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Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana

Topic Overview

What is medical marijuana and is it legal?

Medical marijuana is the use of this drug to help treat symptoms like pain, nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite. It may be used by people who have cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, or other conditions.

It's against federal law to possess, sell, give away, or grow marijuana for any purpose. It's also against federal law for doctors to prescribe this drug. But more than a dozen states have passed state laws that allow people with certain health problems to buy or grow a limited amount of marijuana for their own use. Some states also allow or license people to provide medical marijuana to those who need it.

If you use medical marijuana to treat approved medical conditions, the federal government might not prosecute you. But there's no guarantee that they won't.


What do the experts say?


Some medical experts don't recommend marijuana because:

  • It hasn't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
  • Marijuana smoke, like cigarette smoke, can harm your lungs.
  • Marijuana can harm your memory, judgment, and ability to process information. That can affect your ability to do things like driving a car or studying.
  • There are other legal drugs that may work just as well, such as new kinds of pain and nausea medicines.

Other medical experts sometimes do recommend marijuana because:


Be sure to let your doctor know if you are using medical marijuana. If you're pregnant, it's best to avoid alcohol and drugs, including marijuana.

How do you use medical marijuana?

Marijuana is usually smoked. It can also be brewed into tea, vaporized, applied to the skin, or eaten—usually mixed into food recipes.

Your mood, behavior, and ability to function may be affected for hours after you take marijuana. How quickly you feel the effects of marijuana—and how long the effects last—depends on:

  • How much you've taken.
  • How you've taken it.
  • The kind of marijuana you use.
  • How your own body is affected by it.

Side effects include dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, and red eyes.

Is it addictive?


If you've been using marijuana regularly and then quit, you may have withdrawal symptoms. These may include:

  • Anxiety.
  • Trouble sleeping.
  • Craving marijuana.

Are there alternatives to medical marijuana?




Is synthetic marijuana safe?

Synthetic marijuana, or synthetic cannabinoids, are sold as substances having effects like those of marijuana. These drugs, sold in the form of bath salts or incense, are made in labs and have many names, such as K2 or Spice. Even though they are labeled "not for human consumption," people are more likely to try them since they are easily bought in stores and online and can't be detected by drug screenings. Also, people think they will feel the same as when they use marijuana. But these drugs are stronger than marijuana, and they are not safer than marijuana. Some people have reported severe symptoms, such as:

  • Faster heart rate and higher blood pressure.
  • Agitation or anxiety.
  • Vomiting.
  • Increased paranoia.
  • Hallucinations.
  • Seizures.


Other Works Consulted

  • American Lung Association (2011). Health hazards of smoking marijuana. Available online:
  • National Cancer Institute (2011). Cannabis and Cannabinoids PDQ: Human/Clinical Studies. Available online:
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (2010). Marijuana. NIDA InfoFacts. Available online:


By Healthwise Staff
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Michael Seth Rabin, MD - Medical Oncology
Last Revised September 11, 2013



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