I admit that as a teenager I used marijuana fairly regularly for two
years.  I haven't touched the poison in over nine years.  From time to
time I hear uncorroborated arguments stating, for example, "smoked
marijuana is prescribed by doctors for glaucoma."  etc.  I want
evidence that corroborates or refutes such statements (mainly in the
US; if the US does not prescribe it under any conditions, information
to the contrary for other countries will be appreciated).  Are there
any ***official*** documents, available to the public, in this regard?
 I need info not only for glaucoma, but other purported targets for
treatment, if possible.  That is if it's really out there, which I
highly doubt.
 Thank you.

---

Clarification of Question by musicandmore-ga on 29 May 2004 19:22 PDT

Specifically, I need information about marijuana being prescribed, not
man-made synthetic THC.  Any clinical uses for the natural or
cultivated plant are acceptable.  (I say "natural plant", but I still
hold that it's a poison, just like you have poisonous berries that are
"natural plants")

Not what you asked but there IS research that shows that some users
can later suffer Mental Health problems.

So, beware!

OK, but according to Scripture, losing one's mind is not always a bad
thing.  The apostle Paul states, "When we are out of our minds, it is
for God's sake.  When we are in our right minds, it is for your sake."
 So if you mean to insult those who have gone out of their minds, you
are ridculing all the prophets, Paul, Christ, Isaac Newton and many
others of much greater position in this life (and in God's judgment in
some instances) than your own.  And we will all equally be judged
based on our treatment or Christ and those he sent.

So in your own words, be [careful].

Hi music: I think you are over-reacting to the comment by probono. He
said "later suffer mental health problems" which can be quite
different than out of your mind channelling or receiving revelation
from God. I don't detect any inferene that Paul achieved out of his
mind by substance abuse in that verse.
 A successful soul winner is slow to anger and far less judgemental. I
more or less agree with the inference of the original question. It is
likely that even some widely approved and frequently prescribed drugs
do more harm than good on the average. Marijuana and THC are both
likely in that rather small group of drugs, IMHO.  Neil

Of course I'm not speaking of going out of one's mind under the
influence of marijuana!  I'm talking specifically about the comment
the respondent made.  I wasn't upset over the comment.  I'm merely
commenting on the suggestion that I should, "beware", which seemed to
imply that I might possibly go out of my mind, or am out of my mind. 
To that inference, I have gone out of my mind--on two occassions--but
not towards any evil, rather towards Christ.  The prophets and Paul
and Newton went out of their minds toward good.  I do not relate my
temporary insanity (that's the literal Greek word used in the
aforementioned passage of Scripture) to using marijuana over nine
years ago, which the respondent suggested.  My comment that we will be
judged based on how we treat those who "go out of their minds" for
Christ's sake is perfectly true, and it applies to me, you and
everyone.

***MODERATOR: We are posting these comments under the category of
medicine, and this context is immediately relevant to that subject, as
Christ is the author of medicine, as is documented in Scripture.

It's not legal for doctors to prescribe marijuana in the United
States, though they may legally recommend it.

http://cancer.about.com/cs/sideeffects/a/aa092601a.htm

http://www.maryjanesgarden.com/medical_usage_laws_legalize.php

However, it's legal in the Netherlands and a government agency
supplies the drug to pharmacies.  This was in the news last year.  I
didn't find an explicit statement that a doctor had prescribed it, but
it seems likely from stories like this February 2004 one from the
Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/2004/health/0402/19/a10e-67766.htm

Other news reports:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3196849.stm

http://www.rnw.nl/hotspots/html/can030901.html

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/301/netherlands.shtml

The web site of the Dutch Office of Medicinal Cannabis:

http://www.cannabisbureau.nl/eng/index.html

--efn

There is an abundance of material available online about the medical
benefits of THC.

The Cannabis Reference Library has a link to 1 study specifically
about glaucoma, as well as information about THC use for other
conditions:

http://www.druglibrary.org/crl/

Here is a link to NORML's page for medical marijuana patients.  It
will lead you to many sources of information about specific medical
conditions:

http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4482

Very few marketed pharmaceuticals can match the benign risk/benefit
ratio of THC.  Adverse effects related to smoking can be avoided by
ingesting THC in other ways.