If you live in a place where medical cannabis is legal and your physician thinks it might help, you may use it for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, nausea from chemotherapy, glaucoma, chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, HIV or AIDS, weight loss due to an illness and multiple sclerosis.

Some people who use medical cannabis find that they no longer need over-the-counter or prescription painkillers as often, or at all. Medical marijuana can also help reduce the anxiety and stress related to managing a chronic condition.

There are different ways to use medical cannabis, including smoking it like a cigarette, vaporizing it (no smoke), eating it in a cookie or candy and taking a liquid extract.

There are some side effects of marijuana, which are generally short-term, including euphoria, dry mouth, fast heartbeat, drowsiness, dizziness, red eyes, short-term memory loss and low blood pressure.

Medical cannabis isn’t for everyone, so your physician will help you decide if it is a good option for your condition. He or she will likely not prescribe it if you have heart disease, a history of psychosis or are under 18.