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 .
Efficacy of tetrahydrocannabinol in patients refractory to standard antiemetic therapy
Summary Oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) , 15 mg/m2 , was compared to prochlorperazine ( PCZ ) , 10 mg . for the control of cancer chemotherapy-related emesis .  Thirty-six patients whose vomiting was refractory to st and ard antiemetic therapy  were entered in this r and omized comparative cross-over study . THC decreased nausea and vomiting in 23 of 36 ( 64 % ) patients compared to 1 of 36 receiving PCZ . THC efficacy was not dependent on the class of antineoplastic-agent inducing the emetic symptoms , age of patients or type of sensorial change experienced . Using the 15 mg/m2 dose , all patients experienced transient sensorial changes , characterized as a pleasant “ high ” in 19 or a variable state of dysphoria in 17 cases . This study confirms the usefulness of THC in patients whose chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is refractory to other st and ard antiemetics . While excellent antiemetic control was achieved at the dosage 15 mg/m2 , dysphoria was encountered at this dose level and we recommend that an initial dose of 5 mg/m2 which , if necessary , can be carefully increased to achieve maximum antiemetic benefit
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 .