By Dr. Dominique Carson, LMP, H.C.
American neurosurgeon and CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, released his award-winning and Emmy-nominated series, "Weed 8: Women and Weed," exploring the significant rise of medical cannabis use among women, young and old, in the United States. Dr. Gupta traveled to Oklahoma for the series—noting its status as the last state to legalize medical marijuana in 2018—to investigate how and why women have become the fastest-growing demographic of cannabis users, now out-pacing men in their rate of adoption.
While producing the series, he concluded that conventional medical systems were not adequately addressing the unique requirements of female patients. He noted that a growing number of mothers and grandmothers are turning to alternative treatments for relief from mood shifts, poor sleep, and stress linked to various conditions, including chronic pelvic and genitopelvic pain, vulvodynia, and muscle-related complications. Furthermore, they are seeking help for anxiety, migraines, sleep issues, and reproductive health transitions such as perimenopause, menopause, endometriosis, and menstrual pain, in addition to severe illnesses like cancer and chemotherapy-induced vomiting. Reflecting on the stories he gathered over the past year, he highlighted a powerful commonality: many women feel they are part of a "quiet revolt" because their health concerns have been overlooked.
“Most science and evidence support the use of it for pelvic pain/endometriosis related pain, nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy and cancer treatments, and chronic genitopelvic pain/vulvodynia. The endocannabinoid system interacts with the HPA axis as well as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Still, the mechanism of this interaction and signaling is not fully understood,” said Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified gynecologist and menopause specialist in Chicago.
However, medical experts still caution against it. While some small studies suggest benefits for menopausal symptoms and sexual wellness, Dr. Rahman notes that data on vasomotor symptoms are limited and often of poor quality. She also points out that evidence for treating low libido is inconsistent and recommends a biopsychosocial approach rather than relying solely on cannabis.
“There are cannabinoid receptors in the hypothalamus that control the release of GnRH and oxytocin, and these interact with estrogens and progesterones. Cannabis is also thought to impact testosterone levels, which is a key driver in sexual desire, and activation of the cannabinoid system is thought to enhance dopamine as well, which is a key neurotransmitter in sexual function,” said Dr. Rahman.
Dr. Rahman emphasized that as research evolves, maintaining a dialogue with healthcare providers regarding medical cannabis is vital. She cautioned that despite being a natural substance, cannabis can be harmful and may interact with other sedatives or medications. Potential risks include cognitive impairment, exacerbated anxiety or mood disorders, and impaired fertility, while inhaling cannabis is linked to lung cancer.
Moreover, studies have shown that cannabis does have addictive potential, including withdrawal symptoms and cannabis use disorder. There are conversations about the future of medical cannabis, health, dosages, and the quality of life, but there are still limitations to cannabis usage. Cannabis has demonstrated harm in pregnancy, leading to growth restriction and the potential for neurodevelopmental issues. Therefore, ongoing research is exploring the rise of cannabis use in pregnant women and breastfeeding, with a focus on brain development, safety protocols, social stigma, and cognitive thinking.
“They should track their symptoms, consider seeing a specialist, and advocate for their health to find the safest and most effective treatment options. We also need to review your medications, your symptoms, mental health issues, pregnancy risks and fertility concerns, how it may impact your function (driving, work, etc.), and the route and dose (and THC: CBD ratios),” said Dr. Rahman. “Let us not replace cannabis for treatments of symptoms that have FDA-proven results, but if it is something you have found to help you, let us not forget the possibly long-term risks, so we still have to be cautious.”
To learn more visit:
Dr. Sameena Rahman, MD, FACOG
312 N May Street, Suite 110
Chicago, IL 60607
https://www.msmedicine.com/
