Althouse: "Medical marijuana has not been proven to work for many illnesses that state laws have approved it for..."

June 23, 2015

"Medical marijuana has not been proven to work for many illnesses that state laws have approved it for..."

"... according to the first comprehensive analysis of research on its potential benefits."

81 comments:

mccullough said...: Placebo; 6/23/15, 12:06 PM
Anthony said...: No kidding. This is probably the most potent drug allowed for public use based on almost purely anecdotal data.

But then, "medical" marijuana was never, ever about its being used as medicine.; 6/23/15, 12:09 PM
traditionalguy said...: Marijuana may not cure you, but it is the ultimate coping drug for central nervous system disorders, also called pain.; 6/23/15, 12:12 PM
Moose said...: Oh gosh. I'm shocked.; 6/23/15, 12:13 PM
Louis said...: I will put in my body who and what I desire when I desire it and not even from my cold dead hands will I permit government to take from me my natural right.; 6/23/15, 12:14 PM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Now that makes people want to oppress you just on spec.; 6/23/15, 12:15 PM
Matt Sablan said...: So is the science now settled?; 6/23/15, 12:15 PM
TosaGuy said...: So how is the medical marijuana movement any different than 19th-century health tonics and elixirs, which were combinations of booze and opium with a splash of formaldehyde.; 6/23/15, 12:16 PM
traditionalguy said...: @TosaGuy...Unlike the 1800s health tonics with booze and opium, Marijuana works for several days and causes no other problems.

This is NOT about curing the incurable disease, although it may help with seizures. It is about long term pain management.

Multiple Sclerosis is never cured, but it has to be lived with for a full life span.; 6/23/15, 12:25 PM
sean said...: Well, it's been mostly lawyers, not doctors, pushing for medical marijuana, so it's not surprising that it's mostly a lie.; 6/23/15, 12:29 PM
Matt Sablan said...: Trad Guy: The problem is people aren't being given medical marijuana solely for pain. They're being sold that it is a cure-all for "anxiety, sleep disorders, and Tourette's syndrome," among other things. The article actually mentions that "the strongest evidence is for chronic pain and for muscle stiffness in multiple sclerosis," though without telling us how strong is strong.; 6/23/15, 12:30 PM
I Callahan said...: I will put in my body who and what I desire when I desire it and not even from my cold dead hands will I permit government to take from me my natural right.

It's people like this who are the first ones to whine when someone is in prison for "non-violent offenses".

You knew the stuff was illegal - be willing to take your punishment like a man.; 6/23/15, 12:30 PM
TosaGuy said...: Bullshit claims exposed as bullshit, yet weed's carnival barkers will still hawk Dr. Feelgood's magic herbal tonic.

People in pain will always search for relief and the unscrupulous and agenda-driven and will always take advantage.; 6/23/15, 12:31 PM
Matt Sablan said...: Also there's this: "They include a small study suggesting that many brand labels for edible marijuana products list inaccurate amounts of active ingredients."

Medicine lying about the dosage it gives you should probably have the FDA up in arms because, with lots of medicine, that can literally kill you.; 6/23/15, 12:31 PM
Gusty Winds said...: Wake and Bake. It's the best relief for a hangover. That's it.

All these medical benefit claims were just and end around so people can get high. Unless in 2010 and 2011 Denver experienced as Glaucoma epidemic.; 6/23/15, 12:32 PM
Kirk Parker said...: What next? Will they tell us acupuncture is a crock?

I just don't know any more...; 6/23/15, 12:33 PM
Kirk Parker said...: "cure-all for anxiety, sleep disorders, and Tourette's syndrome"

Well f*ck that!; 6/23/15, 12:33 PM
Real American said...: considering how doctors will just prescribe to you for whatever faux condition can come up with, that's not surprising. medical marijuana is just about allowing people to legally smoke pot. It was a foot in the door to legitimacy. unfortunately, we couldn't just legalize it and instead further corrupted the medical profession.; 6/23/15, 12:34 PM
Matt Sablan said...: Now, I think there's probably some use, somewhere for it, medically. It's a drug; someone is going to crack it to use it medically.

I'm just hesitant to believe that it will fix literally every problem attributed it to being able to fix.; 6/23/15, 12:35 PM
Gusty Winds said...: In college the students whose whole life revolved around pot drove me nuts, even though I liked to smoke some pot. It was beyond a lifestyle, it became their life.

