The CEJ Medical marijuana remains a contentious subject despite its growing use. In November of 2013, the American Medical Association released a statement that “cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a public health concern,” however, the AMA still encourages continued research of marijuana and potential medical uses (Sabet 2013). Current legislation approves the use of marijuana for the treatment of various disorders, including seizures, severe nausea, and glaucoma. Additionally, particular success has been cited in the use of marijuana as a palliative agent for patients undergoing cancer treatment (Brisbois et al 2011). However, given these treatment recommendations, the FDA has still not approved marijuana as a safe and effective drug for any indication. The agency has, however, approved two drugs containing a synthetic version of a substance that is present in the marijuana plant and one other drug containing a synthetic substance that acts similarly to compounds from marijuana but is not present in marijuana (FDA). Conclusion: Marijuana use within the general population is becoming more common with each passing year. Its use is associated with a number of significant health risks, but it may also have some practical medical applications. Much research is still needed to gain a better understanding of the exact mechanisms at play. In the meantime, dental and medical providers should educate themselves on the subject to the greatest extent possible in order to provide competent care to their patients who use the drug. References: Arteaga, S. Marijuana and Oral Health. 2015. Crest + Oral-B at dentalcare.com Continuing Education Course. Brisbois TD, de Kock IH, Watanabe SM, Mirhosseini M, Lamoureux DC, Chasen M, MacDonald M, Baracos VE, Wismer WV. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol may palliate altered chemosensory perception in cancer patients: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial. Ann Oncol 2011; 22(9):2086-2093. Budney AJ, Roffman R, Stephens RS, Walker D. Marijuana dependence and its treatment. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2007 Dec;4(1):4-16 Cho CM, Hirsch R, Johnstone S. General and Oral Health implications of Cannabis Use. Aust Dent J. 2005 Jun;50(2):70-4 FDA and Marijuana, referenced 11/20/2016 <http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm421163.htm> Gillison ML, D’Souza G, Westra W, Sugar E, Xiao W, Begum S, Viscidi R. Distinct risk factor profiles for human papillomavirus type 16-positive and human papillomavirus type 16-negative head and neck cancers. . J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008 Mar 19;100(6):407-20 Hasin DS, Saha TD, Kerridge BT, Goldstein RB, Chou SP, Zhang H, Jung J, Pickering RP, Ruan WJ, Smith SM, Huang B, Grant BF. Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the United States Between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015 Dec;72(12):1235-42 Howlett AC, Breivogel CS, Childers SR, Deadwyler SA, Hampson RE, Porrino LJ. Cannabinoid physiology and pharmacology: 30 years of progress. Neuropharmacology. 2004;47 Suppl 1:345-58 Meier MH, Caspi A, Cerdá M, Hancox RJ, Harrington H, Houts R, Poulton R, Ramrakha S, Thomson WM, Moffitt TE. Associations Between Cannabis Use and Physical Health Problems in Early Midlife: A Longitudinal Comparison of Persistent Cannabis vs Tobacco Users. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016 Jul 1;73(7):731-40. Okaneku J, Vearrier D, McKeever RG, LaSala GS, Greenberg MI. Change in perceived risk associated with marijuana use in the United States from 2002 to 2012. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2015 Mar;53(3):151-5. Sabet K. American Medical Association Opposes Marijuana Legalization; Support Health-First Approach to Marijuana Use. American Medical Association. In Featured, Legalization, Marijuana in media, Project SAM, Smart Policy. Posted Nov 19, 2013://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.1002/j.1552-4604.2002.tb06005.x/full Schrot, RJ. Hubbard, JR. Cannabinoids: Medical Implications. Ann Med. 2016;48(3):128-41. Sidney, S. Cardiovascular Consequences of Marijuana Use. J Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Nov;42(11 Suppl):64S-70S.
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