The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved cannabis as a safe and effective drug for any disease or condition.
However, the FDA has approved one cannabis-derived and three cannabis-related drug products, which are available only with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. The FDA approved Epidiolex, which contains a purified form of CBD, for the safe and effective treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome when used as intended. The FDA also approved Marinol and Syndros that contain dronabinol, and Cesamet that contains nabilone, both of which are synthetic forms of THC, for the treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss in AIDS patients (FDA).
Aside from these drugs listed above, there are no other FDA-approved cannabis drug products or therapeutic uses, despite widespread marketing of products asserting to contain CBD or to have other therapeutic uses. Use of products that have not been subject to the FDA drug approval process may put patients at risk, as these have not been evaluated for their effectiveness, proper dosage, drug-drug interactions, side effects, or other safety concerns.
The majority of cannabis use in the US and LAC is recreational use (CNA 2022). However, cannabis used for both recreational and medical purposes are essentially the same. Some users may try to select specific strains of cannabis that typically have higher or lower THC or CBD content for their intended use purposes.
In 2003, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) established the Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) Program to assist patients in accessing cannabis for potential medical use.
Before passage of Prop 64, MMIC cardholders were allowed to possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis or 8 grams of marijuana concentrates, or grow up to 6 plants for medical use. Patients diagnosed with eligible medical conditions and recommended by their physicians to use marijuana can apply for a MMIC from their county. Eligible medical conditions include chronic pain, cancer, AIDS, epilepsy, migraine, glaucoma, arthritis, and any chronic medical symptom that causes serious harm or limits the ability to carry out major life activities if not alleviated. Further, doctors can recommend any amount needed for the patients’ conditions. Thus, this loose definition allowed for many people to obtain marijuana and obtain large quantities of marijuana.
After Prop 64, many people continue to apply for MMIC even though they can legally possess and grow marijuana because of several advantages. Compared to recreational marijuana users, patients who use marijuana for potential medical purposes are allowed to possess larger amounts (up to 8 ounces), cultivate more plants (up to 6 mature or 12 immature plants), and are exempt from paying marijuana sales and use taxes (CDPH 2017).
In 2018, among adults 18 or older who used marijuana in the past year, 31.3% had reported having a MMIC in LAC.
From FY0708 through FY2325, CDPH has issued 13,858 (13% of California) new MMIC to LAC residents. The number of new applications for MMIC decreased from FY1718 (Figure 1).
In LAC in 2018, among past year users, older adults aged 65+ (40.2%) were the most likely to have a MMIC, followed by those aged 60-64 (38.6%) and those aged 50-59 (35.7%) (Figure 2).
In 2018, among past year cannabis users aged 18+, males (32.3%) were more likely to report having a MMIC than females (29.8%) (Figure 3).
In 2018 in LAC, among past year cannabis users, those who identified as “Other race/ethnicity” (54.9%) were the most likely to hold a MMIC, followed by Blacks (43%), Whites (30.8%), Latinxs (28.8%), and Asians (26.4%) (Figure 4).
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program (MMICP). https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/MMICP-Data-and-Statistics.aspx. Data retrieved on 8/21/2024
California Department of Public Health. (2017). Medicinal Use Cannabis. California Cannabis Health Information Initiative. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/DO/letstalkcannabis/CDPH%20Document%20Library/October%202017%20Update/CDPH-Medicinal.pdf
Los Angeles County Health Survey (LACHS). (2018). Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Marijuana Use and Public Perceptions in Los Angeles County: Findings from the 2017 Community Needs Assessment (CNA). Health Outcomes and Data Analytics, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, September 2018. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/public/data-reports-and-briefs.htm?hl
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-including-cannabidiol-cbd