Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurological disease involving the nerve cells that are responsible for muscle movement. ALS usually begins in the hands, feet or limbs, then continues to deteriorate muscle control throughout the body. Early signs of ALS may include muscle stiffness and weakness. Patients living with ALS may also experience muscle cramps, twitches, spasms, slurred speech, difficulty walking, tripping and falling, difficulty sleeping due to pain, and cognitive difficulties. These symptoms can also trigger mental difficulties such as anxiety and depression. 

Our ALS patients have reported improvements in muscle cramping, pain management, anxiety, insomnia and overall mobility after taking medical marijuana. Watch our success stories here.

ALS Symptoms Medical Marijuana Can Relieve:

• Muscle cramping and stiffness
• Pain
• Mobility
• Insomnia
• Anxiety 
• Depression

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a covered condition for medical marijuana in Texas that slowly, progressively destroys brain cells over time. The most common symptoms include loss of memory and thinking skills. As the disease progresses, people with AD will lose the ability to perform simple activities of daily living like dressing themselves, toileting and bathing.

Medical marijuana can help produce anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neurogenic effects in patients. Clinical studies have also reported positive behavioral effects in patients with Alzheimer’s.

AD and Dementia Symptoms Medical Marijuana Can Relieve:

• Appetite loss and weight loss
• Cognitive impairment
• Memory loss
• Neuroinflammation
• Neurodegeneration
• Pain
• Insomnia
• Agitation and behavioral changes

One of the covered conditions for medical marijuana in Texas, Autism is a spectrum disorder that mainly impacts behavior and some physical abilities. While symptoms and severity can vary widely, patients living with Autism usually experience difficulty with communication, difficulty with social interactions, obsessive interests, aggression and repetitive behaviors.

Since the mid 2010s, there have been several noteworthy studies that show CBD and THC helps improve symptoms and co-morbidities. 

Autism Symptoms Medical Marijuana Can Relieve: 

• Difficulty with social interaction
• Difficulty with speech or communication
• Obsessive or repeated behaviors
• Depression
• Seizures
• Restlessness
• Aggression or disruptive behavior
• Insomnia

Several studies point to the potential benefits of medical marijuana for cancer patients who are experiencing nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and pain. While research is still ongoing, patients have reported improvements in appetite, nausea and overall quality of life with medical cannabis.

Cancer Symptoms Medical Marijuana Can Treat: 

• Pain
• Anxiety
• Nausea and vomiting
• Decreased appetite

Peripheral neuropathy refers to the conditions that result when nerves that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord from and to the rest of the body are damaged or diseased. The peripheral nerves make up an intricate network that connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, skin, and internal organs.

While the cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is still unknown, this potentially disabling disease triggers the body’s immune system to attack the central nervous system. MS can trigger a wide range of symptoms for patients including muscle spasms, pain, fatigue, slurred speech, dizziness and anxiety. 

Research shows medical marijuana, containing CBD levels equal or higher than THC, have had positive effects on muscle spasticity and pain. The effects of cannabis and its safety have been reviewed by the American Academy of Neurology in a practice guideline. In Texas, MS is a covered condition eligible for medical marijuana. 

MS Symptoms Medical Marijuana Can Relieve: 

• Muscle spasms
• Anxiety
• Pain

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and is a covered condition for medical marijuana in Texas. Patients living with Parkinson’s may experience tremors, slowed movements (bradykinesia), rigid muscles, involuntary muscle movements (dyskinesia), impaired posture, spasms and speech changes. Other associated symptoms can include depression, anxiety, hallucinations, sleep disorders and late-stage dementia.

Multiple studies in animal models have demonstrated symptom relief, improvement of treatment-induced dyskinesias, and suggest a role in neuroprotection with various cannabinoid therapies. Parkinson’s patients have reported improvements in pain management, movement, spasms and overall quality of life with cannabis medicine. Check out our patient success stories here.

Parkinson’s Symptoms Medical Marijuana Can Relieve: 

• Dyskinesia
• Bradykinesia
• Muscle spasms
• Rigidity
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Pain 

Epilepsy, which is eligible for medical marijuana in Texas, is a neurological disorder in which abnormal brain activity causes seizures and disturbances in cognitive functions. Approximately 30 percent of people with epilepsy don’t respond well to conventional treatments, but cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant, has emerged as a promising alternative treatment option. 

Research indicates medical marijuana treatments may decrease the frequency of convulsive seizures in some patients living with intractable epilepsy, and numerous patients and caregivers have come forward across the country in recent years reporting positive responses to CBD.

Epilepsy Symptoms Medical Marijuana Can Relieve:

• Seizures
• Anxiety

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes irreparable brain damage triggered by repeated head traumas. This rare degenerative disease is also one of the many conditions eligible for medical marijuana in Texas. As the disease progresses, patients may experience changes in their mood and behavior, memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, depression, aggression, insomnia and eventually progressive dementia. 

CTE Symptoms Medical Marijuana Can Relieve: 

• Depression
• Insomnia
• Mood and behavior management
• Neuroinflammation

Spasticity is a condition in which muscles stiffen or tighten, preventing normal fluid movement. The muscles remain contracted and resist being stretched, thus affecting movement, speech and gait.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury.

In recent clinical studies, people suffering from posttraumatic distress disorder have reported that cannabis can reduce the severity of their symptoms.