"Hey man...you know George Washington grew hemp don't you?"

"Dude, you can make really killer rope from Hemp."

"You can make clothes and all kinds of great stuff out of hemp man."

I would respond and call out their bullshit. It was just about smoking it to get high. Everything else was just hippy garbage.; 6/23/15, 12:38 PM
TosaGuy said...: Obligatory South Park video clip.; 6/23/15, 12:38 PM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: To the contrary, it has been shown, time and time again, that a sustained course of large doses of marijuana cures Mental Acuity Syndrome.; 6/23/15, 12:38 PM
Gusty Winds said...: "Take two 3ft bong hits, a few steamrollers, and call me in the morning."; 6/23/15, 12:40 PM
Gusty Winds said...: "Hey man, I only smoke bongs because it's been proven that the bong water filters out all the carcinogens."; 6/23/15, 12:43 PM
garage mahal said...: "The strongest evidence is for chronic pain and for muscle stiffness in multiple sclerosis, according to the review, which evaluated 79 studies involving more than 6,000 patients"

Well, too bad chronic pain sufferers and MS patients. I've never tried it, I don't LIKE it, so YOU must continue to suffer.

Signed,

Small government, libertarian-minded conservative.; 6/23/15, 12:43 PM
Julie C said...: I love it when they interview some hippie type on tv and he or she refers to weed as "my medicine". Yeah right.; 6/23/15, 12:45 PM
Anonymous said...: Wait, you mean people who want to use drugs have been lying all this time?

Shocker!; 6/23/15, 12:47 PM
garage mahal said...: Wait, you mean people who want to use drugs have been lying all this time?

I bet you read no farther than the title of the post.; 6/23/15, 12:51 PM
traditionalguy said...: A personal note: The MS sufferer that I know does seriously consider suicide someday. But unavailable MJ does work for her. The MS community all know some independent soul among them with a handicap Van who will get some for them at cost, but most are too law abiding to risk the legal and the social stigma of possessing the valuable plant. Too many Baptists and Methodists here are Teetotalers of alcohol and see MJ as total evil going from sin into depravity.

Religious legalism is a White washed tomb full of dead men's bones said an itinerant Jewish carpenter once...but the Pharisees got together and decided to kill Him.; 6/23/15, 12:54 PM
Matt Sablan said...: "Well, too bad chronic pain sufferers and MS patients. I've never tried it, I don't LIKE it, so YOU must continue to suffer."

-- I'm fine with it being legalized. I dislike the government lying to us about their reasons for making it legal. I also dislike the FDA not doing its job and actually examining the claims made about medicinal marijuana like they would any other wonder drug.

The government has a very limited scope, and by not treating marijuana like the drug it is [one that I don't care if it is legal or not], it is NOT doing its job. How many other drugs could lie to you about the dosage they're giving you and the FDA not be upset with them?; 6/23/15, 12:55 PM
Todd said...: traditionalguy said...
Marijuana may not cure you, but it is the ultimate coping drug for central nervous system disorders, also called pain.

6/23/15, 12:12 PM

Unless you are a French student, in which case you are out of luck!; 6/23/15, 12:58 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: THE RECOMMENDATIONS

The editorial by two Yale University psychiatrists suggests enthusiasm for medical marijuana has outpaced rigorous research and says widespread use should wait for better evidence. Federal and state governments should support and encourage such research, the editorial says.

"Perhaps it is time to place the horse back in front of the cart," Drs. Deepak Cyril D'Souza and Mohini Ranganathan wrote in the editorial.

They note that repeated recreational marijuana use can be addictive and say unanswered questions include what are the long-term health effects of medical marijuana use and whether its use is justified in children whose developing brains may be more vulnerable to its effects.

Sounds reasonable to me.; 6/23/15, 12:58 PM
Matt Sablan said...: The thing I take away from this article: The abbreviation Drs. is horrible and should never be used.; 6/23/15, 12:59 PM
TosaGuy said...: TradGuy,

I have no problems with folks smoking weed for whatever reason they want. I do take major issue with the activists who claim wonders that do not exist for no reason other than profiting off of desperate people in pain.; 6/23/15, 1:00 PM
furious_a said...: "Medical marijuana has not been proven to work for many illnesses that state laws have approved it for..."

