Does cannabis work as a treatment for some symptoms or conditions? Yes. Has research been conducted to prove that? Yes, more than many people think. High-quality scientific evidence (in the United States and abroad) has been conducted on medical cannabis, showing its efficacy for varying symptoms and conditions, such as neuropathic pain and symptoms of multiple sclerosis, such as spasticity and sleep disturbance. Double-blinded placebo controlled studies and observational studies (including many case studies) have …

How much influence does the media have on your views of medical treatments? This article continues coverage of the myth of amotivational syndrome in relation to medical cannabis, this time from the perspective of bias in the media. As mentioned in previous articles of this series, it is important for future physicians to be aware of the facts and falsities about this treatment option. As medical cannabis gains both medical and public acceptance, blooming and …

Understanding the various opposing arguments to medical cannabis is important for future physicians and medical professionals. In the next few years, cannabis will likely become more widely accepted as an established medical treatment, and it is important to understand issues surrounding its use. Here, I outline one point of contention in the medical cannabis debate to increase understanding of medical cannabis and its relationship to patients. Long-term and sustained reduction of motivation, or increases in …

Please read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this series “Medical Cannabis: A Matter of Patients, Not Politics.” Organizational Support for Medical Cannabis Legalization Many organizations, including some of the most prestigious in the country, support the legalization of medical cannabis. Here is a partial list with their takes on the issue: New England Journal of Medicine 1997 “Federal authorities should rescind their prohibition of the medical use of marijuana for seriously ill …

Please read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this series “Medical Cannabis: A Matter of Patients, Not Politics.” Cannabis as Medicine The health benefits of medical cannabis have been reported since 2737 B.C., when Chinese Emperor Shen Nung began to record its uses. These possible medical uses include the following: assists in decreasing nausea, vomiting, and pain, increases appetite, assists patients with insomnia, produces short-term reduction of intraocular eye pressure, has anti-anxiety properties, …

Please read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this series “Medical Cannabis: A Matter of Patients, Not Politics.” Due to the potential of medical cannabis to provide relief to millions of patients in the United States, the need for state and federal governments to immediately increase research and legalize medical cannabis prescription is imperative. In this three-part series of articles, I will outline (1) the history of medical cannabis law in the United …