Twenty states have legalized medical marijuana, and in many of these, just about any ailment earns you a card allowing you access to it. A big reason for this is that doctors and researchers still have little understanding of how to best use pot medically. "There are only two types of people in the world: Those who think that cannabis will cure everything, and those who think that cannabis will cure nothing," says Dr. J.H. Atkinson, professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. We offer a third kind of person: A handful of researchers who, in clinics around the country, conduct serious experiments on the potential benefits of this controversial drug. It's not surprising that the research is still quite preliminary. Marijuana's status as a Schedule I drug, the lack of government funding for research, and the existence of only one federal growing facility, in Mississippi, for all sanctioned medical marijuana research are just some of the major obstacles in the way of quality cannabis science. Even with this limited research, pot shows promise for some conditions, but not for others. We've outlined the facts about the better-known conditions. Proven for: Chronic neuropathic pain
Of all the different health issues that are treated with medical marijuana, this one has the most scientific support. It's good news, because neuropathic pain affects people with a variety of diseases – like diabetes and multiple sclerosis – and physical trauma. Studies from the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, where Dr. Atkinson works, have found that pot can reduce a patient's reported pain intensity by about 34 to 40 percent (versus 17 to 20 percent with a placebo). What's more, the marijuana they use contains only about 1 percent to 8 percent of the psychoactive compound THC, whereas street versions of the drug often contain in the vicinity of 13 percent. Likely not effective for: Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that can lead to vision loss. It is often on the list of health problems that warrant medical marijuana treatment but there is not a lot of strong evidence backing that up. Studies looking into marijuana's ability to relieve eye pressure – a common characteristic of glaucoma – have been going on for decades, but more research is needed to give any definitive ruling on effectiveness. Plus, says Dr. J.H. Atkinson, there are plenty of alternative treatments now available for glaucoma. Shows great potential for: Seizures
There have been many stories of people, particularly young children, with seizure disorders who have turned to cannabis to control their symptoms. Of note lately is an account from CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta about a 7-year-old girl in Colorado who, with the use of cannabis oil, went from having 300 seizures a week to two or three a month. Anecdotes like this are striking, but scientific evidence for this application of marijuana is still lacking. However, Atkinson and many other experts say this is an area of research that deserves serious attention. Shows great potential for: PTSD
Another anecdote-rich use for medical marijuana is the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As with seizures, several people (often war veterans) have brought this potential application of pot to national attention. Again, researchers aren't giving this use the green light yet, but it has shown preliminary promise. A recent study from New York University (NYU) found that people with PTSD have more cannabinoid receptors in the brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. When activated by cannabis use, these receptors may reduce anxiety in people with PTSD while also helping them forget painful memories. Shows potential for: Inflammatory bowel disease
New research is backing up what sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease have long claimed – that pot can ease their symptoms. In a survey of 292 IBD sufferers, the majority of those who used pot medicinally said it was "very helpful" in relieving nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Other evidence supports these claims. Last year, a study from Israel's Meir Medical Center found that smoking two joints a day for eight weeks resulted in complete remission for five of the 11 Crohn's disease sufferers who were given that treatment. Proven for: Nausea
Human-made and FDA-approved cannabinoid medications like dronabinol and nabilone have been used by cancer patients to control chemotherapy-related nausea for years. These drugs work by affecting the part of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting. There are many different treatments available to control chemotherapy nausea, but medical marijuana is among the well regarded. Some people dislike the side effects, however, which can include feeling high, dizzy, and depressed.
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