Up in Smoke: A Neurologist's Approach to Medical Marijuana
December 2014
in “
Annals of neurology
”
TLDR "Medical marijuana" lacks strong evidence for medical use and is often a way to bypass recreational marijuana laws.
The document discussed the complexities and challenges surrounding the prescription of "medical marijuana" by physicians. It highlighted that while FDA-approved drugs like dronabinol (a purified form of THC) exist and are supported by level I evidence for certain conditions, the use of marijuana leaf lacks substantial evidence to justify its medical use. The author argued that the push for "medical marijuana" laws in various states is more about circumventing legal restrictions on recreational marijuana rather than addressing genuine medical needs. This situation places an undue burden on the medical profession and undermines respect for both the law and the medical community.
