Currently, 26 states have legalized medical marijuana, with New York being the first state to require physicians to be trained and certified in prescribing cannabis.  So what conditions can cannabis treat and how does it work?   The cannabis plant has over 100 cannabinoids, naturally occurring substances that can be purified out from the plant and made into various forms - pills, oil for vaporization/inhalation, oil for sublingual use, and creams for topical use.  The human body actually has an endocannabinoid system with receptors for these cannabinoids!   The two most important cannabinoids for medical use are Cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the component that gives you a mental “high” most associated with marijuana use, but it also has powerful medicinal properties such as decreasing pain, nausea and stimulating the appetite.     CBD, however, does not give you a “high” yet has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties. Some studies point to its cancer-fighting properties as well.   A list of conditions approved for medical marijuana treatment in NY state can be found here: http://holistichealny.com/do-you-qualify-for-medical-marijuana/   If you have a prescription for medical marijuana in NY state, there are several forms available to ingest, as well as options for CBD vs THC content.   FORMS OF INGESTION: In NY state it is still not legal to smoke the…