Medical Marijuana for Cancer in Georgia

Patients with Cancer Qualify for Medical Marijuana in Georgia

Cancer is a serious, life-threatening medical condition characterized by abnormal cellular growth in all major organ systems. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.

While these can control the spread of the disease, each comes with potential side effects that can also shorten and decrease the quality of patients’ lives.

Medical marijuana shows the potential to help cancer patients, both by inhibiting the spread of certain cancers and by making treatments more manageable.

Georgia’s existing medical marijuana laws allow cancer patients to possess up to 20 ounces of low delta 9 THC cannabis oil. Once you qualify for a Georgia medical marijuana card, you’ll also be among the first to benefit as the program expands.

If you’ve been diagnosed with any stage of cancer, it’s worth it to set an appointment with one of our state licensed physicians to explore the ways that medical marijuana can improve your life.

What Exactly is Cancer?

Contrary to popular belief, cancer is not a single disease. It’s a dynamic group of diverse conditions that all share one thing in common: abnormal and unregulated cellular growth through which malignant cells actively overtake healthy ones and cause major organ systems to fail.

Cancer that starts in one part of the body can spread to other parts of the body. Likewise, it’s possible for a person to have multiple forms of cancer at once. Some forms of cancer are connected to exposure to environmental toxins. Meanwhile, genetics put other people at risk of developing cancer.

If your doctor suspects you may have cancer, you’ll be referred to an oncologist for further testing. This may include imaging, bloodwork, and biopsies. Based on the results of these tests, cancer will be assigned a stage.

At stage 1, cancer can sometimes be effectively removed by surgery, but chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy may still be recommended to keep the cancer from returning.

As a result, people experiencing every stage of cancer are likely subjected to harsh treatments that cause a wide range of complications and can interfere with all aspects of a patient’s life.

3 Easy Steps

Step 1

Schedule an appointment with one of our friendly marijuana doctors at any location throughout the State!

Step 2

Attend a virtual evaluation with a state-certified medical marijuana doctor.

Step 3

With the doctor's approval, you'll receive your card via email from the Georgia Board of Pharmacy.

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What are the Signs and Symptoms of Cancer?

Cancer affects every person differently, and many types of cancer cause no noticeable symptoms in their earliest stages. As a result, many cancers are detected as the result of routine medical exams. Meanwhile, there are a few common signs that you might need to see an oncologist.

These include:

Fatigue and weakness
Fever and night sweats
Unusual skin markings
Palpable masses or lumps
Enlarged lymph nodes
Unintentional weight loss
Bloody urine and stool

Once diagnosed with cancer and assigned a course of treatment, cancer patients may exhibit even more symptoms, which are linked to the treatments themselves.

Signs that you are experiencing the side effects of cancer treatments include:

Increased fatigue and weakness
Increased susceptibility to viruses and bacterial infections
Loss of bone density
Nausea and vomiting
Digestive problems
Brain fog
Development of secondary cancers

Additionally, standard cancer treatments often require that patients make adjustments to other prescription medications to avoid potentially dangerous interactions. This means that other conditions can flare while a patient is undergoing treatment for cancer.

How Can Medical Marijuana Help Georgia Cancer Patients?

From managing the symptoms of treatment to inhibiting tumor growth, medical marijuana offers many potential benefits to cancer patients.

Reducing Nausea

The best known benefits of medical marijuana for cancer patients are related to withstanding other treatments. Specifically, medical marijuana can stimulate a cancer patient’s appetite and reduce the debilitating bouts of nausea and vomiting that are common with chemotherapy.

Reducing Intractable Pain and Neuropathy

Each of these conditions qualify on their own for treatment with medical marijuana in Georgia. Meanwhile, they are also symptoms of advanced cancer, as well as complications of radiation and surgery, which can cause permanent nerve damage.

Alleviating Anxiety and Depression

Medical marijuana is known to reduce stress and increase a person’s general sense of wellbeing. This is extremely important for cancer patients, who often face anxiety regarding their disease. Likewise, some cancer treatments interact with the SSRIs commonly used to manage anxiety and depression, making medical marijuana’s mood stabilizing qualities all the more valuable.

Slowing Tumor Growth

Some studies show that cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, have dissolved certain types of cancer cells cultivated within petri dishes. Even though more extensive research is needed, animal studies also indicate promise in using cannabis to directly combat cancer growth.

Under Georgia’s current medical marijuana program, cancer patients and their caregivers can possess up to 20 ounces of high CBD, low THC cannabis oil.

Meanwhile, in-state cannabis production and distribution is forthcoming, while legislation to implement a more comprehensive medical marijuana program is likely to pass within the next year or two.

How Can Cancer Patients Get Approved for a Georgia Marijuana Card?

First, patients must be evaluated by a state-licensed physician who’s willing to recommend cannabis as a form of cancer treatment.

Next, the physician must submit necessary paperwork to the state department of public health, along with a copy of the patient’s state-issued ID and registration fee.

Georgia Marijuana Card connects patients with qualified doctors, assists in gathering medical records, files necessary paperwork, helps process renewals, and provides ongoing support to medical marijuana cancer patients.

Visit With A Compassionate Marijuana Doctor

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