Many Supposed Marijuana Health Benefits Aren't What They Seem, Massive New Report Suggests Miles Klee - Tech.Mic
go to original January 20, 2017

According to a sprawling new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine titled "The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research," few of weed's alleged medical effects and health benefits are supported by objective science.

Rather than present new evidence of their own, the authors endeavored to pull together data from more than 10,000 marijuana studies published since 1999 for a comprehensive overview of the drug's effects, a straightforward assessment that has otherwise proved "elusive."

Here's what we know.

Marijuana health benefits and medical uses: The good news

The report concludes that cannabis or cannabinoids are therapeutically effective in "the treatment of chronic pain in adults," dampening nausea and vomiting brought on by chemotherapy and easing symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

There is also "moderate evidence" that weed can be helpful for those who suffer from sleep disturbance brought on by apnea, fibromyalgia, MS and other forms of chronic pain.

Marijuana health benefits and medical uses: The bad news

Every other beneficial thing you've heard marijuana can do? Eh, not so much.

As of this moment, there's little to suggest that weed will soothe your anxiety, Tourette syndrome or post-traumatic stress disorder, or help combat loss of weight or appetite.

It also probably won't do much to help you through a traumatic brain injury, glaucoma or dementia — in fact, the report concludes that what evidence there is in these cases suggests weed is ineffective for such conditions.

And there's pretty much nothing to argue that cannabis can combat cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, schizophrenia, epilepsy, addiction, lateral sclerosis or Huntington's or Parkinson's diseases.

Read the rest at Tech.Mic

Related: Best Weed for Anxiety: All the Strains to Help You Relax, Tune Out and Get Your Chill On (Tech.Mic)

Photo: Lars Hagberg/Getty Images

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