The Doctor is In

Q: What are the medicinal benefits of weed, as opposed to its more established alternatives? Who should look to it, and who should not?

What a timely question, since last week was 4/20, a day that some use to celebrate the joys of cannabis.

Since more and more states are legalizing pot for both medical and recreational use, it is important to look at the research that is out there.

We have come a long way from the propaganda of “Reefer Madness,” a 1936 film revolving around what could happen to those who try a puff of marijuana and end up committing manslaughter, suicide or descending into madness.

Unfortunately, the studies are limited since marijuana is still a federally banned controlled substance, and therefore, we have very limited data on its medical pros and cons. But, there are a few interesting medical facts to consider.

Marijuana may help with some patients with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a 2016 paper in the journal Clinical Psychology Review.

Other research shows, however, that high doses may actually make anxiety worse, and marijuana may be more harmful than helpful for those with certain mental health conditions, like bipolar disorder or psychosis.

Just last year, the National Academies of Sciences concluded that there is good evidence that marijuana has pain relieving properties and may also be effective at calming muscle spasms and easing nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy.

Furthermore, it may have benefits for those suffering from insomnia related to chronic pain or fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, because there are so many chemicals in marijuana, we as physicians still need to understand more about dosages and strains to recommend pot to our patients.

There is good evidence to suggest that those patients suffering from chronic pain who use marijuana for pain relief may actually use fewer opioids, a much more dangerous and potentially lethal medication. But again, more research needs to be done.

In addition, there are derivatives of marijuana, such as cannabidiol oil (CBD), that can be helpful for medical conditions that do not get patients high. One example is a CBD-based drug that was just FDA approved last week to reduce seizures in a rare form of pediatric epilepsy.

Some of my patients also swear that applying this oil topically to their knees or back can markedly reduce their arthritis pain and reduce their need for other more powerful and potentially harmful medications.

Some clinical case studies also show that cannabinoids (chemicals found in marijuana) may have cancer-fighting properties, but again more studies need to be done in this area to reach any proper scientific conclusions. Glaucoma is another condition whereby the benefits of marijuana have been noted.

It is clear, however, that certain sections of the population should definitely stay away from cannabis, including pregnant women and teenagers. There is good evidence that marijuana use in pregnancy can lead to low birth weight, and memory and impulse issues in the child.

Furthermore, chronic heavy use in adolescence has been shown to have deleterious effects on the developing brain and even lead to lower IQ scores in these users.

Yes we have come a long way from the ’60s pot counterculture to see that there are potential medical benefits to cannabis. It is just a matter of time until the research can tell us more.