Brief Commentary: Advocating for Blunt Policy
Authors: Jan K. Carney
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2019)

Ideas and Opinions15 January 2019Brief Commentary: Advocating for Blunt PolicyJan K. Carney, MD, MPHJan K. Carney, MD, MPHLarner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont (J.K.C.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M18-3167 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Editors' Note: This commentary was selected for publication from among 100 submitted manuscripts in response to a call for readers' perspectives on prescribing or recommending marijuana.States are passing marijuana laws at blistering speed. More than one half of the United States allows medical cannabis, and a few states have legalized recreational use for adults (1). Cannabis use is increasing, and the perception of risk is declining (1). In contrast, the Controlled Substances Act classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug along with heroin and lysergic acid diethylamide, compounds with “no currently accepted medical use” (1). Regulatory hurdles, available funding, ...References1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington, DC: National Academies Pr; 2017. Google Scholar2. Keyhani S, Steigerwald S, Ishida J, Vali M, Cerdá M, Hasin D, et al. Risks and benefits of marijuana use: a national survey of U.S. adults. Ann Intern Med. 2018;169:282-90. [PMID: 30039154]. doi:10.7326/M18-0810 LinkGoogle Scholar3. Hill KP, Saxon AJ. The role of cannabis legalization in the opioid crisis. JAMA Intern Med. 2018;178:679-80. [PMID: 29610836] doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.0254 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Bradford AC, Bradford WD, Abraham A, BagwellAdams G. Association between US state medical cannabis laws and opioid prescribing in the Medicare Part D population. JAMA Intern Med. 2018;178:667-72. [PMID: 29610897] doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.0266 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Nugent SM, Morasco BJ, O'Neil ME, Freeman M, Low A, Kondo K, et al. The effects of cannabis among adults with chronic pain and an overview of general harms: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2017;167:319-31. [PMID: 28806817]. doi:10.7326/M17-0155 LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont (J.K.C.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M18-3167.Corresponding Author: Jan K. Carney, MD, MPH, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Given C342, Burlington, VT 05405; e-mail, jan.[email protected]uvm.edu.Author Contributions: Conception and design: J.K. Carney.Analysis and interpretation of the data: J.K. Carney.Drafting of the article: J.K. Carney.Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: J.K. Carney.Final approval of the article: J.K. Carney.Administrative, technical, or logistic support: J.K. Carney.This article was published at Annals.org on 8 January 2019. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoBrief Commentary: Marijuana Use During Gestation and Lactation—Harmful Until Proved Safe Eli Y. Adashi Brief Commentary: Treating Pain—The Cannabis Conundrum Chester B. Good , Natasha Parekh , Kavita Fischer , James Schuster , Chronis Manolis , and William Shrank Brief Commentary: Consequences of Marijuana—Observations From the Emergency Department Kennon Heard , Andrew A. Monte , and Christopher O. Hoyte Brief Commentary: Cannabinoid Dosing for Chronic Pain Management Kevin F. Boehnke and Daniel J. Clauw Brief Commentary: Marijuana and Cardiovascular Disease—What Should We Tell Patients? Tina M. Kaufman , Sergio Fazio , and Michael D. Shapiro Metrics 15 January 2019Volume 170, Issue 2Page: 121KeywordsCannabisCannabis useDisclosureMarijuanaMedical lawMultiple sclerosisOpioidsPerceptionPregnancyPrevention, policy, and public health ePublished: 8 January 2019 Issue Published: 15 January 2019 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2019 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...