NIH News Advisory
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
 Office of the Director
Thursday, Feb. 13, 1997

NIH Scientific Workshop on Possible Medical Uses of Marijuana

In response to the current public health debate about possible medical uses of marijuana, NIH is organizing a scientific workshop to answer the following questions:

  1. What research has been done on the possible medical uses of marijuana?

  2. What are the major scientific questions yet to be answered?

  3. What are the diseases or conditions for which marijuana might have potential as a treatment and that merit further study?

  4. What special issues have to be considered in conducting clinical trials of the therapeutic uses of marijuana?

Presentations will be made by scientists on the existing medical and scientific literature on the therapeutic utility of marijuana. A consultant review group with expertise in such fields as clinical pharmacology, oncology, ophthalmology, infectious diseases, and clinical trials will consider the presentations and other written materials in their deliberations on the four questions. The review group's conclusions will assist the NIH Director in considering actions NIH could take to fund research on the therapeutic potential of marijuana for patients with specific illnesses.

Dates: February 19-20, 1997
Time: Wednesday, Feb. 19 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 20 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: NIH, Natcher Conference Center, Auditorium

** Note to medical news media: There will be a press availability on February 20, from 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Natcher Conference Center.

For additional information, call NIH Office of Communications, 301-496-5787.