Pubdate: Thu, 07 Apr 2016
Source: Kingston Whig-Standard (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.thewhig.com/letters
Website: http://www.thewhig.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/224
Author: Harold Keith
Page: A4
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n215/a05.html

SCIENTIFIC STUDIES MISSING

Re: "Medical marijuana use among veterans rising," April 2.

Although the headline for the article is factual (prescriptions are up
among vets), it fails to mention that there is currently no scientific
evidence that medical marijuana is effective in treating
post-traumatic syndrome disorder (PTSD) or related psychiatric
disorders (e.g., anxiety, chronic anger, depression, substance abuse).

There is a large difference between anecdotal accounts of benefits for
individuals - like those cited by the former Canadian Forces member in
the article - and scientific proof. As cited in the Journal of the
American Medical Association last year ("Cannabinoids for medical use
a systematic review and meta-analysis"), scientists in the U.K.
analyzed 79 randomized trials (the gold standard in medical research)
and found that most studies showed only slight benefit of cannabinoid
products over placebo, admitting that they could not be sure that the
effect wasn't simply due to chance (i.e. not statistically
significant). The best quality evidence supported cannabinoids'
benefit to relieve chronic pain and multiple sclerosis (versus
placebo), however, its use is also associated with negative effects
such as nausea, disorientation and hallucinations (compared to placebo).

Our veterans who suffer from PTSD deserve first-class treatments (e.g.
cognitive behavioural therapy, pharmacotherapy), not half-baked
promises of new, as yet unproven, treatments that target these
vulnerable men and women. It is disappointing that your article failed
to mention this lack of evidence of the effectiveness of medical
marijuana for PTSD, but instead was more of a promo piece for a new
local business.

Harold Keith

Kingston
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MAP posted-by: Matt