Marijuana as medicine? : the science beyond the controversy / Alison Mack, Janet Joy for the Institute of Medicine.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mack, Alison.

Contributor:

Joy, Janet E. (Janet Elizabeth), 1953-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Marijuana--Therapeutic use.

Marijuana.

Physical Description:

xii, 199 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, [2001]

Summary:

Some people suffer from chronic, debilitating disorders for which no conventional treatment brings relief. Can marijuana ease their symptoms? Would it be breaking the law to turn to marijuana as a medication?

There are few sources of objective, scientifically sound advice for people in this situation. Most books about marijuana and medicine attempt to promote the views of advocates or opponents. To fill the gap between these extremes, authors Alison Mack and Janet Joy have extracted critical findings from a recent Institute of Medicine study on this important issue, interpreting them for a general audience.

Marijuana As Medicine provides patients -- as well as the people who care for them -- with a foundation for making decisions about their own health care. This empowering volume examines several key points, including: -- Whether marijuana can relieve a variety of symptoms, including pain, muscle spasticity, nausea, and appetite loss.-- The dangers of smoking marijuana, as well as the effects of its active chemical components on the immune system and on psychological health.-- The potential use of marijuana-based medications on symptoms of AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and several other specific disorders, in comparison with existing treatments.

Marijuana As Medicine introduces readers to the active compounds in marijuana. These include the principal ingredient in Marinol, a legal medication. The authors also discuss the prospects for developing other drugs derived from marijuana's active ingredients.

In addition to a providing an up-to-date review of the science behind the medical marijuana debate, Mack and Joy also answer common questions about the legal status of marijuana, explaining the conflict between state and federal law regarding its medical use.

Intended primarily as an aid to patients and caregivers, this book objectively presents critical information so that it can be used to make responsible health care decisions. Marijuana As Medicine will also be a valuable resource for policymakers, health care providers, patient counselors, medical faculty and students -- in short, anyone who wants to learn more about this important issue.

Contents:

I Marijuana, Medicine, and Science 1

2 Can Marijuana Help? 13

3 How Harmful Is Marijuana? 38

II Medical Marijuana and Disease 71

4 Marijuana and Pain 77

5 Marijuana and AIDS 86

6 Marijuana and Cancer 95

7 Marijuana and Muscle Spasticity 106

8 Marijuana and Neurological Disorders 115

9 Marijuana and Glaucoma 124

III Medical Marijuana in Context 129

10 Pharmaceuticals from Marijuana 133

11 Legal Issues 156

12 Marijuana's Medical Future 173.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0309065313

OCLC:

45100194