Well, duh, unless patients are inhaling MM through a nebulizer where the "active ingredient" is a pre-measured liquid, there's no way to manage the dosage other than the size of the joint or the brownie baking sheet. Which probably explains all the ballot initiatives approving its use referring to "doctor's note" rather than "prescription".; 6/23/15, 1:01 PM
Brando said...: This drug (as well as any recreational drug) should be completely legal for adults to purchase and use, with obvious restrictions on using it while driving, etc. But let's not kid ourselves about it's so called beneficial uses or downplay its dangers. Be up front about it.; 6/23/15, 1:03 PM
kcom said...: Shocker!; 6/23/15, 1:05 PM
kcom said...: As someone above said, it's a lie to make it available to all regardless of medical condition with the added benefit of corrupting the medical profession in the process. Win, win. Or not. Maybe those Wisconsin doctors at the Scott Walker protests were their inspiration. Lying for a good cause is defensible in a respected profession, right?

If you want marijuana for all, just say it. Leave the lying and transparent (didn't fool anyone anyway) corruption out.; 6/23/15, 1:15 PM
Rick said...: Even after Colorado and Washington we're still supposed to pretend pot is a medical treatment?

Let them have their pot, and quit lying about why.; 6/23/15, 1:24 PM
Peter said...: "They note that repeated recreational marijuana use can be addictive and say unanswered questions include what are the long-term health effects of medical marijuana use and whether its use is justified in children whose developing brains may be more vulnerable to its effects."

Well, that's the real question, isn't it? Assuming "medical marijuana" is mostly just a fig leaf for recreational use, what are the arguments pro and con for legal recreational use?; 6/23/15, 1:29 PM
Michael K said...: " "medical" marijuana was never, ever about its being used as medicine."

Of course not. The only thing I know it helps is the nausea from chemotherapy. Pain may be more a sedation effect.

garage doesn't know that Prohibition was a Progressive cause.

The whole thing reminds of the guy with diarrhea who, after everything else failed, went to the psychiatrist. A friend saw him a few weeks later and he looked great. He asked him, "How do you feel ?" "Great !"

"So the psychiatrist cured the diarrhea ?"

"No. I still shit in my pants but I'm not worried about it anymore. "; 6/23/15, 1:30 PM
garage mahal said...: I love how most of commenters just take the word of an AP article editorializing, without actually looking at any of studies, because it fits their pre-conceived notions.

For instance, was cannabis even used in the studies? Link; 6/23/15, 1:31 PM
Rick said...: what are the arguments pro and con for legal recreational use?

I suggest a modified FDA rule. FDA approval is a two pronged test, better results or less risk than current alternatives.

So to approve pot we should ask whether the recreational feeling is greater than a current alternative with the same risk or the same recreational feeling achieved with less risk than a currently legal alternative. I suspect pot passes both tests, while passing either would mean approval.; 6/23/15, 1:33 PM
Rae said...: "Medical marijuana" is the legal fiction used so that people can smoke dope without going a shady drug dealer, and the states get their cut in taxes. I don't doubt that it helps some with chronic pain, but that's not why it's become so widespread.

There are tons of kids in my state (under 21) who have medical mj cards. That's a lot of kids with "glaucoma" or "anxiety attacks".; 6/23/15, 1:37 PM
Rae said...: Part of it is that the more powerful prescription narcotics are so heavily regulated these days.; 6/23/15, 1:40 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: I don't think that it just helps nausea due to chemo, but nausea maybe in general. I know someone who has a hard time traveling, and they recently discovered the use of pot to greatly reduce their frequency of throwing up. This isn't a case of a pothead using this as a medical excuse, but rather someone who only smokes before longish road trips.; 6/23/15, 1:40 PM
I Callahan said...: I love how most of commenters just take the word of an AP article editorializing, without actually looking at any of studies, because it fits their pre-conceived notions.

Honestly garage, one has to be completely obtuse to not see why.

The fact is that this was pushed, and hard, on every state in the U.S. It was purely political from the word go. Then some people come along and question the validity of all of the so-called facts, and we're the ones who are "just taking the word"? Why are you so quick to take the word of the very people who obviously have an agenda, and that is to make pot legal, one way or the other?; 6/23/15, 1:41 PM
garage mahal said...: “We only identified two studies on inhaled marijuana which might be a reflection of the legal status,” says study author Penny F. Whiting, PhD, senior research fellow at the University of Bristol in the UK.; 6/23/15, 1:44 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: The other thing to keep in mind is that one of the reasons that there have not been studies showing the efficacy of pot as a treatment is that the FDA hasn't approved such, and instead has tried to suppress research into pot as a medicine.; 6/23/15, 1:44 PM
Curious George said...: "garage mahal said...
I love how most of commenters just take the word of an AP article editorializing, without actually looking at any of studies, because it fits their pre-conceived notions.

