IN THE KNOW: Medical marijuana

Medical marijuana is any part of the marijuana plant used to treat health problems.

Pain is the main reason people ask for a prescription. It could be from headaches, a disease like cancer, or a long-term condition like glaucoma or nerve pain.

Medical marijuana refers to the use of cannabis or marijuana, including constituents of cannabis, THC and other cannabinoids, as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy.

Medical marijuana may also be prescribed for conditions like muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, seizure disorders, Crohn’s disease and nausea from cancer chemotherapy.

Medical marijuana may be smoked, vaporized (heated until active ingredients are released, but no smoke is formed), eaten (usually in the form of cookies or candy) or taken as a liquid extract.

Side effects of marijuana that usually don’t last long can include dizziness, drowsiness, short-term memory loss and euphoria.

More serious side effects include severe anxiety and psychosis. —INQUIRER RESEARCH

Sources: WebMD, Quartz, CNN, Independent