Cannabis as Medicine: What Doctors and Patients Need to Know in 2025

After being sidelined as an alternative treatment for years, cannabis is slowly becoming a prominent part of modern healthcare. While scientific studies delve further into its benefits, public perception towards medical cannabis is also shifting. More countries are legalizing the use of medical and recreational cannabis, allowing patients and doctors to consider medical cannabis for various physical and mental health issues. 

2025 is going to be a pivotal year for medical cannabis as medical professionals and patients demand policy reforms to include cannabis in treatments. Many states already allow the use of cannabis, validated by a medical marijuana card.

More positive studies, innovation, and legislature are encouraging doctors to reconsider their approach to cannabis treatment plans. This blog aims to inform doctors and patients about the current legislature and changes in the cannabis landscape.

We explore the history, legal status, medical applications, and considerations for safe and effective use of medical cannabis. 

History of Medical Cannabis 

Medical marijuana sounds like a modern concept, but it has been mentioned in ancient Indian, Chinese, Egyptian, and Greek scriptures as a medication for various health conditions. It was again introduced as a sedative and medication for asthma symptoms in the early 20th century.

However, federal restrictions were imposed on the use of cannabis products in the U.S. under the Marihuana Tax Act (1937) and Controlled Substances Act (1970). This criminalization changed public perception, creating a stigma that still exists today. 

With medical research and testing, the cannabis landscape started shifting during the 1990s when California legalized the use of medical cannabis. Other American states followed suit by legalizing the regulated use of medical cannabis, while others still have stringent policies regarding its use. However, there have been significant scientific and legal milestones since, including FDA approvals and support from the medical community and political parties for reforms in policies. 

Current Legal Landscape

The current legal landscape looks promising for the cannabis industry. The legal status varies for each state in the United States. As the federal law remains conservative and local laws become more progressive, cannabis production and sales have become more complicated and complex for businesses operating in multiple states. It is also confusing for patients, as some states allow cannabis use with a medical marijuana card while others prohibit its possession and use. 

The contradictions in federal and state laws also create problems for doctors and patients. Such conflicting laws create complications for businesses to operate, doctors to prescribe, and consumers to freely access medical cannabis across states. 

Scientific studies proving the effectiveness of cannabis in managing chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and PTSD are helping people and doctors understand how cannabis works as medicine. Fewer restrictions mean scientists will have more freedom to study and develop cannabis as a better alternative to opioids. 

Cannabis businesses, health practitioners, and patients are adapting cautiously to changing regulations. As more regulatory agencies show a positive stance towards medical cannabis, doctors and patients are hoping for eased regulations and access to effective treatment. 

Cannabis As Medicine

With proof regarding its symptom management properties, cannabis is finally being used to manage several chronic conditions. Most doctors are recommending medical cannabis for conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Its therapeutic effects may also be effective in treating symptoms of mental health issues like anxiety, PTSD, and depression. 

While cannabis users report the effectiveness of the drug in managing physical and mental symptoms, research studies and medical trials have yet to provide conclusive results. Some studies have high-quality data that support the use of cannabis (Epidiolex) for treatment-resistant epilepsy. However, the findings for other conditions like anxiety and PTSD are also promising, but not as conclusive. 

Based on the successful research trials, certain cannabis based drugs have been approved for legal sale and use in various countries. Sativex is used for conditions like multiple sclerosis. Dronabinol is used to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea and specific symptoms of AIDS. Epidiolex is another drug that is available in liquid form and is used to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. 

Most doctors recommend cannabis as a last resort for chronic pain management when all other alternatives fail. While it helps to relieve anxiety and depression in some patients, it makes the condition worse for others when THC is involved. There is also a discussion of how cannabis interacts with other medications and causes side effects. While addiction and overdose of cannabis are less likely than with other drugs, there is still a chance of misuse.

While the application of medical cannabis looks promising, there is a need for more controlled trials to have sufficient evidence for its safety and effectiveness. Medications derived from cannabis effectively treat some conditions, but they are not substitutes for other medications. Doctors need to be updated with the latest findings and analyze each medical condition before including cannabis in treatment plans. 

How Doctors Are Incorporating Cannabis in Treatment Plans

Doctors should be open to the possibilities and initiate non-judgmental conversations so patients feel free to disclose their interest in medical cannabis. A safe space allows patients to learn about medical cannabis and decide whether it is the right solution for their condition. As cannabis lacks standardized dosing, personalized treatment is essential to ensure patients’ safety.

Doctors consider the patient’s weight, tolerance, severity of condition, and administration method to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. Each patient’s reaction varies for different THC/CBD formulations, which doctors consider before recommending any specific medicine or product. 

Doctors also take the responsibility to monitor patients, side effects, possible interactions with other medications, and improvements in their health. They use digital tools to maintain medical records and changes in dosage, and monitor patients’ responses to the treatment. They consistently rely on new medical updates, clinical guidelines, and individuals’ responses to incorporate cannabis into a holistic treatment plan. 

What Patients Should Consider Before Use

Patients should consider and follow these steps before incorporating cannabis into their treatment plans: 

1. Have an open, honest conversation with their healthcare provider regarding their medical history, symptoms, current medications, and previous use of cannabis. 
2. Learn more about different administration methods such as edibles, smoking, vaping, tinctures, and topicals. Patients should clearly understand the unique onset time, duration, nature of effects, and risks of each method and product. 
3. Understand the dosage and potency of each cannabis product. The THC/CBD content and other formulations vary for each product and batch, which should be analyzed before consumption. 
4. Source medical cannabis products from reliable dispensaries to ensure the product quality and composition meet the legal requirements and are safe for use.
5. New users should start slow, with less potent products in moderate dosages. Once they develop tolerance and feel the benefits, they can gradually increase the dosage with guidance from their healthcare provider. 
6. Short-term effects include dizziness, anxiety, and cognitive impairment, while long-term effects might include dependency and interaction with other medications. Patients should track their experience and report any adverse effects immediately. 

Social and Ethical Barriers

While marijuana is making progress globally, there are still social, legal, and ethical barriers faced by patients. Not all people have equal access to medical cannabis, as rural and low-income patients still struggle to access and afford treatments. Insurance still does not cover cannabis in the U.S., which further restricts its use for different chronic conditions. 

Social stigma is still prevalent, continuing from decades of criminalization. It still prevents people from publicly exploring and understanding the effectiveness of cannabis for their medical conditions. 

Doctors face an ethical dilemma while prescribing medical cannabis, unable to distinguish medical requirements from misuse for recreational and commercial purposes. They have the responsibility to distinguish between actual need and misuse, ensuring that those who deserve the treatment for chronic and life-altering conditions are not deprived of access. 

Understanding Medical Cannabis in 2025

Medical cannabis is gaining popularity among patients and the medical community, and legitimacy from legal and regulatory bodies. Doctors and patients need to be consistently informed, responsible, and cautious while prescribing and using medical cannabis to ensure its effectiveness without side effects. Open communication, increased research and trials, as well as collaborative approaches from medical, legal, and social communities, can promote and establish cannabis as a healing medication.