On August 18, 2008 A La Times medical reporter interviewed a group of doctors that were researching the benefits of medical marijuana. Depending on the audience, marijuana is just as dangerous a drug as PCP and heroin and therefore should be kept illegal, or it's a wonder herb that is just bursting with unknown benefits and is being suppressed by the government--or perhaps its a little bit of both: a plant with tremendous benefits as well as drawbacks, yet worth looking into.



As the political campaigning over medical marijuana continues, a small group of scientist are investigating the effects on how inhaled marijuana treats nausea, pain, and muscle spasms

Researchers point out that all drugs come attached with risks--especially the ones located in common household medicine cabinets, like aspirin, pain relievers, and antihistamines such as Benadryl. The thing doctors try to do when it comes to drugs is to balance out the risks against the positives the medicine can do-- so, why not apply the same rules to marijuana, some ask.

The truth, say researchers, is that marijuana has medical benefits that assist with those living with cancer pain, multiple sclerosis, nausea associated with chemo therapy, and chronic pain syndromes. Research has shown that the risks associated with marijuana are real but generally small. Newer medical discoveries of the medicinal benefits of marijuana have been since hindered the research team says.

Dr. Donald Abrams, chief of hematology and oncology at San Francisco General Hospital and professor of clinical medicine at UC San Francisco, says he sees patients experiencing nausea and vomiting from treatment, cancer patients in pain, not eating or sleeping well, and being depressed about their general situation.

Dr. Abrams also is happy that he lives in California where medical marijuana is permitted by state law--this even with federal authorities who continue to raid cannabis dispensaries in California as well as scrutinize Doctors who choose to prescribe marijuana to their patients as a form of therapy.

"I can talk to patients about medicinal cannabis [and] I'm often recommending it to them for these indications," Abrams says.

Medical marijuana use has a history stretching back thousands of years. In those times, the herb was used as medicinal tea in China, a stress remedy in India and a pain reliever for situations like earaches, childbirth and more throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

recently, there have been studies to test the effect on how marijuana treats people with spinal injuries, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and anxiety.