Minnesota Doctors Not Sold on Marijuana

January 18, 2016 / Thomas Cohn, MD

The Minnesota medical community is, according to January 12, 2016 article in the Star Tribune, not sold on medical marijuana. In reality, this is not very surprising. There are probably many reasons, but the most obvious reason is the idea that medical professionals like to base all their care on a scientific basis. From taking a history, to performing an exam and determining the tests and treatment, medicine is more of a science and depends on evidence for diagnosis and treatment of problems. If there is not evidence to support a treatment, medical professionals are trained to be skeptical of its use and purpose. Currently, medical marijuana definitely falls into this category.

Most important to the debate on medical marijuana is that there is very limited scientific research supporting many of the claims of usefulness. The research with regards to the management of most medical problems is related to a few small studies, and there are hardly any definitive studies that show significant positive value, and the study designs are often not blinded/controlled with any large number of participants. For pain management there is mostly incidental case report-type studies without mentioning which specific cannaboids are effective. Since cannabis plants contain over 100 different cannaboids and other compounds, using so many chemicals at once in a relative uncontrolled mixture is not a scientific approach to treatment. In a way it is like throwing a grenade at a problem and hoping everything does not blow up in your face.

Fixing The Marijuana Issues

The proponents of medical marijuana often bring to the table multiple examples of the wonderful help that various individuals have experienced with its use. However these are individual cases, and not necessarily what will occur with every individual. When a new drug is brought to market, we all want to have extensive testing performed to make sure it is safe, to ensure it performs correctly and that the same effect will occur each time it is taken. With medical marijuana we do not know most of these things. We have no idea what exactly is in the extracts, and we have no studies on how animals or humans will react to the compounds over time. Any other drug besides marijuana with this lack of scientific research would never even be considered to be used widely as an intervention. It is not surprising most medical professionals have a huge degree of skepticism about certifying patients to use medical marijuana and endorsing treatment.

In pain management there are many treatments available that have been shown to be reasonably effective. A pain management expert often can help a person through the maze of management options and help find an effective plan. There are a portion of patients with extremely complex problems without great solutions to control symptoms at this time. Failure of standard treatments may be a reason to want to try medical marijuana. Those who do go this route need to know at this time it should be considered truly an experimental treatment, and that the short and long term side effects and problems are not really known. There are a huge number cannaboids contained in medical marijuana, and while some may be helpful, others can be harmful. It may be a significant risk to use these compounds and until they are better studied and understood, and it is unlikely that the medical field will endorse such treatment without serious reservation.

The Health Conditions For Medical Marijuana in Minnesota

November 19, 2014 / Thomas Cohn, MD

As Minnesota moves toward the end of 2014, the medical marijuana laws are starting to take effect. Minnesota’s laws have very strict rules with regards to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. It is restricted to only certain conditions and only two forms will be available; Pill or oil for vaporization.

Health care practitioners will have a limited role in the Minnesota medical marijuana program. Patients will be strictly controlled and monitored, and only limited conditions have been approved for treatment. Furthermore, all medical marijuana will be controlled and distributed only through specific state controlled distribution sites.

Medical Conditions For Marijuana in Minnesota

Minnesota has legalized cannabis for only seven medical conditions. The conditions are cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, Tourette’s syndrome, ALS, epilepsy and Crohn’s disease. Medical marijuana is also available to individuals with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than a year who are experiencing pain, suffering, nausea or wasting. The Department of Health can add new medical conditions to the list, but the Minnesota legislature has the power to veto any additions. The first condition that should be added before any other condition is intractable pain. The Commissioner of Health would need to provide a report to the legislature on the reasons why it would qualify for cannabis use in order to add chronic or intractable pain to the list of approved conditions.

Medical providers in Minnesota are not required to participate in the marijuana program. However, a provider who does participate has multiple responsibilities under the law. A participating provider who certifies a patient must continue to follow the patient once they start the program. A patient cannot have a casual relationship with the provider; they must undergo a comprehensive evaluation, including history and physical exam, development of a treatment strategy, determination of a qualifying condition, and be counseled on the risks and benefits of medical marijuana, knowing full-well that this is an experimental treatment. The patient must give informed consent to all aspects of management and be followed regularly to determine if the treatment is effective. Furthermore, their medical records must be shared for research and tracking purposes with the Department of Health. The patient must be re-certified for the program annually.

Medical Marijuana Dosage

The cannabis derivative and dose will be determined by the pharmacists that are associated with the program. They will provide instructions to the distribution centers on the cannabis type and dose to be delivered. The pharmacists with the Department of Health will also be in charge of evaluating data on the forms of medical marijuana available, and the study of the patients and their response to treatment, as well as reviewing the existing scientific data on cannabis.

The program planned for medical marijuana in Minnesota will be a very rigid, structured program for the use of this compound. It is designed to limit the inappropriate use of marijuana for recreational enjoyment. It is also meant to use cannabis as a medication, and to study the patients and its effectiveness in a comprehensive management environment. Hopefully, the program can be implemented and be effective. For now, until more scientific evidence becomes available, chronic pain will not be included in Minnesota’s program.