Why Patients Are Turning to Medical Marijuana for Relief in Texas
Acceptance of medical marijuana as a viable treatment has increased significantly across the United States, including Texas. The state has long upheld strict cannabis laws; however, since the introduction and expansion of the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), the legal framework for using low-THC cannabis for medical purposes has been established.
As a result, medical marijuana Texas patients are now becoming more common and are turning to with much more frequency now and for a variety of conditions and reasons. Here are a few examples:
Chronic Pain Management
Chronic pain is a common reason for patients to pursue medical marijuana. The treatments that are typically prescribed for pain, such as opioids, carry with them significant risks.
These include the possibility of addiction, as well as the approximate 20% of people who experience a severe or serious side effect from opioids. Medical cannabis offers a much less risky alternative.
Relief from Neurological Disorders
Promising treatments for neurological disorders exist with medical marijuana. Some refractory epilepsy patients in Texas first benefitted from marijuana under TCUP. The anti-convulsant properties of CBD, in particular, have resulted in dramatic improvements for many epileptics, reducing the severity and frequency of their seizures.
Many doctors who provide care for patients with multiple sclerosis also recommend cannabis for their patients. MS patients using medical marijuana Texas report major improvements in their quality of life.
Mental Health Benefits
The calming effects of certain cannabis strains can provide a sense of stability and peace for those who struggle with mental health issues, particularly those suffering from PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorders. But despite the clear push in favor of cannabis as a treatment, Texas law remains restrictive on the mental health issues that are eligible for medical marijuana.
Fewer Side Effects Compared to Pharmaceuticals
Numerous patients favor the use of medical marijuana, as it frequently carries fewer adverse effects than conventional pharmaceuticals. Consider, for instance, the patients with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy and might use cannabis in an attempt to handle the nausea that such treatments often cause, as well as to help in regaining their appetites and managing pain.
Cannabis might also function as a safer and less toxic alternative to the kinds of anti-inflammatory meds that patients with chronic conditions are often proscribed, alleviating the symptoms that can sometimes feel just as bad as the condition itself.
Increased Awareness and Advocacy
In Texas, public awareness and advocacy have been tandem drivers in creating a demand for medical marijuana. Organizations and advocates work daily to untangle the prejudices surrounding cannabis.
In their place, they seek to instill recognition of the plant’s legitimate medical potential. Lawmakers and the public alike are being swayed, and the trend lines look very promising.
Using Medical Marijuana Texas has Numerous Benefits
Individuals in Texas are utilizing medical marijuana for its power to grant relief in situations where traditional medicine has not. Be it chronic pain, nervous system disorders, or mental health difficulties, cannabis is becoming a go-to for what once may have been called “alternative” or “complimentary” medicine.
Advocates would say this is a potent healing plant that deserves further study and a more prominent place in our healthcare landscape.
