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Medical Marijuana

Topic Overview

What is medical marijuana, and is it legal?

Marijuana is a drug that is made up of the leaves, flowers, and buds of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. Medical marijuana is the use of this drug to help treat symptoms like pain, muscle stiffness (spasticity), nausea, and lack of appetite. It may be used by people who have conditions like cancer, AIDS, or multiple sclerosis.

In the United States, it is against federal law to possess, sell, give away, or grow marijuana for any purpose. It's also against federal law for doctors to prescribe this drug. But more than a dozen states have passed laws that allow people with certain health problems to buy or grow marijuana for their own use. Some states also allow or license people to provide medical marijuana to those who need it.

If you use medical marijuana to treat an approved medical condition, the federal government might not prosecute you. But there's no guarantee.


What do the experts say?


Some medical experts don't recommend marijuana because:

  • It hasn't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
  • Marijuana smoke may harm your lungs.
  • There are legal drugs that may work just as well, such as new kinds of pain and nausea medicines.

Other medical experts do recommend marijuana because:

  • It may help relieve symptoms such as pain and muscle stiffness (spasticity) in people who have multiple sclerosis.

Be sure to let your doctor know if you are using medical marijuana. If you're pregnant, it is not safe to use alcohol or drugs, including marijuana.

How do you use medical marijuana?

Marijuana is usually smoked. It can also be brewed into tea, vaporized, applied to the skin, or cooked in food.

You may be affected for hours after you use marijuana. How soon you feel the effects of marijuana and how long they last depends on many things, including:

  • How much you used.
  • How you took it.
  • How your own body responds to it.

Unwanted side effects may include:

  • Dry mouth.
  • Red eyes.
  • Anxiety or paranoid thoughts.
  • Faster heart rate.
  • Nausea and vomiting.

Is it addictive?


The risk of addiction is higher in people who:

  • Start using marijuana when they're young.
  • Use it every day.
  • Have mental health problems.


Are there alternatives to medical marijuana?


Nabilone is used to relieve nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. Dronabinol can relieve this kind of nausea and vomiting too. It may also improve the appetite of people who have AIDS. Both dronabinol and nabilone can be used to relieve pain and spasticity in people who have multiple sclerosis. Both drugs come in pill form.


What is synthetic marijuana?



People think that using these drugs will make them feel the same as when they use marijuana. But these drugs are different from marijuana. And the effects are hard to predict. That's because the type and strength of the chemicals used are often unknown. Some people have reported severe symptoms, such as:

  • Fast heart rate and high blood pressure.
  • Vomiting.
  • Feeling agitated or confused.


Other Works Consulted



By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Michael Seth Rabin, MD - Medical Oncology
Current as of June 4, 2014

