Evaluation of the Medical Utility of Marijuana
Possible Role of the NIH in Facilitating Clinical Evaluation of the Medical Utility of Marijuana There are several mechanisms whereby the NIH can facilitate clinical trials with marijuana. Adequate supplies of marijuana of various and consistent strengths and placebos should be made available to investigators. The NIH should consider using its facilities and influence to assure the availability of comparator compounds of cannabis seedsand appropriate placebos (e.g., active and identical placebo amitriptyline tablets to permit a randomized trial versus smoked marijuana/smoked marijuana placebo for the control of neuropathic pain).