Does Marijuana have Medical Value?

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The federal government often states that there are better solutions to people’s healthcare problems than cannabis, and that patients should not have to rely on cannabis to relieve their symptoms. Yet, it is the foundation of our healthcare system in the United States that the sick and dying have the ability to exercise every available choice, including medical cannabis. Even though cannabis may not be superior to other medications in all instances, patients should have the prerogative to consult with their physicians and opt for medical cannabis use without fear of reprisal by the federal government.

Report after report indicates that patients are seeking alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs, which either do not work as well as cannabis or produce undesirable side effects. Some patients use cannabis because pharmaceutical drugs do not have the desired effect in treating their illness. For other patients, pharmaceutical drugs cause side effects that can be treated with medical cannabis.

According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), 36% of adults in the U.S. are using some form of complementary or alternative medicine. Given the strong clinical evidence and public support of medical cannabis, the federal government should be directing the NCCAM to conduct more cannabis-related research so that policymakers can make decisions based on the most complete and comprehensive information available.