so what works for a friend might not work for you. Pay attention to the ques your body gives you when trying out new products.
• Go for the whole plant. While both CBD and THC are beneficial components of the cannabis plant, they aren’t the only role players in the plant. A variety of terpenes and other cannabinoids may also play an important role. It is better to use the whole plant, because isolating one compound could mean that you are likely missing out on others.

• Vaping is the fastest delivery route. Cannabis can be used in a variety of different ways, but vaping the whole flower is often the best option. Smoked cannabis flower is not recommended because combusted herb releases carcinogens. The effects from vaping are fast acting and typically set in in 5 to 10 minutes, which is helpful if you need relief from things like severe nausea or pain. 
• Go slow. If you’re vaping, start with a single puff of a low-THC product and wait at least 20 minutes to see how you feel. Some patients who are new to cannabis might not even feel anything in the first 24 hours. Start low, go slow, and be patient.
• Do your homework. Before you visit a dispensary for the first time, do some more research so you can get a better grasp on the basics. Your DocMJ doctor might also have some recommendations for you. Do not be fooled by the recommendations made by the budtenders and start off with what your doctor suggested.

Getting a Florida Medical Marijuana Card

In order to be able to legally purchase and use medical marijuana products in Florida, you must first have qualified for a Medical Marijuana Card. A Qualified Patient must: 

• Be a permanent or seasonal Florida resident

• Be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition by a qualified physician
• Be entered into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry
• Obtain a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card

While lupus is a condition that makes you eligible for a Florida Medical Marijuana Card, there are other conditions that can also qualify a person. The additional Qualifying Medical Conditions are:

• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Crohn’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)

• Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to the others listed.
• A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the physician certification.
• Chronic nonmalignant pain caused by a qualifying medical condition or that originates from a qualifying medical condition and persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition.

If after reading the above you are still unsure if you qualify for your Florida medical marijuana card, this survey will tell you if you could be eligible. To take the next step, book a risk-free appointment with a qualified Florida Medical Marijuana Physician.

 If at the end of your appointment it is determined that you are not eligible per state guidelines, you will be issued a full refund. At the end of your appointment, you must apply for a Florida Medical Marijuana Card through the Office of Medical Marijuana Use. This typically takes around 2 weeks to process and once approved you are able to purchase medical marijuana products for a state-licensed dispensary location.