Medical marijuana has long been hailed by its most “free spirited” devotees as a gateway drug to alleviating the symptoms of everything from anxiety and epilepsy to glaucoma, migraines, Crohn’s disease, and more. But is cannabis or marijuana truly the sage curative it’s acclaimed to be, or is it really a bit of smoke and mirrors…?

Medical marijuana is a derivative of the Cannabis sativa plant and has been touted to ease symptoms caused by certain medical conditions for thousands of years, and at least since the 19^th century in the United States. While technically illegal under U.S. federal law, forty states across the country have now independently approved the prescription use of medical marijuana since California first did so in 1996. Beyond that, twenty-four states as well as Washington D.C. and Guam have legalized recreational marijuana as well.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active ingredient in both medical and recreational marijuana, which, along with CBD, or cannabidiol, constitute the primary medicinal and psychoactive compounds sought by medical marijuana advocates.

Glaucoma is one of the most frequently cited reasons for using medical marijuana. Research findings from as early as the 1970s show that THC can reduce intraocular pressure (IOP), a key contributor to glaucoma.

What Is Glaucoma?

Officially, glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. Conventionally, of course, most people think of glaucoma as a single-eye disease, severe cases of which can cause blindness, and is in fact one of the leading causes of blindness in people over the age of 60.

All types of glaucoma are characterized by damage to the optic nerve caused by high pressure in the eye, or IOP, often caused by fluid build-up inside the eye. The optic nerve is essential for sight, thus severe damage to the optic nerve can cause blindness or related eye conditions.

Onset of glaucoma can be so gradual that often there may be no warning signs at all. Routine eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure are the most effective way of diagnosing glaucoma early when the effects of the disease can be minimized.

Treating Glaucoma with Marijuana – Risks and Rewards

The primary therapeutic effect extoled by medical marijuana enthusiasts is its ability to reduce IOP. Several clinical studies have found that marijuana can reduce IOP, though the effect is relatively short-term. Managing IOP 24 hours a day would be necessary to noticeably relieve symptoms, which, for all intents and purposes, is relatively impractical with marijuana.

Beyond that, it is still not fully understood what contraindications, side effects, or other possible deleterious effects may be associated with extended use of marijuana. It has been posited that marijuana could simultaneously damage the optic nerve while relieving IOP. Marijuana also lowers blood pressure and produces psychological effects and anxiety that some people—particularly the elderly, those most at risk of glaucoma—find intolerable.

Your eye doctor can both diagnose and prescribe viable treatments for glaucoma and other eye related conditions and is still your most professional and reliable source for information regarding glaucoma and possible treatments.

Make an appointment with your eye doctor before casually perusing your local medical marijuana dispensary. Information is always the best medicine.

Straight Dope from Optical Expressions