Medicinal Marijuana Studies

Medicinal marijuana studies present a host of controversial topics in both the scientific/medical community and in everyday society. The issues of the appropriateness of medicinal marijuana aside, clinical studies seek to ascertain benefits in a variety of medical settings. Completed studies include the effects of marijuana in AIDS and diabetes patients, cancer treatments, as well as effectiveness in general pain management. Ongoing studies continue to compare THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, with traditional treatments.

Medicinal Marijuana -- To Smoke or Not to Smoke

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved smoking marijuana for any medicinal purpose. Instead, the drug known as Marinol, a synthetic form of THC, carries FDA approval as an antiemetic medication to help alleviate the nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatments. Many medicinal marijuana studies use Marinol in place of smoked marijuana for clinical studies. The Drug Enforcement Administration has and does participate in facilitating select studies including the use of smoked or vaporized marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Previous Studies into Medicinal Marijuana Use

• The National Cancer Institute first approached the DEA in the 1980s with proposals for medicinal marijuana studies regarding the nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and cachexia associated with cancer patients. Likewise, the state of California partnered with the DEA to study the effects of medicinal marijuana for multiple sclerosis patients.

  In 1999, the National Academy of Sciences published the most comprehensive review of medicinal marijuana studies. In that report, scientists concluded that smoking marijuana was not the best delivery medium. However, extracted and isolated ingredients, such as THC, showed promise for future studies and medicinal benefits.

Ongoing Studies for Medicinal Marijuana

• The DEA continues to facilitate and endorse further study of medicinal marijuana. The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research recently completed studies covering various HIV and AIDS treatments including marijuana, as well as vaporized versus smoked cannabis, and the effects of marijuana as an analgesic. The CMCR continues to study various aspects of medicinal marijuana, including the use of vaporized marijuana for spinal cord injuries and peripheral neuropathy in diabetes patients.

The Official Medical Community Stance

• While many clinical studies and trials have concluded the benefits of medicinal marijuana in certain settings, the medical community maintains a consistent stance on the subject. According to the DEA and the National Cancer Institute, most scientists feel Marinol and other medical marijuana options are not the best first line option for treating pain, nausea, or other conditions. Rather, the medical community views medicinal marijuana use as an alternative treatment reserved for times when other, more traditional treatments prove ineffective.