Most of the studies used THC, not marijuana itself, Goldstein says. The grade of pot used in smoking studies was questionable, and many were performed on animals. And, of course, there were anecdotal reports from patients. He recalls one glaucoma patient who said at a public session that she had smoked three to five joints a day for 17 years and both she and her doctor thought it helped her eye condition. It s hard to tell if it did, he says.
People like to think they re being helped, even by sugar pills.
But some doctors who treat AIDS and cancer patients are sure. In her practice, oncologist Marmor sees cancer patients in all stages of illness. One elderly patient with metastatic prostate cancer told me he had smoked, that it took the pain away, she says. I have patients for whom it helps pain and nausea, others who say it makes the nausea that accompanies chemotherapy worse. Marmor, speaking for both herself and the CMA, echoes the call for more research.