https://www.medicalmarijuana.com/blind-faith-considerations-medical-marijuana-glaucoma/ Generally speaking we tout the potential of marijuana, advocating its medical advantages left, right, and center. We praise its benefits for pain reduction, epilepsy, nausea, autism, MS, anorexia, and countless other conditions – the list is positively exhaustive. And yet, we would not advocate for marijuana unequivocally. One case where we do not outright recommend marijuana’s medicinal properties is with glaucoma.

1. Blind Faith? Considerations About
Medical Marijuana & Glaucoma
http://www.medicalmarijuana.com | marketing@medicalmarijuana.com

2. Introduction
Generally speaking we tout the potential of
marijuana, advocating its medical advantages
left, right, and center. We praise its benefits for
pain reduction, epilepsy, nausea, autism, MS,
anorexia, and countless other conditions – the
list is positively exhaustive.
And yet, we would not advocate for marijuana
unequivocally. One case where we do not
outright recommend marijuana’s medicinal
properties is with glaucoma.

3. What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition where increased pressure
within the eyeball causes damage to the optic nerve,
risking and often causing blindness, especially
among the elderly.

4. Glaucoma & Medical Marijuana
Several advocates of medicinal marijuana cite small-
study or anecdotal evidence that cannabis can lower
intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with glaucoma.
However, these products are less effective than
safer prescription drugs.

5. In order to produce a clinically-relevant pressure
reduction on IOP, frequent inhalation is required
because the effect only lasts a few hours.
This means one would need to smoke a joint
every 3 hours.
Reducing the Pressure

6. The number of significant side effects generated
by long-term oral use of marijuana or long-term
inhalation of marijuana smoke can make it a
poor choice in the treatment of glaucoma, a
chronic disease requiring proven and effective
treatment.
What are the side effects?

7. The only marijuana currently approved at the
US-federal level for medical use is Marinol, a
synthetic form of tetra hydrocannabinol (THC) –
the most active component of marijuana and the
one which produces the “high.”
Marinol was developed as an antiemetic (an
agent that reduces nausea used in chemotherapy
treatments), which can be taken orally in capsule
form.
Is There an Alternative?

8. The effects of Marinol in general, and on
glaucoma in particular, are not impressive
compared to the real thing.
In terms of glaucoma, no studies have shown
that marijuana or any of its approximately 400
chemical components can safely and effectively
lower intraocular pressure better than the
variety of drugs currently on the market.
Marinol Vs. Medical Marijuana

9. Marinol Vs. Medical Marijuana
In addition, according to the Glaucoma Research
Foundation, while marijuana might lower
intraocular pressure, it also lowers blood
pressure, which in turn could provide less blood
to the optic nerve.

10. IOC pressure notwithstanding, the issue of pain
still remains.
While medical marijuana might not help with
curing glaucoma, it can provide a great sense of
pain-relief comfort to glaucoma sufferers.
How Medical Marijuana can help

11. Part of the reason for legalizing marijuana is to
allow adults to make the best choices.
Glaucoma, it seems, is a prime example of such a
dilemma, best discussed with your medical
marijuana supportive care provider.
Why Legalize Marijuana?

12. To Learn More:
Web: http://www.medicalmarijuana.com/
Email: marketing@medicalmarijuana.com