When Should Medical Cannabis Be Used?

Medical cannabis refers to preparations of the cannabis plant that patients use to treat medical conditions.

The cannabis plant has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years by many civilizations. As of January 2020, 33 states and the District of Columbia had put laws into place so physicians can certify the use of “medical marijuana,” or medical cannabis, for debilitating medical conditions-although cannabis remains illegal federally. After obtaining a certification, patients may buy medical cannabis in special stores called dispensaries. Although this cannabis is not different from the cannabis that was available before medical marijuana laws, cannabis sold in dispensaries is subject to various state safety regulations and taxes.

Is There Scientific Evidence Supporting Use of Medical Cannabis?

Many physicians debate the strength of the evidence supporting the benefits of medical cannabis and cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are chemicals like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabidiol (CBD) found in the cannabis plant. Beyond conditions for which cannabinoids are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, appetite stimulation in wasting conditions associated with HIV and other diseases, and pediatric epilepsies, there is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that cannabis and cannabinoids are effective for managing chronic pain and muscle spasticity resulting from multiple sclerosis. It is important to note that the majority of the evidence comes from studies of the 3 FDA-approved cannabinoids, which are very different from cannabis obtained from dispensaries, calling into question whether these findings extend to medical cannabis. Medical cannabis may ultimately prove to be effective in treating many other medical conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and Tourette syndrome, but as yet, there is little evidence to show that this is the case.

Risks of Medical Cannabis

There are risks involved with both short-term and long-term cannabis use. Using cannabis in the short term may result in problems with learning, memory, attention, judgment, and coordination, while long-term use is associated with an increased risk of psychiatric illness and addiction and worse outcomes in pregnancy. There are other possible side effects as well, including dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sedation, confusion, disorientation, and hallucinations.

When Should Medical Cannabis Be Used?

The scientific evidence suggests that medical cannabis is neither a first- nor second-line treatment for any medical condition. However, if a patient has tried many medications or procedures to treat a medical condition and none has worked, it is reasonable to try medical cannabis after a conversation between the patient and their clinician about its potential risks and benefits. Whenever possible, the medical cannabis certification and associated follow-up should be handled by the clinician treating the medical condition and not a clinician who only provides certificates for medical cannabis use.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health nccih.nih.gov/health/marijuana-cannabinoids


To find this and other JAMA Patient Pages, go to the For Patients collection at jamanetworkpatientpages.com.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Hill reported receipt of personal fees from Hazelden Publishing and Wolters-Kluwer.

Sources: Hill KP. Medical marijuana for treatment of chronic pain and other medical and psychiatric problems: a clinical review. JAMA. 2015;313(24):2474-2483.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2017.

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