Public opinion on the medical value of marijuana has been sharply divided. Some dismiss medical marijuana as a hoax that exploits our natural compassion for the sick; others claim it is a uniquely soothing medicine that has been kept away from patients through regulations based on false claims. Scientific data on controversial subjects are commonly misinterpreted, overinterpreted, and misrepresented, and the medical marijuana debate is no exception. This report summarizes and analyzes what is known …showed first 75 words of 1408 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1408 total…number of serious ailments and is less toxic and costly than many conventional medicines for which it may be substituted. Scientific data indicate the potential therapeutic value of marijuana, for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation; smoked marijuana, however, is a crude THC delivery system that also delivers harmful substances. Thus, the safety issues associated with marijuana do not preclude some medical uses. But the question remains: Is it therapeutically effective?