These days, it’s hard to miss cannabis dispensaries. In the 40 states (plus D.C.) that have legalized medical marijuana, storefronts and advertisements promote cannabis as a treatment for virtually every condition, from chronic pain to anxiety to (ironically) drug addiction. Many consumers appear persuaded. In one survey, more than a quarter of adults in the United States and Canada have tried cannabis for medical purposes.
But how well-supported are these claims? A new review published in JAMA, which attempted to examine every high-quality study from the last 15 years alongside guidelines from major medical societies, came to a sobering conclusion: For most uses, the evidence was limited or inconclusive. In many cases, medical organizations recommend against using cannabis because the evidence for harm outweighed potential benefits.
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