Study: Scant Evidence That Medical Pot Helps Many Illnesses

AP ^ | 6/23/15 | By Lindsey Tanner, AP Medical Writer

[LRoggy]

CHICAGO (AP) -- Medical marijuana has not been proven to work for many illnesses that state laws have approved it for, according to the first comprehensive analysis of research on its potential benefits.

The strongest evidence is for chronic pain and for muscle stiffness in multiple sclerosis, according to the review, which evaluated 79 studies involving more than 6,000 patients. Evidence was weak for many other conditions, including anxiety, sleep disorders, and Tourette's syndrome and the authors recommend more research.

[shempy]

Who gives a rip? Freedom is what this is about as far as I am concerned. Trans fat, alcohol, tobacco, guns, weed, etc. should be left to the individual. If this medical weed approach can get the camels nose into the tent then I support it.

[Phlap]

It sure cures what ails me. That would be insanity. lol

[grania]

when the patient is high enough they don't care about maladies

I prefer grandma's cure....blackberry brandy. Enough of the cheap stuff, and you won't wake up until you're well!

[hinckley buzzard]

No. But they should be. They will spend a lot of money to grab at straws sometimes, and maybe get a placebo effect. "No statistical significance" means "no better than chance."

[ConservingFreedom]

"No statistical significance" means "no better than chance."

No, it means "more than N% (typically 5%) likely to have come about by chance." Pot shouldn't be anyone's first choice - but it should be an option.