title: Cannabinoids for treatment of glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to review the current status of cannabis in the treatment of glaucoma, including the greater availability of marijuana in the USA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The potency of marijuana, as measured by the concentration of Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol, has increased from ∼2 to 3% in the 1970s to ∼20% today. Many US states have passed laws allowing either medicinal or recreational use of marijuana.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pharmacology of marijuana and its effect on intraocular pressure has not changed since the research in the 1970s and 1980s. Marijuana is an effective ocular hypotensive agent. However, cardiovascular and neurological effects are observed at the same dose, and may theoretically reduce the beneficial effect of lowering intraocular pressure by reducing ocular blood flow. The clinician must be cognizant of this potential in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.
authors: aDepartments of Pharmacology and Ophthalmology, University of California, Davis bPharmaLogic Development, Inc., San Rafael, California, USA.
authors: Gary D
authors: GD
authors: Novack
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002188:Cannabis; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002186:Cannabinoids