Bingo. You two have hit it spot on. Several medical studies (not that you'll ever see THEM quoted by the "medical marijuanna" crowd) have shown that smoked pot is
less efficient in getting the THC and other "active" ingredients to the patients. Both pill and injectible forms of marijuanna-based pain-killers exist now, and once again have shown more effectiveness than smoked marijuanna.
But that doesn't matter. Because it's about the high, not the "help"...