Cannabis Extracts in Medicine: The Promise of Benefits in Seizure Disorders, Cancer and Other Conditions 

by Jeffrey Dach M.D., Elaine A. Moore and Justin Kander

McFarland Health Topics, ISBN-13: 978-0786496631, ISBN-10: 0786496630

Overview

As of December 2014, medicinal cannabis is legal in 23 states where news and medical journals report success stories of people recovering from diverse medical conditions such as epilepsy, cancer and chronic pain.

In states where cannabis remains illegal, users and providers risk arrest and imprisonment. While the United States government has restricted cannabis medical research, advances have been made in Israel, Spain and Italy. One such breakthrough was the discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the brain and immune system. Endogenous cannabinoids are mimicked by THC and CBD, cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, thus accounting for its medicinal effects. Focusing on the biochemical properties, medical benefits and psychological effects of cannabinoids, this book provides an overview of anecdotal case reports, animal studies and clinical trials proposing cannabis for seizure disorder, cancer, chronic pain and other medical conditions.

Book Review

A book review of Cannabis Extracts in Medicine: The Promise of Benefits in Seizure Disorders, Cancer and Other Conditions (Mcfarland Health Topics) will be published in the CHOICE connect June 2016 issue (vol. 5, No 10). CHOICE connect is a publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries. Cannabis Extracts in Medicine is co-authored by Elaine A. Moore, Jeffrey Dach,  and Justin Kander. The following is an excerpt of the review:

Policy makers in states considering legalizing marijuana for medical purposes should read this well-researched book for one side in the debate.  It describes how the biochemical properties of Cannabis sativa provide therapeutic and medical benefits for epilepsy, cancer, and pain and mentions ongoing research in using the plant for other diseases.… The last chapter gives biographies of notable individuals in the movement to make cannabis extract an accepted medical treatment. Includes an appendix of additional resources and citations to numerous peer review sources. 

--N. Kupferberg, Ohio State University

 
Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners.