June 16, 2025
With the legalization of medical cannabis—more commonly known as marijuana—in more than three-quarters of states and Washington, DC, articles reporting the drug’s benefits have become easy to find online. But Wei Du, MD, professor and academic chair of psychiatry at the Drexel University College of Medicine and codirector of Drexel’s Cannabis Research Center, cautions against accepting this news at face value.
For one, strict regulatory constraints have limited the amount of high-quality cannabis research, largely preventing scientists like Dr. Du from declaring definitive conclusions about what the drug can and can’t do.
But a major report did find there is enough evidence to say that cannabis can be useful in treating multiple sclerosis and chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, as well as certain types of chronic pain. It also appears that cannabis could help with fibromyalgia and obstructive sleep apnea, although more research is needed.
Interestingly, Dr. Du says there’s not “conclusive evidence” of cannabis being an effective treatment for insomnia or anxiety, which is the number one reason medical cannabis is recommended in Pennsylvania.
If you’re considering medical cannabis, Dr. Du suggests talking with your primary care doctor—especially those allowed to certify medical cannabis—who can help you determine if it’s a good fit for your needs and then, whether it can be used in combination with other medications you’re taking.
Cannabis is also available recreationally locally in New Jersey and Delaware and nationally in nearly half of states and Washington, DC. Researchers believe this increasing accessibility, along with a variety of ways to use cannabis and higher concentrations of THC—the main ingredient responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis—are contributing to a sharp increase in cannabis-related emergency room visits, especially among adolescents.
Barbara Schindler, MD, professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Drexel University College of Medicine and founder and medical director of Drexel Medicine’s Caring Together Program, an outpatient treatment program for women with substance use disorders, says cannabis use in young adolescence is “pretty typical” among the program’s patients.
This “early onset use,” as she describes it, is a risk factor for addiction, as is a history of trauma and a family history of substance use. She says that 10 to 12 percent of the population is also genetically prone to addiction, meaning they’re more likely to suffer from addiction simply because of their genetic makeup.
“These are some of the red flags that can tell us who is more likely to get into difficulty with cannabis,” Dr. Schindler says.
Dr. Du recommends approaching cannabis as you would a prescription medication, starting with talking with someone at a dispensary about the different products and THC concentrations available.
“Cannabis has benefitted a lot of people, but responsible use under the supervision of a physician is the key,” he says.
Determining whether you’re developing a dependence on cannabis can be difficult, Dr. Schindler says. Are you isolating yourself? Struggling to find joy in simple things that once brought you pleasure? Do you have any of the risk factors mentioned above? If you answered yes, you may have developed an addiction.
The perception of cannabis as a dangerous drug has faded with decriminalization. But this can stigmatize the act of seeking help, either for urgent symptoms, like vomiting or feeling paranoid, or a substance use disorder. Cannabis can be harmful. And in these situations, you shouldn’t hesitate to seek help from a medical professional.