The latter condition afflicts primarily elderly persons. Last week, the journal Nature reported that the human body produces cannabis-like substances to control pain. Many patients who try the drug, however, find that it makes them ill or they cannot keep the pill down. Instead, they revert to the use of marijuana. Of course, in those jurisdictions where marijuana use is illegal, to obtain the substance patients are forced to bargain with illicit drug dealers and face the threat of criminal prosecution.
Most scientists agree that further studies on the efficacy of marijuana are warranted.
There is less consensus on whether marijuana smoking studies should be conducted. Some scientists say that because persons will smoke marijuana despite laws against it, the studies should be conducted. Others question the uncertain chemical content in marijuana and cite safety concerns. The Institute of Medicine now has funding to hold a series of information-gathering meetings on the medicinal value of marijuana, and the National Academy of Sciences is charged with assessing the science. It remains to be seen whether marijuana will someday be added to the list of tools physicians have available to them in the management of pain.