Pubdate: Mon, 24 Aug 2015
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2015 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: John S. O'shea

MARIJUANA IS STILL UNPROVEN REMEDY

Although Georgia House Bill 1 allows medical marijuana for several
severe medical conditions, it needs to be emphasized that none of
these conditions have been shown to be helped by this approach, except
for some instances of nausea and vomiting in people on cancer
chemotherapy. I recently reviewed more than 200 articles in the
medical literature back to 1950 on the efficacy of marijuana for many
severe medical conditions, and found absolutely no evidence in
controlled studies for any other documented benefits.

Although I am very concerned about the severe difficulties of people
who are now allowed to use medical marijuana, they need to be served
by continuing studies of effective treatments for their afflictions,
not being allowed to use medical treatments of totally unproven
medical efficacy.

JOHN S. O'SHEA, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS, EMORY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
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MAP posted-by: Matt