Posted on 12/16/2025 10:13:29 AM PST by SeekAndFind
A new review of more than 120 studies concluded that there is little evidence supporting the use of medical cannabis for a variety of conditions, including insomnia.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved cannabinoids, a chemical compound extracted from cannabis, for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and seizures, among other conditions. Many patients use cannabinoids or other medical cannabis for other conditions, such as anorexia, insomnia, and chronic pain, either through off-label prescriptions or through state availability.
A look at research published from January 2010 through September, though, showed that for many conditions, “evidence is insufficient,” researchers with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and other institutions said in the review, which was published Nov. 26 by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The evidence base featured more than 120 studies, including some randomized. placebo-controlled clinical trials.
“While many people turn to cannabis seeking relief, our review highlights significant gaps between public perception and scientific evidence regarding its effectiveness for most medical conditions,” Dr. Michael Hsu, one of the authors and a health sciences clinical instructor at the UCLA Health Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, said in a statement. “Clear guidance from clinicians is essential to support safe, evidence-based decision-making when discussing medical cannabis with their patients.”
He also said, “Patients deserve honest conversations about what the science does and doesn’t tell us about medical cannabis.”
At the same time, the products can lead to problems such as dry mouth, diarrhea, and dizziness, and long-term health outcomes are still being studied.
There is evidence supporting treating certain conditions, such as nausea and vomiting, with medical cannabis or cannabinoids, the researchers said. Limitations of the research included not covering the risk of bias for the studies that were analyzed, and some of the studies analyzed for the review being observational.
“Further research is crucial to better understand the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis,” Hsu stated. “By supporting more rigorous studies, we can provide clearer guidance and improve clinical care for patients.”
Conflict of interest disclosures included Hsu reporting being on the advisory board for Healthy Gamer, a platform that creates content and provides mental health coaching for youth. The research was supported by the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The center did not have a role in the design or conduct of the study, or the interpretation of the data, the authors said.
Wrong. Someone who suffers from mental illness and panic/stress induced seizures will show signs that are obvious to anyone that has known them for a period of time. A good friend of mine suffered from exactly that, and it always went the same way: a manic episode marked with withdrawal, short, one word answers to questions and within a short period of time, a seizure, which acts like a reset for the person. I witnessed that many, many time and could tell when a seizure was oncoming. If I could convince my friend to smoke, it would only be a short period when a complete change came over them, the manic episode disappeared and no seizure necessary for reset. Any time a manic episode came, I knew there would be a seizure, unless he smoked, and I was right every time.
If the billboards for alcohol have restrictions on what they can say and must feature disclaimers the billboards for pot can not just say, "Get baked out of your gourd. Home delivery available."
Big Pharma approved message?
Same situation as with guns. The gun ain’t killing. The person does. Likewise, MJ can have debilitating effects on those that are predisposed to being lazy. Most of us, however, consume regularly and still go about being law abiding, tax paying, society contributing members of the public. In fact, we appear entirely normal to the point that most don’t even see how many people actually do consume.
1. This issue is proof positive that "conservatives" LOVE big government, as long as it's THEIR big government.
2. Those that do not have personal experience can talk all they want, but they have absolutely no clue about the actual truth.
3. Ain't NOBODY'S business what I choose to ingest, so long as I ain't hurting anyone else.
Y'all really do make yourselves look ridiculous spouting off about stuff you know nothing about.
You cannot prove a seizure is imminent.
That’s because you don’t listen to the Magic 8 ball. It foretells everything if you listen.
Yep, some people have massive problem with pot, some have massive problems with alcohol, some have massive problems with painkillers, etc. I’m lucky to have no problems with any of those because that’s just the luck of the draw.
Paraphrasing P. J. O’Rourke...”Drugs are like a one-man birthday party. You don’t get any gifts that you didn’t bring, yourself.”
Retired from ATC and was having a hard time adjusting to a normal life and normal sleep patterns. Doctor wrote a Rx for Ambien. Did NOT like the way I felt during the day after taking it for about a week.
Went and got my Medical 420 Card and went to a dispensary here in CA and told the BudTender there that I was looking for a strain to help with sleep.
Long story short....it worked! And I felt fine the next day.
I now legally grow plenty for myself and give out pounds to my Baby Boomer friends here. Also have taught others to grow and pass out seeds and have about 20 strains. It is legal to grow 6 plants and those plants can be any size from 1’ to 10+’. I grow monsters. All Legal.
My sleep patterns are now normal and I rarely consume anymore but love growing it and my friends appreciate it.
I am now a Chemist. I convert Beer into Uric Acid. Very good at it BTW.....
Rand Paul wept.
Doo-ood.
I’m typing slowly so you’ll get it.
I’ve been a physician for over 35 years. Practiced in anesthesiology, family medicine, aviation medicine, drug/alcohol abuse clinics. I’ve got credentals.
I don’t care what anyone does to THEIR body so long as it isn’t harming anyone else; I mentioned getting stoned and driving. DUI is DUI and THC takes many multiples of hours for reducing interference with fine motor skills and cognitive functioning compared to alcohol.
So far as I’m concerned, the US, the world, would be better off DECRIMINALIZING everything. Literally every intoxicating or mind-altering substance or product (natural or lab-produced), and letting the bodies and wet-brains hit the floor.
There are lots of biases against THC, and marijuana, generally. I knew a cop’s kid that smoked. His mom was doing chemo, but wouldn’t dream of touching marijuana. I’m sure the other folks at the restaurant would rather deal with her projectile vomiting of a prime rib dinner, rather than her sitting quietly.
Another anecdote...a friend’s 100 year old grandmother, confined to a wheelchair, but still with knee pain. They put some CBD balm on her knees, and she was quite happy with it. I asked if they told her what it was, and they said “no.” It’s “herbal.” Leave it at that.
I think the medical benefits warrant a federal rescheduling of marijuana. Legalization remains a State issue.
“We all remember when they claimed cannabis was just going to be used for medicinal purposes. We all knew it was a lie as it remains a lie. Psychosis, paranoia, and bi-polar have been among the consequences. Cannabis has been a blight on society.”
You could say the exact same thing about alcohol.
Nobody said that. I said it causes psychosis (irrational fear).
The degree of psychosis depends on a lot of things including individual makeup. Some are affected worse than others.
However, it will cause some degree of brain damage or malfunction in everyone. Not recommended.
I have benefitted greatly from medical cannabis. So from my perspective this study is is wrong. But I only speak for myself.
MJ will harm you. But if you feel the benefits for you outweigh the harm so be it.
That’s absolutely right.
But my town has to stink like skunk pot all day everywhere regardless.
Like Chiropractic care: not for every body, or condition.
Chiro can help some very tough cases. It’s like VooDoo Quackery to many MD’s but it’s Heaven Sent relief for lots of folks.
Weed is the same thing. Don’t like it don’t smoke it. But it can provide inexpensive lasting relief for many conditions.
Like not using overpowering cologne in an elevator, or avoiding cigar use in a small room, a little common courtesy from Chiba Tokers would go a long way.
Ten of 11 studies evaluating acute cannabis exposures reported a higher seizure incidence than would be expected based on the prevalence of epilepsy in the general and pediatric populations (range 0.7–1.2% and 0.3–0.5% respectively). The remaining two studies demonstrated increased seizure frequency and/or seizure-related hospitalization in recreational cannabis users and those with cannabis use disorder.
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