The majority of the members we serve are living with HIV/AIDS. Other major illness groups include, but are not limited to, Cancer, Hepatitis C, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, and Chronic Pain.
Members use cannabis to relieve a variety of symptoms including debilitating nausea, lack of appetite, wasting, pain, muscle spasms and tension that limit mobility, and to improve their overall sense of well-being.
Some Compassion Club clients have recommendations for the use of cannabis for conditions such as Bi-polar, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and as harm reduction for substance abuse and withdrawal. Those suffering from critical or chronic physical conditions also may experience depression and anxiety for which cannabis can be beneficial.
Research suggests that cannabis can be extremely effective in alleviating the symptoms of many mental health conditions. However, in some cases, cannabis use may not be beneficial and may prove deleterious to mental health. The BCCCS carefully assesses and monitors clients with severe mental health conditions to ensure cannabis is of continued benefit to them.
The following is a list of some conditions and the associated symptoms for which there exists research and anecdotal evidence of cannabis being used successfully. Please note that this list is not exhaustive:
- Addiction & harm reduction
- ADHD
- Alzheimers
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Blood & circulation
- Cancer
- Chemotherapy
- Chronic pain
- Colitis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Head trauma/brain injury
- Hepatitis C
- HIV/AIDS
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Kidney disease
- Mental health
- Migraines
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Nausea
- Neuropathic pain
- Paraplegia/quadriplegia
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Pregnancy
- Radiation therapy
- Seizure disorders
- Sleep disorders