Marijuana Policy Project

A leading medical specialist in palliative care and colleagues explain the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Gonzales v. Raich in a commentary from the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. They point out that the court acknowledged strong evidence of marijuana's medical benefits.

The U.S. government has supplied medical marijuana to a small number of patients since 1978, but has never studied its own patients. This privately funded study of four surviving patients in the program is the only published study of its participants.

Chris Conrad, a court-qualified cannabis expert, covers state laws, legal issues, and the science of use and cultivation of medical marijuana. The booklet describes and recommends the "safe harbor" guidelines created by Safe Access Now for reasonable garden size as well as medical benefits and case law.

Treatment for the hepatitis C virus utilizing the drugs ribavirin and interferon is known for its severe side effects, which cause many patients to discontinue the long, demanding regimen prematurely. In this study, those using marijuana were significantly more likely to complete their treatment regimens.

This University of California clinical trial demonstrates that smoked marijuana effectively relieves a chronic, painful nerve disorder which afflicts about 30% of HIV patients.

U.S. government officials frequently claim that marijuana smoke has more cancer-causing tars than cigarette smoke. But such statements are misleading, because they ignore critical data, much of which is explored in this article by Robert Melamede, chair of the Biology Department at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

While little known to the general public, data dating back to the mid-1970s shows that THC and other cannabinoids have potent and selective anticancer activity: That is, they can kill cancer cells or block tumor growth without harming healthy cells.

A large body of evidence shows that cannabinoids, marijuana's unique components, have potential as anticancer drugs. In this study, researchers found that a number of naturally occurring cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol, inhibit growth of cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone.

Can cannabinoids treat depression? While controlled human studies haven't been done, a large body of research with animals suggests that the answer is yes.

Can medical marijuana help patients suffering from Parkinson's disease? While science hasn't yet provided a definitive answer, this review article explains the reasons why marijuana may be helpful.

Despite extensive lab and animal evidence of the antitumor actions of cannabinoids, this small pilot study was the first published trial of THC as an anticancer therapy in humans.

In this commentary for Medscape General Medicine, Dr. Greg Carter of the University of Washington and MPP's Bruce Mirken analyze the Food and Drug Administration's April 2006 statement criticizing medical marijuana laws.

This list of key medical references addresses marijuana?s ability to alleviate each of these conditions, which can serve as a valuable resource when talking to your doctor about whether medical marijuana is right for you.

Medical Marijuana & HIV/AIDS

Leading National and International Medical, Religious, and Legal Organizations Supporting Physician-Supervised Access to Medical Marijuana

Marijuana Use by Young People: The Impact of State Medical Marijuana Laws

Excerpts from numerous studies showing the medical efficacy of marijuana for a wide array of medical conditions, including cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma. Also included are scientific findings refuting some long-held beliefs about potential health hazards posed by marijuana use, most notably in relation to cancer and neurotoxicity.

Common Questions About Marijuana Answered by the Institute of Medicine

Frequently asked questions about marijuana, its health effects, medical marijuana, and the Marijuana Policy Project

A Comprehensive Clinical Plan for the Investigation of Marijuana's Medical Use in the Treatment of the HIV-Related Wasting Syndrom (1994 by Rick Doblin)