For instance, was cannabis even used in the studies? Link"

He types from his Cheetos stained keyboard.; 6/23/15, 1:47 PM
JAORE said...: I think it should be legalized or, at least, decriminalized. Way too many kids started down the wrong side of the criminal justice system due to a joint.

But let's not kid ourselves, lots of the medical claims are BS and may actually keep people from seeking legitimate treatment. For those medical issues where it is beneficial, God speed.; 6/23/15, 1:48 PM
Anonymous said...: The other thing to keep in mind is that one of the reasons that there have not been studies showing the efficacy of pot as a treatment is that the FDA hasn't approved such, and instead has tried to suppress research into pot as a medicine.

But why is this?

I don't think it's as you make it out. Lot's of hard drugs are used, or their precursor plant or chemical, in drugs. Drug companies deal with hard drugs that they turn into medicine all the time. We wouldn't have pain killers otherwise.

If there is a market to turn Marijuana into a pill that would help, why wouldn't drug companies be developing this?

The answer lies in baked goods and smoked goods at Marijuana shops. No one is creating a pill, they want you to smoke it or they want to put it in food without any controls.

I seriously doubt the FDA would approve a smoked drug. Hence, no one is making applications at the FDA.; 6/23/15, 1:50 PM
Fernandinande said...: From the actual JAMA articles:

Conclusions and Relevance
"There was moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity. There was low-quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, weight gain in HIV infection, sleep disorders, and Tourette syndrome. Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs."

Findings
"Use of marijuana for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and spasticity due to multiple sclerosis is supported by high-quality evidence. ...
Conclusions and Relevance
Medical marijuana is used to treat a host of indications, a few of which have evidence to support treatment with marijuana and many that do not. Physicians should educate patients about medical marijuana to ensure that it is used appropriately and that patients will benefit from its use."

"So far, evidence suggests that marijuana may be an effective treatment for chronic pain, neuropathic (nerve) pain, and muscle spasms due to multiple sclerosis or paraplegia. In most states with medical marijuana laws, marijuana can be used to treat severe or chronic pain and severe or persistent muscle spasms."; 6/23/15, 1:57 PM
Yancey Ward said...: I have always been skeptical of its medical benefit beyond the obvious ones related to improving ones mood, which isn't to say that is insignificant, but that isn't really unique to marijuana and almost surely isn't the most efficient or safest way to improve ones mood.; 6/23/15, 2:03 PM
Fernandinande said...: garage mahal said...
I love how most of commenters just take the word of an AP article editorializing, without actually looking at any of studies, because it fits their pre-conceived notions.

See above. The MSM's science reporting is nearly always awful; especially beware (online) articles whose authors omit links to the studies they're scribbling about.; 6/23/15, 2:03 PM
Sebastian said...: "I know someone"

Science!

"No one is creating a pill, they want you to smoke it or they want to put it in food without any controls"

And "they" want to smoke it and eat it.

Cool Prog drug = cool. Old Prole drug = uncool.; 6/23/15, 2:06 PM
garage mahal said...: See above. The MSM's science reporting is nearly always awful; especially beware (online) articles whose authors omit links to the studies they're scribbling about.

Yep. Just a link to JAMA main webpage and a link to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. I like "doesn't work for sleep disorders" but side effects include "sleepiness".; 6/23/15, 2:12 PM
gerry said...: I like "doesn't work for sleep disorders" but side effects include "sleepiness".

What are the differences between "sleepiness" and "sleep disorders"? Or are you just ignorant?; 6/23/15, 2:20 PM
kcom said...: You know it's legitimate because, hey, there are entire stores dedicated to it. Like all the other single-drug stores.

You say there's no such thing? Well, have I got a business opportunity for you. I'm offering ground floor opportunities for investors in my medical aspirin store chain. Dedicated solely to aspirin. We'll have franchises in every mall in America. And we're expanding to every neighborhood. Customers can select from our vast array of domestic, international, artisanal and designer aspirins. Bayer Bombers are popular at the moment, as are Hoffman Honeys. Other types sure to be in demand include St. Joe's Sweetums, CVS Zappers, Anacin Annihilators, and Salicylate Gold. We can also do special orders on request.

