A High Level Review of Medical Marijuana

This article isn ’t going to change your practice. Why am I reviewingBraun et al. ’s survey regarding oncologists’ beliefs, practices, and knowledge regarding medical marijuana use? 1. I went to a Willie Nelson concert and my clothes still reek of marijuana; 2. One of my palliative care fellows is interested in understanding Palliative Care clinicians ’ educational needs regarding marijuana; 3. I visited a dispensary in Pennsylvania where I was told medical marijuana treats diseases ranging from opioid addiction to headaches to nausea and vomiting (in pregnant woman). This annoyed me and I wanted to see what other doctors thought.First, a caveat, I have provided medical care for HIV positive patients for over 25 years and I view recreational marijuana use like recreational alcohol use, something that is a personal choice and of minimal risk. I am not sure of marijuana ’s medicinal effects (I believe the data is very poor) and I think in moderation it is safe.When Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana, I signed up and of the roughly 25% of the patients I see in my oncology palliative care practice are referred by oncologists for medical marijuana. Everyone asks me about medical marijuana – from the administrative assistants to my colleagues and oncologists. I therefore was quite interested to learn whatBraun et al. had discovered regarding oncologists ’ beliefs, practices, and knowledge about therapeutic marijuana use. (1) They surveyed a nationally representa...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - Category: Palliative Care Tags: arnold marijuana oncology physician Source Type: blogs