Is Marijuana Medicine?

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

@spark240

I think many here agree with much of the last paragraph there, but I’m surprised to see you list glaucoma in that context. Your literature doesn’t mention marijuana’s reduction of intraocular pressure? I thought that was among the better-established of its therapeutic effects (though still meriting more research, of course).

Pot is a crappy drug for treatment of elevated intra-ocular pressure. It needs to be dosed regularly every 2 to 3 hours, around the clock, to deliver enough lowering of the pressure to reduce the risk of vision loss. There are FAR FAR better ophthalmic drops on the market which are more effective and may be used once or twice a day. And you can drive and operate heavy machinery while using them, too. With less weight gain.

How are the other anti-nausea agents you mention delivered? I’ve been given to understand that smoking is easier for many patients than the alternatives.

Pills, tablets and films which dissolve quickly and completely on the tongue, liquid drops which are also absorbed via the tongue and gums, suppositories. I oversee the medical care at a hospice, and our patients have not had problems taking these quick-dissolving anti-nausea drugs.

While the general principle that smoking anything is dangerous is undeniable, I find it a little strange that people make so much of this point in respect to marijuana specifically, when so many standard prescription drugs have long lists of harmful side effects. Most medicines are not perfectly safe. The important thing is identifying when the potential benefits outweigh the risks, and for that we need the best possible information about both sides of the equation.

If smoking or eating the marijuana plant is shown to be superior to other modalities for treating a significant condition, I’ll support it. Making a billion dollar industry co-opting physicians into “prescribing” the stuff without such evidence is detrimental to patient health and the medical profession.