Patients With ALS Qualify for a Louisiana Marijuana Card

What is ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” is a neurodegenerative condition that causes muscles to atrophy and die. It can affect many parts of daily life, including cognitive functions such as memory and mood, as well as muscle deterioration that eventually leads patients towards paralysis due to the lack of muscle control in the body.

Due to the fact that many symptoms of ALS can be treated with cannabis, it is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Louisiana.

Although there is no cure for ALS, people with the condition can live more comfortable lives by following specific treatment plans that often revolve around treating symptoms of the disease rather than the condition itself.

What are the Symptoms of ALS?

ALS is a neurodegenerative condition that causes very weak muscles and can cause difficulty with actions such as moving, speaking, swallowing, and breathing. Unfortunately, ALS eventually leads to complete paralysis.

Disease progression usually starts with weakness of one arm or leg, followed by muscle cramps, twitching, and stiffness in other parts of the body. ALS may develop over weeks or months before gradually worsening to a debilitating stage.

Symptoms of ALS can include:

Behavioral and cognitive issues
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty walking
Frequent tripping or falling
Muscle cramps, twitches, and pain
Slurred speech
Weakness in the hands and excessive clumsiness

How is ALS Treated?

ALS may develop at any age, but it's most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 40-70 years old. There is no known cure for ALS; however, there are treatment options available that can help slow its progression, which typically include medication, physical therapy, nutritional therapy, and stem cell transplants.

The symptoms of ALS can be challenging to diagnose because the disease is often overlooked and not diagnosed until it has progressed to a more severe stage.

Many people notice problems with their arms or legs first, which are known as "Limb Onset ALS" cases. Others find that their speech or swallowing becomes impaired, known as “Bulbar Onset ALS”.

Unfortunately, there's no way to prevent ALS, but there are some things that can be done to help slow the progression of the disease. Research has shown strong evidence that a combination of environmental elements and genetics play an important role in determining who gets this terrible illness, and possibly how it will progress, though there is no concrete answer as to how the condition starts or how to cure the illness.

Can Medical Marijuana Help with ALS?

Cannabis is one of the most promising alternative treatment options for people with ALS, and medical marijuana is approved for patients in Louisiana diagnosed with ALS.

Not only can medical marijuana provide relief from muscle tension, pain, and sleep disorders, but cannabis can also address inflammation. This has shown to be an important factor when treating ALS due to the nerve damage in muscles that result in weakness or paralysis.

Cannabinoids such as CBD and THC also have an anti-salivary effect, which could reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia and thus improve quality of life for ALS patients.

Further research supports the use of medical marijuana for treating symptoms of ALS, such as pain relief, increased appetite, and improved mood.

The benefits from using medical marijuana in conjunction with traditional treatments show extreme promise for helping people afflicted with Lou Gehrig's disease, allowing patients to cope better while living their lives on a more level playing field, without being entirely dependent upon caretakers.

Get a Louisiana Medical Marijuana Card for ALS Symptoms Today

Although there is no cure for ALS, increasing evidence suggests that medical marijuana may be an appropriate treatment option for those suffering from the condition.

Because of the links between reduced inflammation, decreased muscle spasms, lessened salivation, improved mood, and improved quality of life, ALS has been approved as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Louisiana.

To find out more about using medical marijuana for ALS, consult with our staff of qualified doctors that can help walk you through the path of getting medical marijuana to help with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Our doctors can be reached at (833) 253-2943 to help answer any questions you may have about getting a Louisiana marijuana card for ALS.