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The medicinal use of cannabis dates back thousands of years. Emperor Shen Nung, the so-called father of Chinese medicine, included cannabis in the country’s pharmacopeia in 2800 B.C. Therapeutic cannabis applications are also referenced in historical texts of Indian Hindus, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, and others. Cannabis was introduced to Western medicine in 1841 by William Blake O’Shaughnessy, and for the next 100 years it was used for a variety of ailments including arthritis, depression, inflammation, pain and appetite stimulation.

Beginning in the late 1930s, a prohibitionist fever swept through the United States and cannabis was demonized. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 effectively taxed medicinal cannabis out of existence, while the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 formally put the nail in the coffin, arguing that cannabis had no medicinal value and that cannabis had a high potential for abuse. This classification of cannabis as a schedule I drug persists to this day and places grass in the same company as heroin and meth.

Beginning with California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996, the pendulum swung yet again and medicinal cannabis came back into the fold. Since then, 36 states have legalized medical pot, while 18 have also allowed for adult use or recreational consumption. Given that cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, national research and development efforts have lagged. Fortunately, research among some states and in nations like Canada and Israel has exploded in recent years, providing real credibility to the concept of cannabis as medicine.

Opponents of cannabis often argue against medicinal use, saying that the very notion is ridiculous. While it’s true that some individuals used medical cannabis permits to grow and sell weed illegally, dismissing the medical benefits of cannabis is short-sighted and outdated. I, like millions of others around the globe, have seen the medicinal benefits of cannabis firsthand.

My mother was terribly ill when being ravaged by cancer treatments for a second time. Suffering from severe nausea, pain, loss of appetite, and trouble sleeping, she had been prescribed liquid morphine and strong nausea meds. These conventional treatments didn’t work and also became habit-forming. Watching mom suffer and getting strung out on pharmaceuticals was intolerable, so I spearheaded a medicinal cannabis program for her. During chemotherapy, she would vaporize strong cannabis flower for nausea relief and appetite stimulation. Post-treatment, she transitioned to edibles and Rick Simpson Oil capsules to help with pain management, sleep and depression. Through consistent and measured cannabis dosing, mom weaned off the narcotics entirely and passed with a much greater level of personal dignity.

In terms of my situation, I suffered from a hip dislocation years ago. I had both hips reset so many times I was bruising from the inside out and was in constant pain. I had trouble walking, sitting, and standing, and lived with acute pain for approximately three years. I believe strongly in cannabis as a tool for harm reduction and chose to consume ganja over a combination of narcotics, muscle relaxers, and OTC pain meds. While the cannabis didn’t remove the pain entirely, it took the edge off and reduced pain-induced nausea significantly. What I know with certainty is that if I had consumed pharmaceuticals for those few years, I would have become highly dependent on them and my quality of life would have been further reduced.

Fortunately, cannabis research is currently undergoing a renaissance around the globe. Here in the United States, a recent change to longstanding Federal policy promises to bolster efforts to study the plant and its medical benefits. Since 1968 U.S. cannabis researchers had only one source for product, the University of Mississippi. As such, supply was limited for years. The DEA has recently opened the doors for research-driven grower applications and a couple have already been issued, with more to come. The move strengthens the supply of cannabis for research and development and offers real hope for those seeking alternative medical solutions.

The list of potential therapeutic applications for cannabis is highly promising. Studies are currently underway regarding the ability of cannabis to treat a range of serious ailments. CBD or cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive component of the plant garnering significant attention. CBD is being studied for relief from insomnia, anxiety, spasticity, pain, and other health conditions. Remarkably, CBD has also shown huge promise in relation to Dravet Syndrome, an aggressive form of childhood epilepsy.

Famously, the story of a young girl named Charlotte Figi helped cement CBD oil as a breakthrough treatment offering hope to thousands of families across the world. Charlotte was suffering from hundreds of seizures a month and had limited function before experimenting with CBD. After initiating a daily CBD program, her seizures dropped to a couple per month and her quality of life was radically improved. Frankly, it saddens and disgusts me to know that some people, even in light of this clinical evidence, would prefer condemning a child to a death sentence rather than exploring a cannabis-derived treatment.

THC, the cannabis compound known for getting you high, also shows enormous potential for improving health and wellness. THC is being explored as a tool for managing Fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, Glaucoma, PTSD, HIV-associated pain and wasting syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s, Multiple Sclerosis, chronic pain, nausea, and many more.

While still in the early innings, some research indicates that combined loads of THC and CBD have been shown to slow or stop the growth of some cancer cells in lab settings. Calls for increasing R&D in this area are growing. In fact, “the American Cancer Society supports the need for more scientific research on cannabinoids for cancer patients and recognizes the need for better and more effective therapies that can overcome the often-debilitating side effects of cancer and its treatment. The Society also believes that the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance by the US Drug Enforcement Administration imposes numerous conditions on researchers and deters scientific study of cannabinoids. Federal officials should examine options consistent with federal law for enabling more scientific study on marijuana.” Amen!

Additionally, terpenes, or naturally occurring compounds found in plants, are garnering lots of attention for their medicinal properties. Cannabis has numerous terpenes, some of which are being explored for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, anticancer, antitumor, anti-allergic, antibiotic, anti-diabetic, and neuroprotective attributes. Emerging science also indicates that the interplay between terpenes and cannabinoids like THC improves and enhances the efficacy of cannabis as medicine. This is why I prefer consuming full-spectrum products like live resin cartridges, ice hash gummies, and full-term organic flower grown in native soil.

The concept of medicinal cannabis is difficult for some to accept. Long-held stereotypes demonizing the use of cannabis have been prevalent to differing degrees around the world, and that won’t change overnight. Thankfully legalization and a growing body of evidence suggesting that cannabis can treat a host of serious ailments are helping break down barriers and allowing for more meaningful and truthful dialogue around the issues of health and wellness. More and more individuals have come to realize that Western Medicine and our reliance on powerful and politically connected pharmaceutical giants can be a losing proposition. Expensive and potentially harmful lab products have been favored over a more natural, holistic approach to healing and this has to end. I expect meaningful progress in cannabis R&D over the coming months and welcome the advances and treatment options this will bring.

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Jesse Duncan is a lifelong Humboldt County resident, a father of six, a retired financial advisor, and a full-time commercial cannabis grower. He is also the creator of NorCal Financial and Cannabis Consulting, a no-cost platform that helps small farmers improve their cultivation, business, and financial skills. Please check out his blog at, his Instagram at jesse_duncann, and connect with him on Linkedin.