Marijuana’s benefits for treating pain subject of UCSD report

Researchers at the University of California’s San Diego-based Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research presented a report to the state Legislature Wednesday that concludes marijuana has a therapeutic value in treating pain.

Following five clinical trials, the researchers found there is “reasonable evidence that cannabis is a promising treatment” for some specific, pain-related medical conditions.

“We focused on illnesses where current medical treatment does not provide adequate relief or coverage of symptoms” said Dr. Igor Grant, the center’s director and executive vice chair of UCSD’s Department of Psychiatry.

“These findings provide a strong, science-based context in which policymakers and the public can begin discussing the place of cannabis in medical care,” Grant said...