Medical marijuana is legal in 36 states and its use has soared in popularity with easier availability and aggressive marketing touting the drug as a panacea for myriad health conditions, although there's scant scientific evidence to support those claims. Now, a new study from Massachusetts General Hospital, looking at users with medical marijuana cards, finds that pot use does not improve the symptoms of people suffering from anxiety, pain, and depression—as many medical marijuana makers promise—and may also lead to the onset of cannabis use disorder (CU), a condition of frequent marijuana use that impairs psychological, physical, or social functioning. According to the study, people seeking cannabis to treat symptoms of anxiety and depression were at the greatest risk of CUD, with symptoms such as difficulty overcoming drug tolerance. Overall, the research revealed that there can be negative consequences to using cannabis for medical purposes. As such, there is a need for stronger safeguards over the dispensing and use of medical cannabis, as well as better guidance to patients around a system that currently allows them to choose their own products, decide their own dosing, and often receive no professional follow-up care.
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Rosenthal Center for AddictIon Studies