Cannabis in Medicine: State of the Evidence

New Springer book deals with the use of cannabis in medicine and provides an evidence-based approach as well as different perspectives on this controversial issue.

Heidelberg | New York, 06 August 2020

Cannabis is a drug that is illegal in large parts of the world. But the laws have been changing for a few years and more and more countries are starting to legalise hashish and marijuana. The book Cannabis in Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach by pain medicine specialist and editor Dr. Kenneth Finn is a comprehensive compilation of the many facets of cannabis recommendation, use, and effects from a variety of different medical perspectives. 

This edited volume comprises invaluable contributions from medical experts and is dedicated to separate fields of medicine that outline the current data as well as the need for further study. Dr. David W. Murray, Senior fellow at Hudson Institute, where he co-directs the Center for Substance Abuse Policy Research, states in the foreword: “Marijuana use far outstrips the self-reported use of any other ‘illicit’ substance.” Murray concludes that “the full scope of the potential negative effects of increased marijuana use, particularly as accelerated by commercial legalization, is now emerging, and the damage affects many domains of national life”.

Starting with a general overview of the neurobiology and pharmacology of THC and hemp, Cannabis in Medicine covers various medical issues from different disciplines of medicine such as psychiatry, cardiology, as well as gastrointestinal and neurology, and finally addresses non-medical concerns such as public health and safety, driving impairment and legal implications for medical providers.

The book provides clinicians with a concise and evidence-based guide to various health concerns related to the use of marijuana. Since the book also covers non-medical concerns in addition to providing case studies and meta-analyses, it is also a useful resource for professionals working in the public health and legal fields. 

About the editor

Dr. Kenneth Finn, MD is a voluntary clinical instructor for the University of Colorado Medical School in Colorado Springs and has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. He is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Management, and Pain Medicine, and is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Academy of Pain Medicine. He is President-Elect to the American Board of Pain Medicine and since 2001, has been on their Exam Council. He has helped Colorado Medical Society, El Paso County Medical Society, and the Colorado Pain Society develop their position statement on cannabis. He served on the Colorado Governor’s Task Force on Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana for recreational use, Consumer Safety and Social Issues Work Group and served 4 years on Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Scientific Advisory Council. In 2018, he was invited to testify to the Canadian Senate on their marijuana bill and recently, was invited to speak to British Parliament, but cancelled due to COVID.

Kenneth Finn (Ed.)
Cannabis in Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach
2020, 585 p., 39 illus., 32 illus. in color  
Softcover 79,99 € | £69.99 | $99.99 
ISBN 978-3-030-45967-3
eISBN 978-3-030-45968-0