Source: MODERN MEDICINE
Contact: Martin M Stevenson, Editor in Chief, 8007363665, 8002254569

VOLUME 65 AUGUST 1997 MODERN MEDICINE

Marijuana offers no advantage over prescription THC

Voth EA, Schwartz RH Medicinal appilcations of delta9
tetrahydrocannabinol and marijuana. Ann Intern Med (May 15)
1997;126:7918

Although its active ingredient, THC, can be useful for treating
chemotherapyinduced nausea and in stimulating appetite, marijuana should
not be reclassified as a prescription drug, according to Voth and Schwartz.
They reviewed studies published between 1975 and '96 on the medicinal use
of crude marijuana and THC.
CHEMOTHERAPYINDUCED NAUSEA. THC was found to be an effective
antiemetic in 12 of 13 analyzable trials.* In one trial,
metoclopramide (Reglan et al) was more effective than THC* In a study
comparing pure THC with smoked marijuana, THC was more effective in
quelling nausea in 35% of patients;