Abstract: The legalization of cannabis for medical use in California in 1996 has induced thousands of patients to seek physician approval for self-adopted treatment strategies. In the same period, legal pressure from the federal government has constrained many physicians from formally recommending cannabis for the treatment of conditions other than AIDS and cancer. The author's willingness to take patients at their word and to risk governmental scrutiny has made him the "doctor of last resort" for those seeking to use cannabis legally as a medication. The result is a unique set of data based on interviews with more than 3,000 patients.
Total Patients: 3000
| Analgesic Immunomodulator | 1316 |
| Antispasmodic/Anticonvulsant | 680 |
| Appetite Stimulant | 31 |
| Harm Reduction/Substitute | 126 |
| Psychotherapeutic | 847 |
Harm Reduction: 126
| Alcohol | 104 |
| Amphetamine | 6 |
| Cocaine | 2 |
| Opiate | 9 |
| Tobacco | 3 |
| Unspecified | 2 |
Psychotherapeutic: 847
| Antidepressant | 369 |
| Anxiolytic | 478 |
Psychiatric Conditions: 781
| Bipolar | 71 |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | 263 |
| Depression | 307 |
| Anxiety | 140 |
Age:
| 1 to 10 | 1 |
| 11 to 20 | 68 |
| 21 to 30 | 826 |
| 31 to 40 | 697 |
| 41 to 50 | 791 |
| 51 to 60 | 504 |
| 61 to 70 | 83 |
| 71 to 80 | 22 |
| 81 to 90 | 7 |
| 91 to 100 | 1 |
..................................Male:
2207 ..........Female: 793
| Analgesic Immunomodulator | 1006 | 310 |
| Antispasmodic/Anticonvulsant | 505 | 175 |
| Appetite Stimulant | 16 | 15 |
| Harm Reduction/Substitute | 110 | 16 |
| Psychotherapeutic | 570 | 277 |
Total: 3000
| Seeking freedom from State prosecution | 3000 |
(c)2000 Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
The above is a summary of an oral presentation at:
The First National Clinical Conference
On Cannabis Therapeutics, Iowa City, Iowa
April 7, 2000
