FDA FOCUS: The medical marijuana controversy

In the third of a monthly FDA-focused blog published exclusively by The Pharma Letter, Dr Nicola Davies looks at the case for legalized medical marijuana.

Before its use was prohibited in 1937, marijuana in the form of Cannabis sativa extract was among the top three medications prescribed by doctors. In recent years demand for the legalization of Cannabis sativa as a medication has increased, and many US states – and countries throughout the world – are bowing to the pressure. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a synthetic cannabinoid, dronabinol, under the registered trademark Marinol (marketed by Unimed Pharmaceuticals), but it doesn’t approve herbal cannabis as a medication.

FDA-approved dronabinol is said to have similar effects on cognitive processes, appetite and mood as herbal cannabis. It also has similar psychoactive effects because it replicates tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). So, where do we draw the line when it comes to cannabinoid use? Do advocates of medical marijuana have a sound case? What if legalizing this controlled substance for medicinal use results in an increase in recreational use? To answer these questions, we need to look deeper into the controversy.