Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with cannabinoids but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials .
There was an increased risk of short-term AEs with cannabinoids , including serious AEs .
Common AEs included dizziness , dry mouth , nausea , fatigue , somnolence , euphoria , vomiting , disorientation , drowsiness , confusion , loss of balance , and hallucination .
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was moderate- quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity .
There was low- quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy , weight gain in HIV infection , sleep disorders , and Tourette syndrome .
Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs
IMPORTANCE Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms , but their efficacy for specific indications is not clear .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the benefits and adverse events ( AEs ) of cannabinoids .
Cannabis and cancer chemotherapy. A comparison of oral delta‐9‐thc and prochlorperazine
Delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) and prochlorperazine ( Compazine ) were found to be equally efficacious in reducing nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy across a wide range of chemotherapeutic regimens and tumor types . Both drugs were administered orally one hour before chemotherapy , then every four hours for a total of four doses . Compazine was administered in a fixed dose of 10 mg ; THC was administered by body surface area ( BSA ) : BSA < 1.4 m2 = 7.5 mg ; BSA 1.4‐1.8 m2 = 10 mg ; and BSA > 1.8 m2 = 12.5 mg . Two hundred and fourteen subjects ( 75 % of whom had previously received Compazine with varying results ) were evaluated employing a double‐blind , crossover design . Additional parameters evaluated were study drug effects on appetite , food intake , mood , activity , relaxation , interaction , and concentration . There were significant drug effects with THC : less ability to concentrate ( P < 0.01 ) , less social interaction ( P < 0.05 ) , and less activity ( P < 0.05 ) . There were no significant differences between the two drugs in the level of food intake or appetite .  Patients of all ages did equally well on both drugs . Neither past marijuana use nor past Compazine use were related to study drug efficacy . Those patients who correctly identified their THC cycle did better on THC versus those who could not correctly identify which antiemetic they had received ( P < 0.05 ) . There were more drug‐related effects associated with THC , but these did not reduce the patients ' preference for the drug , and were associated with nausea reduction ( P < 0.05 )
Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with cannabinoids but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials .
There was an increased risk of short-term AEs with cannabinoids , including serious AEs .
Common AEs included dizziness , dry mouth , nausea , fatigue , somnolence , euphoria , vomiting , disorientation , drowsiness , confusion , loss of balance , and hallucination .
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was moderate- quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity .
There was low- quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy , weight gain in HIV infection , sleep disorders , and Tourette syndrome .
Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs
IMPORTANCE Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms , but their efficacy for specific indications is not clear .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the benefits and adverse events ( AEs ) of cannabinoids .