"...potential dangerous adverse effects from smoking marijuana are well known and should be clearly taught to a public that is often confused by a media-driven, though false message and promise of benign pot consumption."

Front Public Health. 2013 Oct 10;1:42.

Marijuana: Current Concepts†

Greydanus DE¹, Hawver EK¹, Greydanus MM¹, Merrick J².

Author information

• ¹Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University School of Medicine , Kalamazoo, MI , USA.
• ²National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , Jerusalem , Israel ; Health Services, Division for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services , Jerusalem , Israel ; Division of Pediatrics, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Mt. Scopus Campus , Jerusalem , Israel ; Kentucky Children's Hospital, University of Kentucky College of Medicine , Lexington, KY , USA.

Abstract

Marijuana (cannabis) remains a controversial drug in the twenty-first century. This paper considers current research on use of Cannabis sativa and its constituents such as the cannabinoids. Topics reviewed include prevalence of cannabis (pot) use, other drugs consumed with pot, the endocannabinoid system, use of medicinal marijuana, medical adverse effects of cannabis, and psychiatric adverse effects of cannabis use. Treatment of cannabis withdrawal and dependence is difficult and remains mainly based on psychological therapy; current research on pharmacologic management of problems related to cannabis consumption is also considered. The potential role of specific cannabinoids for medical benefit will be revealed as the twenty-first century matures. However, potential dangerous adverse effects from smoking marijuana are well known and should be clearly taught to a public that is often confused by a media-driven, though false message and promise of benign pot consumption.