title: Narrative review of the safety and efficacy of marijuana for the treatment of commonly state-approved medical and psychiatric disorders.
abstract: The present investigation aimed to provide an objective narrative review of the existing literature pertaining to the benefits and harms of marijuana use for the treatment of the most common medical and psychological conditions for which it has been allowed at the state level. Common medical conditions for which marijuana is allowed (i.e., those conditions shared by at least 80 percent of medical marijuana states) were identified as: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cachexia/wasting syndrome, cancer, Crohn's disease, epilepsy and seizures, glaucoma, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, multiple sclerosis and muscle spasticity, severe and chronic pain, and severe nausea. Post-traumatic stress disorder was also included in the review, as it is the sole psychological disorder for which medical marijuana has been allowed. Studies for this narrative review were included based on a literature search in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar. Findings indicate that, for the majority of these conditions, there is insufficient evidence to support the recommendation of medical marijuana at this time. A significant amount of rigorous research is needed to definitively ascertain the potential implications of marijuana for these conditions. It is important for such work to not only examine the effects of smoked marijuana preparations, but also to compare its safety, tolerability, and efficacy in relation to existing pharmacological treatments.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Development, University of California, 1121 Tolman Hall #1690, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA. kab@berkeley.edu.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Belendiuk
authors.affiliation: Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA. lbaldini@paloaltou.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. Marcel.Bonn-Miller@va.gov.|Center for Innovation to Implementation and National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA. Marcel.Bonn-Miller@va.gov.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3440 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. Marcel.Bonn-Miller@va.gov.
authors.forename: Marcel O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Bonn-Miller
mesh_terms: D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy; D002188:Cannabis; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D064086:Medical Marijuana / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D064086:Medical Marijuana