New Review Concludes There is “Insufficient” Evidence for Medical Use of Cannabis
A recent review of over a thousand studies on cannabis and cannabinoids has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support their use for most medical purposes. The review, published in the JAMA Network, found that while there is some evidence supporting the use of cannabis and cannabinoids for specific medical conditions, the evidence is limited and not strong enough to support its use for most medical treatments.
The review’s lead author, Dr. Kevin Hill, director of addiction psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard University, stated that “beyond the FDA-approved indications, the evidence for cannabis and cannabinoids as a medical treatment is limited.” Hill noted that while some patients may experience benefits from using cannabis and cannabinoids, the risks may outweigh the benefits for most individuals.
The review found that 27% of adults in the US and Canada have used cannabis for medical purposes, while 10.5% of Americans report using cannabidiol (CBD) for therapeutic purposes. However, Hill emphasized that “the evidence is not strong” for the use of cannabis and cannabinoids medically, and that doctors should approach the issue with caution.
The review also highlighted the potential risks associated with cannabis use, including the development of a cannabis use disorder, which affects almost a third of adult users, and increased risks of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke for daily inhaled cannabis users.
Other experts weighed in on the review’s findings, with some expressing concerns about the lack of evidence supporting the use of cannabis and cannabinoids for medical purposes. Jonathan Caulkins, a professor of operations research and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, noted that while there is some high-quality evidence supporting certain specific medical uses, most medical use is based on a much weaker evidentiary basis.
Yasmin Hurd, chair of translational neuroscience and director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai, emphasized that the findings confirm what has been previously published, and that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of cannabis for most medical conditions.
The review’s findings have sparked debate about the use of cannabis and cannabinoids for medical purposes, with some experts calling for more research and caution in their use. As the debate continues, it is clear that more information is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of cannabis and cannabinoids for medical treatment. I smoke for stress relief and to help me sleep. Smoking cannabis helps me with sleeping, stress relief, and task focus. How about you?
