New UC studies say marijuana has therapeutic value

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New studies from UC San Diego have found that marijuana does have a place in the world of medicine. A report based on findings from five separate clinical trials testing marijuana’s medicinal uses was submitted to the Legislature on Wednesday.

“These findings provide a strong, science-based context in which policymakers and the public can begin discussing the place of cannabis in medical care,’ said Dr. Igor Grant, executive vice chairman of the department of psychiatry at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and director of the school’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. The research was commissioned by the Legislature 11 years ago to test whether or not marijuana did have any medicinal value.

The report said there was “reasonable evidence that cannabis is a promising treatment” for some specific, pain-related medical conditions. It also said marijuana was helpful in reducing spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis.

-- Anthony York in Sacramento