What Are Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol (CBD)? Everything You Need to Know

Research shows that medical marijuana, which comes in a variety of forms, may help treat certain health conditions and their symptoms.

The cannabis plant, from which marijuana is derived, is often smoked for recreational purposes. But people are increasingly using marijuana to treat medical conditions — and this medical marijuana is not always smoked. It comes in many forms:

Marijuana cigarettes containing the cannabinoids (chemical compounds) tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), or both THC and CBD

CBD oils, edibles, tinctures, creams, and capsules
Cannabis-derived pharmaceutical products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Studies suggest that the medical use of marijuana may help treat the following conditions or help alleviate the following symptoms: (1)

Anxiety, particularly social anxiety disorder
Sleep problems
Chronic pain
Cancer-related pain
Cancer-related nausea
Loss of appetite due to chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS
spasticity related to multiple sclerosis (MS)

Inflammation
Arthritis
Migraines
HIV/AIDS
Digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

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