The good, bad and unknown about marijuana’s health effects

By: 8 years ago

In this Sept. 15, 2015 file photo, marijuana grows at a medical marijuana cultivation center in Albion, Ill. In a report released Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the federal advisory panel took a comprehensive look at what’s known about the benefits and harms of marijuana and is calling for a national effort to learn more about the drug. AP

NEW YORK — A new report concludes that marijuana can almost certainly ease chronic pain and might help some people sleep, but that it’s also likely to raise the risk of getting schizophrenia.

Those are among the conclusions in a big review of past research that was released Thursday by a federal advisory panel.

The experts also called for more studies about marijuana and its chemical cousins.

They said the current lack of scientific information poses a public health risk because patients, health care professionals and policy makers need more evidence to make sound decisions.

In reviewing studies published since 1999, it reached nearly 100 conclusions about potential benefits and risks. TVJ