Don't miss this opportunity for future financial success. Invest now.

Serious inquiries only.; 6/23/15, 2:23 PM
Matt Sablan said...: "I like "doesn't work for sleep disorders" but side effects include "sleepiness"."

Sleep apnea [where you're "asleep" but not getting rest] can be thought of as a sleep disorder that sleepiness won't help.

Also, just BEING sleepy doesn't mean you CAN sleep.; 6/23/15, 2:43 PM
Known Unknown said...: What to make of Shona Banda's case?

If it works for her, fine. Let her have it. Control freaks at both ends of the political spectrum don't know when to quit.; 6/23/15, 2:51 PM
Known Unknown said...: kcom-

You would be better served by opening Doritos-only stores.; 6/23/15, 2:52 PM
MadisonMan said...: Also, just BEING sleepy doesn't mean you CAN sleep.

Which prompts me to recommend a book: The Family that Couldn't Sleep, by D. T. Max.

Be happy this is not a family you're born into.; 6/23/15, 2:54 PM
SteveR said...: I have MS and marijuana is not helpful with any of my suite of symptoms, except perhaps one, to the extent I can tell. But it has some negatives in regard to other things that I can say its of no medical benefit to me.; 6/23/15, 2:58 PM
Matt Sablan said...: Has anyone here said to NOT legalize marijuana?

I know a lot of people have said they don't think it is as useful as advertised, or that they think it is used by slackers to get stoned -- but, has anyone actually been for leaving it illegal?; 6/23/15, 2:58 PM
kcom said...: Is there a medical use for Doritos?

Tell me it's so.; 6/23/15, 3:02 PM
Anonymous said...: It's the only thing that allowed me to sleep given the meds I was on. I will be forever grateful.; 6/23/15, 3:15 PM
Known Unknown said...: Is there a medical use for Doritos?

Tell me it's so.

In some patients, they can prevent anorexia.; 6/23/15, 3:20 PM
Paul said...: Marijuana...or more accurately THC has been a Schedule III drug for years under the USP moniker Dronabinol... it is an anti-emetic and is used to stimulate appetite in cancer patients. The lie over the years has been that we need to legalize pot to benefit patients...Apparently THC laced Gummy Bears and Tea are superior to the metered dose of a pill...; 6/23/15, 3:21 PM
David said...: Duh!; 6/23/15, 3:22 PM
Known Unknown said...: Apparently THC laced Gummy Bears and Tea are superior to the metered dose of a pill..

But then the government couldn't also tax your joints.; 6/23/15, 3:33 PM
damikesc said...: I'm fine with it being legalized. I dislike the government lying to us about their reasons for making it legal.

That's my take also. Legalize pot all you want...but why insult my intelligence in the process?; 6/23/15, 4:10 PM
kcom said...: "but why insult my intelligence in the process?"

Seconded.; 6/23/15, 4:16 PM
garage mahal said...: .but why insult my intelligence in the process?

Tell that to epileptic kids suffering seizures around the world being successfully treated with cannabis how much your so-called intelligence is being insulted.; 6/23/15, 4:36 PM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Paul, marinol has issues. For one thing, as a bolus, it's not helpful to people with difficulty in swallowing. Dose-response is also poorer and can result in overmedication a la Maureen Dowd. Smoking has advantages. You can self-regulate very nicely.; 6/23/15, 5:23 PM
kcom said...: Way to dodge the point, Garage. But, of course, it was "for the children". The last refuge of scoundrels in an argument.; 6/23/15, 5:38 PM
ken in tx said...: I once worked in an old fashioned mom & pop drug store. The druggist owner kept a display case of antique patent medicines. One of them was Asthmatic Cigarettes, which contained cannabis. Many of the others contained opium, morphine, and alcohol.; 6/23/15, 7:31 PM
Phil 314 said...: No shit.; 6/23/15, 7:49 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: http://nalert.blogspot.com/2015/06/5-more-drug-psas-that-tried-to-scare.html; 6/23/15, 9:37 PM
Unknown said...: Ultimate placebo. That's why it "cures" literally anything; 6/24/15, 11:22 AM
Unknown said...: All these medical benefit claims were just and end around so people can get high. Unless in 2010 and 2011 Denver experienced as Glaucoma epidemic.
medical marihuana; 8/17/15, 2:11 PM