F.D.A. Dismisses Medical Benefit From Marijuana - New York Times

F.D.A. Dismisses Medical Benefit From Marijuana - New York Times: "GW Pharmaceutical, a British company, has received F.D.A. approval to test a sprayed extract of marijuana in humans. Called Sativex, the drug is made from marijuana and is approved for sale in Canada. Opponents of efforts to legalize marijuana for medicinal uses suggest that marijuana is a so-called gateway drug that often leads users to try more dangerous drugs and to addiction.

But the Institute of Medicine report concluded there was no evidence that marijuana acted as a gateway to harder drugs. And it said there was no evidence that medical use of marijuana would increase its use among the general population.

Dr. Daniele Piomelli, a professor of pharmacology at the University of California, Irvine, said he had 'never met a scientist who would say that marijuana is either dangerous or useless.'

Studies clearly show that marijuana has some benefits for some patients, Dr. Piomelli said.

'We all agree on that,' he said."