The employment of cannabis as a medicine can be traced back at least 5000 years. A large part of the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum Collection is made up of antique medicinal paraphernalia which provides a fascinating view into the history of medicine and pharmacology. There are also several paintings of apothecaries tending to patients dating from the16th Century, when cannabis would have been a part of any doctor’s kit. Although the stronger psychoactive qualities of the plant were not available to Europeans until the 19th Century, the roots and leaves of the plant were used prior to this, usually in poultices to relive swollen, stiff or painful joints.
The Discovery of Medicinal Cannabis
The discovery of the medicinal applications of cannabis was almost certainly accidental. Humankind’s earliest use of the cannabis plant was the eating of its nutritious seeds, which develop inside the pollinated flowers of the female cannabis plant. These flowers, and the small leaves surrounding them, are covered in the tiny resin glands that contain cannabinoids, the plant’s medicinally active compounds.
It probably didn’t take long for our ancestors to notice that this abundant food source had unusual side-effects when parts of the flowers were eaten along with the seeds. From accidental consumption, purposeful use developed and the earliest form of pharmacology began.
Modern Applications of Cannabis as a Medicine
Interest in cannabis as a medicine is currently on the rise in many parts of the world. The Museum Collection features modern-day medicinal cannabis packaging alongside the antique containers of yesteryear. Modern packaging ranges from pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes in plastic bags sealed with a pharmacy stamp to the white plastic pots labeled “Cannabis Flos” with their distinctive yellow lids, in which Dutch prescription cannabis is supplied.
The list of medical applications for cannabis grows longer by the year. The following section covers just a few of the main uses, all of which are documented by repeated scientific study.
Although we fully endorse the use of medicinal cannabis, this website should not be used as a diagnostic tool or treatment guide. As with any drug, if you suffer (or suspect you suffer) from any of the following ailments or conditions, please consult a qualified medical practitioner before self-medicating.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an incurable condition which causes optic nerve damage and irreversible blindness. One of the main contributing factors is intraocular pressure, high pressure within the fluids of the eyeball. Cannabis has been proven to lower intraocular pressure, reducing the risk of damage to the optic nerve and arresting the further advancement of glaucoma.
Glaucoma is so common that it is the second leading cause of blindness in the USA . The condition can be easily and effectively treated with cannabis, whether smoked, eaten or vaporized. Around half of all glaucoma patients cannot tolerate the pharmaceutical drugs they are prescribed for the illness, and when eye drops are prescribed as treatment, many patients fail to use them with the necessary frequency and accuracy for the treatment to be effective.
Cancer and AIDS Treatments
Although not a treatment for cancer itself, cannabis has proved invaluable to many cancer patients as a drug to stimulate appetite and suppress the nausea which is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This is incredibly important in maintaining weight and health, thereby giving the patient's body a better chance of fighting the cancer.
The same applies for people suffering from AIDS, as many of the medications to treat the disease also cause nausea and weight loss. Chemical appetite stimulators and anti-emetics have more side effects than cannabis, and are often unsafe to use in combination with other drugs prescribed to the patient for their condition.
Arthritis, Rheumatism, and Inflammatory Disorders
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cause painful, swollen joints and stiffness. When eaten, cannabis has anti-inflammatory properties as well as analgesic (pain-reduction without loss of consciousness) effects. Medical studies have shown that cannabis use reduces inflammation and morning stiffness and increases mobility. Pharmaceutical drugs prescribed to arthritis patients to produce the same results have many unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side-effects including ulcers, severe weight loss, and breathing problems.