It has been used to help prevent glaucoma-related blindness and appears effective in battling weight loss in AIDS patients. It also has been widely used to mitigate nausea caused by chemotherapy. And 22 states have acted to endorse medicinal marijuana, often either by authorizing state-sponsored research or simply allowing physicians to prescribe it despite federal prohibitions that keep such laws from going into effect. California's Legislature has twice passed laws enabling such use. Both were vetoed by Gov. Pete Wilson, forcing a third attempt in the form of an initiative on the November ballot.
Opponents say the medical value of marijuana is anecdotal.
But those anecdotes number in the thousands and date back thousands of years. Penicillin was approved for use with far less experience and data - six patients, to be exact. Obviously, studies are needed to better assess marijuana's efficacy. Several, including one done in New York state, have shown marijuana to be an effective alternative to other anti-nausea treatments. And the Food and Drug Administration has endorsed additional research.