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Cannabis, 1977
- DONALD P. TASHKIN, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
- JAMES R. SOARES, M.D.;
- ROBERT S. HEPLER, M.D.;
- BERTRAND J. SHAPIRO, M.D., F.A.C.P.; and
- GARY S. RACHELEFSKY, M.D.
Abstract
Recent advances in development of immunoassay methods for marijuana constituents in body fluids provide a rapid means of detection for forensic purposes and a useful research tool for accurate quantitation of dose-response relation. Therapeutic possibilities of cannabis, such as reduction in intraocular pressure and bronchodilatation, may stimulate development of synthetic cannabinoid derivatives that meet acceptable standards of safety and efficacy for treatment of glaucoma and asthma. Cannabis use may have harmful short- and long-term impacts on health. Potentially serious short-term effects include predisposition to angina during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease. Even in healthy subjects, marijuana smoking decreases peak exercise performance, possibly because of its chronotropic effect with achievement of maximum heart rate at reduced work loads. Although no conclusive evidence exists for long-term biologic consequences of chronic cannabis use, preliminary evidence, suggesting impairment in pulmonary function and immune responses, requires further investigation with large-scale epidemiologic studies.
Article and Author Information
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▸An edited transcription of an Interdepartmental Clinical Case Conference arranged by the Department of Medicine of the UCLA School of Medicine; Los Angeles, California.
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▸Authors who wish to cite a section of this conference and specifically indicate its author can use this example for the form of reference:
SOARES JR: Accurate clinical quantitation of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in fluids, p. 540 in TASHKIN DP (moderator): Cannabis, 1977. Ann Intern Med 89:539-549, 1978
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Grant support: Contract HSM 42-71-89 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Donald P. Tashkin, M.D.; Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90024.
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- Received June 7, 1978.
- Accepted July 18, 1978.
- © 1978 American College of Physicians
