Library of congress cataloging in publication data marijuana and medicine assessing the science base janet e joy stanley j watson jr and john a benson jr editors division of neuroscience and behavioral health institute of medicine. In response to public pressure to allow the medical use of marijuana the office of national drug control policy washington dc funded a study by the institute of medicine evaluating the scientific evidence for benefits and risks of using marijuana as a medicine the report used scientific reviews . Evaluation of any conclusions on the medical use of marijuana and its science base included the efficacy and side effects of various delivery systems for marijuana compared with existing medications the costs of various forms of marijuana were compared with costs of effective approved medications for glaucoma wasting syndrome pain nausea or other symptoms it was also important to . The book helps the reader understand not only what science has to say about medical marijuana but also the logic behind the scientific conclusions marijuana and medicine addresses the science base and the therapeutic effects of marijuana use for medical conditions such as glaucoma and multiple sclerosis