Useful Resources
Medical Marijuana: Still Controversial
December 16, 2008
The therapeutic use of cannabis (marijuana) is a hot topic in some parts of the United States. The National Institutes of Health do not recommend its use for treatment of any illness, though some physicians recommend it for pain, glaucoma, nausea and anorexia associated with chemotherapy, and, less commonly, for epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, migraine, and asthma. Laws on medical usage vary by state, with 13 states, as of July 2009, permitting medical usage under certain conditions. The majority of Web sites on medical marijuana have a bias one way or another. Updated February 2010
Resource Links
Blogs
Active forum hosted by SafeAccess, a therapeutic cannabis advocacy organization
Guidance for Consumers
Guide to California's medical marijuana laws for consumers
Advocacy
Pro-marijuana information and advocacy by a collective of patients and caregivers that supports "safe access to a safe, organic supply of medical marijuana for the treatment of terminal and chronic illness, to relieve suffering"
A leading marijuana legalization advocacy organization
This Web site is operated by a nonprofit organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens who support safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research
Public Policy
Links to state laws on therapeutic marijuana use from a pro-marijuana advocacy organization
The text of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, the citizen-initiated law that governs the therapeutic use of marijuana in California
A White House site that opposes the medical use of marijuana
Statistics, Trends and Research
Marijuana research information from California State University at Fullerton
Key statistics from a pro-cannabis website
Web site of a British maker of cannabis-based drugs, whose lead product, Sativex Oromucosal spray, is approved and marketed in Canada for the relief of neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis and advanced cancer patients
Links to research on cannabis
Understanding Medical Marijuana
"Patients Out of Time," a non-profit patient advocacy group in Virginia, supports the rights of those who are ill to have "legal and safe" access to the therapeutic use of marijuana. This page has historical references. The site includes many links to research.
The National Institutes of Health official information resource on marijuana, with an emphasis on adverse effects
