One of the many purported reported health benefits on the use of medical marijuana is the reduction of intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. The active ingredient responsible for the IOP reduction is Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.

Even as low as 2% THC content in the cannabis administered on the test patients, IOP reduction was as much as 25% even on those with visual-field changes already.  For the cannabis treatment to be effective and viable, however, patients should take medical marijuana in some form (whether ingested or smoked) every 3 hours.

Another reported health benefits in the use of medical marijuana is the treatment of muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The effect was due to the anti-inflammatory neuroprotective benefits of THC and CBD or Cannabidiol, another active substance of medical marijuana.

Even with patients with no noticeable reduction in tremors, they reported an increased quality of life. Medical practitioners during the research attribute such feelings to the beneficial cognitive effects or mood enhancing benefits of the use of medical marijuana.

Another reported benefit of medical marijuana is the inhibition or prevention of the progression of Alzheimer’s.

According to one research, THC reduces, if not prevent, the formation of deposits in Alzheimer patients’ brains. The enzyme acetylcholinesterase is the one responsible in the formation of those deposits. THC blocks those enzymes. THC also blocks certain types of protein that negatively affects cognition and memory among Alzheimer’s patients. This type of protein is called phosphorylation. THC also prevents neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.

That is why even if the owner of a medical marijuana dispensary runs the risk of facing criminal charges, the number of possible patients it can cater make the business very profitable, and facing the risk worthwhile.