Sequoiacrone
August 1st, 2008, 08:36 AM
Review of Human Studies on Medical Use of Marijuana
by Dale H. Gieringer, Ph.D.
August 1996
California NORML
2215-R Market St. #278
San Francisco CA 94114
(415) 563-5858 / canorml@igc.apc.org
Summary: Human Studies on Medical Uses of Marijuana
There have been hundreds of studies on the medical uses of cannabis since its introduction to western
medicine in the early nineteenth century. A review of the literature reveals over 65 human studies, most
of them in the 1970s and early ‘80s.
· The best established medical use of smoked marijuana is as an anti-nauseant for cancer
chemotherapy. Marijuana's efficacy was demonstrated in studies by half a dozen states, involving
hundreds of subjects. Most research has found smoked marijuana superior to oral THC (Marinol).
Many oncologists are currently recommending marijuana to their patients.
· Marijuana is widely used to treat nausea and appetite loss associated with AIDS, but the government
has blocked research in this area. Studies have shown that marijuana helps improve appetite, and
Marinol has been FDA approved for treatment of AIDS wasting syndrome. Nearly 10,000 PWAs were
reported to be using marijuana through the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers' Club. However, the
government has blocked efforts by Dr. Donald Abrams of the University of California at San Francisco
to proceed with an FDA-approved study of marijuana and AIDS wasting syndrome, by refusing to
grant him access to research marijuana. Research is badly needed on the relative merits of smoked
and oral marijuana versus Marinol.
· There is much evidence, largely anecdotal, that marijuana is useful as an anti-convulsant for spinal
injuries, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and other diseases. Similar evidence suggests marijuana may be
useful as an analgesic for chronic pain from cancer and migraine as well as for rheumatism and a
variety of auto-immune diseases. There is a conspicuous lack of controlled studies in this area;
further research is needed.
· Cannabidiol, a constituent of natural marijuana not found in Marinol, appears to have distinctive
therapeutic value as an anti-convulsant and hypnotic, and to counteract acute anxiety reactions
caused by THC.
· It has been established that marijuana reduces intra-ocular pressure, the primary object of glaucoma
therapy. Due to its psychoactivity, however, marijuana has not gained widespread acceptance in this
application.
· Many patients report using marijuana as a substitute for more addictive and harmful psychoactive
drugs, including prescription painkillers, opiates, and alcohol. Marijuana and Marinol have also been
found useful as a treatment for depression and mood disorders in Alzheimer's and other patients.
More research is needed.
Overview of Medical Marijuana Research
In its position paper, "Use of Marijuana as a 'Medicine,'" the California Narcotics Officers Association
refers to "10,000 studies... documenting the harmful physical and psychological effects of smoking
marijuana." This myth has been effectively debunked in a letter to Dr. Lester Grinspoon from NIDA's
marijuana research librarian at the University of Mississippi, Beverly Urbanek, who writes, "We are totally
in the dark as to where the statement that there are 10,000 studies showing the negative impact of
marijuana could have originated." She explains that while her library has some 12,000 citations on
cannabis, they cover a broad spectrum of economic, legal, horticultural, enforcement, and other nonhealth
issues, and are not categorized by negative or positive effects. Pursuing the issue further, it is
possible to enumerate an impressive number of studies on marijuana's therapeutic uses. There is no
space here to list or summarize all of them. The book, "Cannabinoids as Therapeutic Agents," edited by
Dr. Raphael Mechoulam (CRC, 1986), includes copious references to research articles on cannabis'
pharmacological effects, as follows:
· Pharmacohistory of Cannabis Sativa - 90 references;
· Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids in Neurological Disorders -155 references
· Ocular Effects - 70 references
· Cannabinoids as Antiemetics in Cancer - 91 references
· Cannabinoids and Analgesia - 136 references
· Bronchodilator Action of Cannabinoids - 67 references
Of course, there are some duplicates, and by no means all of these 609 references actually detail
medicinal benefits of marijuana, but it certainly seems reasonable to estimate that there have been 100s
of studies on medical use of marijuana.
for the entire article at canorml please use this link
http://www.norml.org/pdf_files/ReviewofHumanStudies.pdf
by Dale H. Gieringer, Ph.D.
