IOM ANNUAL FUND
Marijuana As Medicine? The Science Beyond the Controversy

Can marijuana relieve health problems? Is it safe for medical use? Public opinion on the medical value of marijuana has been sharply divided, with both sides citing “scientific evidence” to support their views.

A 1999 IOM report found that cannabinoid drugs -- that is, drugs that act in ways similar to the primary active ingredient in marijuana -- may have a role to play in medicine in such areas as pain relief and appetite stimulation. Yet, for several reasons, the future of cannabinoid drugs lies not in smoked marijuana but in chemically defined drugs with actions that can be better controlled. Until such drugs are available, the report called for continued research and clinical trials under limited circumstances with strict oversight.

Based on that report, the IOM published the lay version Marijuana As Medicine? The Science Beyond the Controversy. Written in non-technical language, the book reviews the science behind marijuana’s actions and examines its therapeutic efficacy; and it provides patients -- and the people who care for them -- a foundation for making decisions about marijuana in the context of their own health care.

Both the lay version and the original report are available on-line.

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>Ending Neglect: The Elimination of Tuberculosis in the United States
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>State Programs Can Reduce Tobacco Use
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