But how does one do research on a banned substance? From what I understand, it's extremely difficult to get a permit or a grant to conduct such a study.
I'll give you that.
And if this were really about medical marijuana, and helping patients, and easing suffering, the major pro-medical marijuana groups (like NORML, the Marijuana Policy Project, the Drug Policy Alliance, etc.) would be investing their money, time, and efforts to pressure the federal government to make this kind of research possible.
Unfortunately, medical marijuana is a scam. It's a ruse to get marijuana legalized, and these Soros-sponsored groups are using the sick and dying as pawns.*
These groups do NOT want to see medical marijuana in the form of a pill, patch, injection, mist, or suppository. And if medical marijuana took that form? Why they would then call smoked marijuana the "poor man's" medicine for those who can't afford the FDA-approved form.
Geez, the pharmaceuticals know this. You don't get to be a multi-billion dollar company by being stupid. Look at Marinol for nausea -- listen to the objections on this board (acts too slow, too expensive, hard to adjust, whine whine whine).
So a pharmaceutical is going to spend $100 million to come out with say, a marijuana patch to control nausea, when 1) there are already 10 FDA approved products out there that do the job faster and cheaper. and 2) have their customer base use this research as a tool to promote smoked marijuana for nausea? I doubt it.
*"In 1979, the director of NORML, told an Emory University audience that they would be using the issue of medicinal marijuana as a "red herring" to give marijuana a good name."