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Addiction is a very complex subject, but suffice it to say that it is a separate physical brain disease, and people who have it are no more likely to use cannabis as their drug of choice than another drug, such as alcohol. While cannabis can potentially cause mild physical dependence, it is very uncommon. Cannabis withdrawal is much more of a concern for people using cannabis recreationally, not medically.

As with any medication, there are some people in whom cannabis is contraindicated such as schizophrenics, or people with a history of psychosis. It is not prescribed to patients with these conditions.

Inhaling smoke of any kind is unhealthy. That is why smoking cannabis is never recommended in medicinal cannabis therapy. There are now other options, such as vaporization, and oral ingestion in a variety of forms.

With people dying daily of opiate overdose and complications, medical cannabis presents a powerful weapon in the war on opiates.

At the cannabinoid clinic where I work, we have successfully weaned many patients with chronic pain and inflammatory conditions off opiates entirely, or drastically reduced their daily intake to safer levels. As an experienced physician, I will categorically state that the medicinal ingredients in cannabis are the safest known to medicine.

As a physician, I consider myself a scientist, and would never prescribe or endorse any therapy for which I did not feel there was adequate evidence. I have seen no effort on the part of the press or professional associations such as the ACFP to critically and honestly examine this issue.

And that truly is a shame.

James Moir is an Edmonton MD with subspecialty training and clinical experience in anesthesiology and pain medicine. He has experience in perioperative medicine and training in cannabinoid medicine.