Medical Marijuana Revisited

Abstract

The use of marijuana as a medicinal agent is an old practice in many parts of the world. In recent decades it has gained increased attention of the general public and of the medical profession. Ten states and Canada have legalized medical marijuana; physicians prescribe it for nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. They also prescribe it for appetite loss and wasting in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Controversies exist about its use in the treatment of glaucoma, spasticity or chronic intractable pain. Though state governments have passed laws authorizing physicians to prescribe marijuana, the federal government contends that the drug is a Schedule I agent with no medicinal use, a high potential for abuse and no accepted safety for use in medically-supervised treatment. There are legal issues regarding its use as a medicinal agent, and the United States Supreme Court has provided rulings on these matters. This paper will explore those controversies, the history of medical marijuana and the implications for its future use as a therapeutic agent in this country.