Pubdate: Sun, 02 Aug 2015
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2015 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Jonathan Sheldon
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n420/a07.html

Re: "Pot for PTSD isn't anecdotal," July 26 My Turn. Denver

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE NEEDED BEFORE PRESCRIBING POT

Todd Mitchem says the evidence that medical marijuana helps with 
post-traumatic stress disorder isn't anecdotal, but he inadvertently 
makes the case that it is precisely that. The dictionary definition 
of anecdotal is "not necessarily true or reliable, because based on 
personal accounts rather than fact or research."

The opposite approach is the scientific method, in which a hypothesis 
is tested on many people in a way that attempts to eliminate bias in 
both the subject and researcher. It's expensive, time-consuming, 
exacting and largely devoid of the wonderful energetic certainty that 
Mitchem brings to this issue. But it helps those of us with the 
responsibility of prescribing medication adhere to the first 
principle of medical practice. In Latin that's primum non nocere ;in 
English it means "first, do no harm"; and in plain English it means 
don't go experimenting on folks until you have a darn clear idea of 
the risks and benefits, side effects and drug interactions involved.

When the federal government finally eases its restrictions on 
research, we'll begin to understand more about marijuana. In the 
meantime, it is, in fact, all anecdotal.

Jonathan Sheldon, M.D.,
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom