As a result of marijuana legalization in several states across the United States over the last few years, the interest in the potential benefits of cannabis is growing more and more. Recreational cannabis is legal in 18 states and medical use of marijuana is legal in one or another way in 36 states. Still, some may ask themselves: what are the benefits of cannabis?

Luckily, we’re here to help you. Whether its regarding when to use it, how to use it, or whether or not certain cannabis products are legal to purchase and use in your state, we’ve got everything you need to understand the benefits of cannabis.

Anyone who has been curious about using marijuana but unsure where to start can find value in this guide which offers some background information to make more informed decisions. Check more about the best marijuana pipes by The Dart Co.

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds that typically come from one of two plants – Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica. Many people use the words cannabis and marijuana interchangeably, even scientific researchers. However, cannabis can be a much more general term, so it’s helpful to be specific about whether you’re referring to (or reading about) marijuana that contains THC or just the general category of substances that come from the Cannabis family of plants (i.e. Hemp).

Marijuana refers specifically to:

• Products that are made from the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the Cannabis plant.
• Products that contain substantial amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance that produces what we often call a “high.”

What does THC stand for? Tetrahydrocannabinol. Here’s what you need to know about it.

• Cannabis plants produce compounds called cannabinoids, of which there are 2 most common ones: CBD and THC.
• CBD (or cannabidiol) – This is the second most popular cannabinoid. It comes in many forms (edibles, chews, oil, etc.) and it’s legal in 46 states. It is often used for stress and pain management as well as insomnia. [Source]
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – THC is the compound that is responsible for the euphoric effects often associated with the recreational use of marijuana.

To put it more simply, if you’re using a cannabis product that doesn’t provide the recreational effect often associated with marijuana use, it’s probably CBD. If it does produce the effect, it’s most likely THC.

The FDA has only approved a few marijuana products for medicinal use, so companies cannot make any claims that their products have medical benefits. However, hundreds of studies have found evidence that people who use marijuana have experienced beneficial effects.

Even though medical marijuana is legal in 36 states and recreational use has been legalized in 18 states, it’s difficult for scientists to conduct research on marijuana. The problem is that marijuana is still illegal under federal U.S. law. That makes it very hard to conduct medical research. The federal government has considered some ways to make it easier for researchers to study marijuana since it’s important that we know as much about its effects as possible, but so far its status remains unchanged.

To date, the FDA has only approved marijuana for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Right now, scientists are researching the use of marijuana in the treatment of a range of conditions as diverse as Alzheimer’s disease to anorexia. The most evidence that it may be helpful is in the treatment of chronic pain, epilepsy, nausea (especially in chemotherapy patients), weight loss associated with HIV, and muscle stiffness in MS patients.