That makes 14 states that have legalized medical marijuana. But as both the WSJ and the New York Times note this morning, research into the medical uses of the drug remains rather limited.
That’s partly due to the fact that it’s not easy for researchers to study the drug, the NYT suggests. The article cites the case of a University of Massachusetts researcher who has been trying for nine years to get federal approval to grow and study marijuana plants but has yet to be allowed to proceed, despite a favorable ruling from the D.E.A.’s administrative judge. (The D.E.A. says it follows the lead of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of NIH.)
So what has research shown about medical uses of marijuana? It appears to help with neuropathic pain, which is caused by certain types of nerve damage, the WSJ says. There’s also evidence to suggest it eases nausea and improves appetite in some types of patients, including people who are getting chemotherapy for cancer. Of the many other possible uses suggested for the drug, evidence is hard to come by, according to the article.
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