By now, you’ve heard many people singing the praises of medicinal marijuana.

But you may be skeptical. You may believe advocates for medical-grade cannabis products are exaggerating its health benefits to bolster support for legalization. The companies that manufacture pharmaceutical drugs are notorious for overselling their products and downplaying their limitations and side effects, and you may suspect the same thing is happening with marijuana.

Because the use of marijuana in healthcare has been controversial, researchers have gone to extraordinary lengths to design precise experimental protocols and carry out carefully controlled studies of the actual health benefits of medical marijuana—which are many, as the science is proving.

Medicinal Marijuana and the Human Endocannabinoid System

Cannabis products and extracts have been used in natural medicine for more than 5,000 years, in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Indigenous peoples were exploiting cannabis’s amazing healing properties long before the drug gained attention for its recreational uses in the West.

It took a while for researchers to uncover the secret of cannabis’s success. But eventually they found the answer.

It turns out the body produces its own version of cannabinoids, which are the equivalent of the active ingredients in medical marijuana. These organic molecules are called endocannabinoids, and they bind with receptors in the brain, liver, lungs, kidneys and immune system to help facilitate healthy functioning.

Since this is a relatively recent discovery, the exact nature and behavior of the endocannabinoid system is still being studied. However, the research done so far confirms its primary purpose is to support the body’s natural healing, cleansing and painkilling abilities.

Because they share a similar chemical profile, endocannabinoids are interchangeable with cannabinoids like THC and CBD, and that is the key to medical marijuana’s potent healing capacities. The presence of additional cannabinoids in the human body creates a cascade of biologically constructive actions: they bind with endocannabinoid receptors everywhere, stimulating the body’s natural ability to heal, detoxify and kill pain. They can even help reduce stress and anxiety, which contributes to the healing process indirectly.

The therapeutic properties of medical marijuana are immense, but none would be realized if it weren’t for the presence of the human endocannabinoid system. There is a natural synergy between the human body and cannabis as a medicinal plant, and it is this surprising relationship that makes medical marijuana such an efficient and effective remedy for a wide variety of ailments.

Approved Uses for Medicinal Marijuana

If you’re suffering from a condition that has been approved for medicinal marijuana treatment, you should know that you have nothing to fear. Medical-grade marijuana will not make you high, it is not addictive and, unlike pharmaceuticals, it does not put you at risk for a long list of scary side effects. While many drugs sold as medicine can compromise or overwhelm your body’s inherent healing capacities, cannabis-based medicines are natural substances that work in harmony with your immune responses in all their dimensions.

Medical marijuana is not a wonder drug (there really is no such thing). But it could be a fantastic option for you if you suffer from pain or symptoms related to any of the following conditions, each of which makes you eligible to obtain a prescription for medical marijuana on the island of Puerto Rico:

• Cancer
• HIV
• Crohn’s
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis
• Anxiety disorders
• Migraines
• Epilepsy
• Parkinson’s
• Anorexia
• Alzheimer’s and dementia
• Spinal cord damage
• MS and other similar degenerative conditions
• Disorders causing chronic pain, cachexia (wasting), strong muscle spasms or severe nausea

In edible, ingestible, inhalable or topical form, Encanna products are like supercharged supplements that begin regenerating cells and organs almost immediately. They relieve pain, improve mood and interrupt the progression or intensification of symptoms associated with each of these serious health disorders.

For Medicinal Marijuana, the Future is Bright and Getting Brighter

When you listen to its advocates speak about medical marijuana and its numerous benefits, their presentations may sound too good to be true. But the reality is just the opposite: medical researchers are still in the process of discovering what cannabis products can do for the human body, and as time passes the list of conditions marijuana is used to treat is likely to expand significantly.

Medicinal marijuana is growing in popularity because tens of thousands of anecdotal reports support the assertion that it is helpful for a vast range of disorders. It has been legalized in 29 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico because the scientific evidence has established its effectiveness as a multi-purpose mind-body healing agent.