Cannabis has the potential to treat a variety of ailments, from severe nausea to migraines. But perhaps what many women want to know is whether weed helps treat PMS, and all the God-awful cramps, mood swings, and discomfort that come along with it. Does weed treat PMS?

Dysmenorrhea, a fancy term for a painful period, affects over 40% of women worldwide. In fact, dysmenorrhea can be so intense that roughly 20% of women can’t even get out of bed because of it. While meds like Midol and birth control can help, many women, including the renowned Queen Victoria, have found that cannabis is the only thing that’s effective for them.

Still, despite the growing number of women who swear by weed as the ultimate cure for PMS, currently, the condition does not qualify them for medical marijuana in any state. This may be because there’s no definitive research on it.

As with virtually every other condition that cannabis has the potential to address, more research is needed. Several studies, however, do indicate cannabis could be a remedy for PMS. NOVEMBER 6: Amy Rising, an Air Force veteran, smokes medical marijuana. Rising has been working on legislation for veterans’ freedom to treat PTSD with medical cannabis. (Photo by Kevin Cook for The Washington Post via Getty Images)Other promising signs weed helps PMS

While there’s limited research on weed and PMS specifically, there are studies which show that weed can treat symptoms commonly associated with PMS. Take headaches, for example.

Back in 2016, a study published in Pharmacotherapy revealed that weed effectively reduced the frequency of monthly migraines from 10.4 to 4.6. Studies also show that weed helps with irritability. Both THC and CBD boost serotonin levels, aka the “feel good” hormones, in the body. Additionally, weed can minimize diarrhea, diminish acne, and reduce cramps.

The good news is that while doctors can’t prescribe women medical pot for PMS, they can prescribe it for conditions associated with it. Once women get access to a dispensary (whether it’s recreational or medical), there’s already a whole bunch of companies putting out female-centric products for everything from the orgasm to cramping.