In an area where ideology may sometimes trump evidence, the 10-year-old
Institute of Medicine report titled "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing
the Science Base" still appears to be the clearest statement of
scientific understanding about the therapeutic potential of marijuana. The
report came to a number of conclusions, including the following:
The report concluded that short-term use of smoked marijuana (less than six
months) for patients with debilitating symptoms (such as intractable pain or
vomiting) must meet the following conditions:
"Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science" is
available online for purchase at<www.iom.edu/?id=12668>.▪