Medical Marijuana

Reviewed 06/2020

BASICS

Medical marijuana refers to the use of cannabis or cannabinoids as medical therapy to treat disease or alleviate symptoms.

DESCRIPTION

Marijuana contains >100 phytocannabinoids.
The most activ...

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis relies on careful history taking, collateral information from family and friends, as well as drug screening.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS & INTERPRETATION

THC is lipophilic, thus can be det...

TREATMENT

In order to qualify for medical marijuana in states where it is legal, patients have to fail first- and second-line therapies, including an FDA-approved cannabinoid, and cannot have a substa...

ONGOING CARE

Side effects
- Dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, somnolence, disorientation, drowsiness, confusion, loss of balance, and hallucination
- Acute psychological effects include eupho...

REFERENCES

Moeller KE, Kissack JC, Atayee RS, et al. Clinical interpretation of urine drugs tests. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92(5):774–796.

Whiting PF, Wolff RF, Deshpande S, et al. Cannabinoids for...

ADDITIONAL READING

Donnelly J, Young M. The legalization of medical/recreational marijuana: implications for school health drug education programs. J Sch Health. 2018;88(9):693–698.
Hasin DS. US ...

CODES

ICD10

F12.90 Cannabis use, unspecified, uncomplicated

SNOMED

723949005 Cannabis therapy

CLINICAL PEARLS

There is scant robust clinical evidence supporting benefits of medical marijuana, and little to no evidence that alternate formulations have increased benefits compared to FDA-approved...

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