August 1996
California NORML
2215-R Market St. #278
San Francisco CA 94114
(415) 563-5858 / canorml@igc.apc.org
Summary: Human Studies on Medical Uses of Marijuana
There have been hundreds of studies on the medical uses of cannabis since its introduction to western
medicine in the early nineteenth century. A review of the literature reveals over 65 human studies, most
of them in the 1970s and early ‘80s.
· The best established medical use of smoked marijuana is as an anti-nauseant for cancer
chemotherapy. Marijuana's efficacy was demonstrated in studies by half a dozen states, involving
hundreds of subjects. Most research has found smoked marijuana superior to oral THC (Marinol).
Many oncologists are currently recommending marijuana to their patients.
· Marijuana is widely used to treat nausea and appetite loss associated with AIDS, but the government
has blocked research in this area. Studies have shown that marijuana helps improve appetite, and
Marinol has been FDA approved for treatment of AIDS wasting syndrome. Nearly 10,000 PWAs were
reported to be using marijuana through the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers' Club. However, the
government has blocked efforts by Dr. Donald Abrams of the University of California at San Francisco
to proceed with an FDA-approved study of marijuana and AIDS wasting syndrome, by refusing to
grant him access to research marijuana. Research is badly needed on the relative merits of smoked
and oral marijuana versus Marinol.
· There is much evidence, largely anecdotal, that marijuana is useful as an anti-convulsant for spinal
injuries, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and other diseases. Similar evidence suggests marijuana may be
useful as an analgesic for chronic pain from cancer and migraine as well as for rheumatism and a
variety of auto-immune diseases. There is a conspicuous lack of controlled studies in this area;
further research is needed.
· Cannabidiol, a constituent of natural marijuana not found in Marinol, appears to have distinctive
therapeutic value as an anti-convulsant and hypnotic, and to counteract acute anxiety reactions
caused by THC.
· It has been established that marijuana reduces intra-ocular pressure, the primary object of glaucoma
therapy. Due to its psychoactivity, however, marijuana has not gained widespread acceptance in this
application.
· Many patients report using marijuana as a substitute for more addictive and harmful psychoactive
drugs, including prescription painkillers, opiates, and alcohol. Marijuana and Marinol have also been
found useful as a treatment for depression and mood disorders in Alzheimer's and other patients.
More research is needed.
Overview of Medical Marijuana Research
In its position paper, "Use of Marijuana as a 'Medicine,'" the California Narcotics Officers Association
refers to "10,000 studies... documenting the harmful physical and psychological effects of smoking
marijuana." This myth has been effectively debunked in a letter to Dr. Lester Grinspoon from NIDA's
marijuana research librarian at the University of Mississippi, Beverly Urbanek, who writes, "We are totally
in the dark as to where the statement that there are 10,000 studies showing the negative impact of
marijuana could have originated." She explains that while her library has some 12,000 citations on
cannabis, they cover a broad spectrum of economic, legal, horticultural, enforcement, and other nonhealth
issues, and are not categorized by negative or positive effects. Pursuing the issue further, it is
possible to enumerate an impressive number of studies on marijuana's therapeutic uses. There is no
space here to list or summarize all of them. The book, "Cannabinoids as Therapeutic Agents," edited by
Dr. Raphael Mechoulam (CRC, 1986), includes copious references to research articles on cannabis'
pharmacological effects, as follows:
· Pharmacohistory of Cannabis Sativa - 90 references;
· Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids in Neurological Disorders -155 references
· Ocular Effects - 70 references
· Cannabinoids as Antiemetics in Cancer - 91 references
· Cannabinoids and Analgesia - 136 references
· Bronchodilator Action of Cannabinoids - 67 references
Of course, there are some duplicates, and by no means all of these 609 references actually detail
medicinal benefits of marijuana, but it certainly seems reasonable to estimate that there have been 100s
of studies on medical use of marijuana.
for the entire article at canorml please use this link
http://www.norml.org/pdf_files/ReviewofHumanStudies.pdf