1. Is Marijuana a Medicine? By David C. Nicole F. Henry F. Carson F. By ANNA WILDE MATHEWS

2. Real Life Cases Charlene DeGidio never smoked marijuana, but a year ago, after medications failed to relieve the pain in her legs and feet, a doctor suggested that the Adna, Wash., retiree try the drug

3. Real Life Cases Cont. Ms. DeGidio, 69 years old, bought candy with marijuana mixed in. It worked in easing her neuropathic pain, for which doctors haven't been able to pinpoint a cause, she says. Now, Ms. DeGidio, who had previously tried without success other drugs including Neurontin and lidocaine patches, nibbles marijuana-laced peppermint bars before sleep. "It's not like you're out smoking pot for enjoyment or to get high," says the former social worker, who won't take the drug during the day because she doesn't want to feel disoriented. "It's a medicine."

4. Getting Marijuana Access to Marijuana is becoming increasingly easier No need to go to the Drug dealer on the corner, step right into the new Marijuana dispensary.

5. Legalization “states have been legalizing medical use of marijuana since 1996” “the FDA does not regulate marijuana” Currently 14 states allow the medical use of marijuana

6. States that Allow the Medical Use of Marijuana

7. Dispensary Rules Most dispensaries are run much like pharmacies You can’t even enter the store without a prescription Depending on the prescription employees dispense the correct amount

8. Problems with Dispensing No standard dosing recommendations Varying potency, no standard among dispensaries “I don’t know what to recommend to patients about what to use, how much to use, where to get it,” says Scott Fisherman, chief of pain medicine at the University of California, Davis Medical School Lack of research on the drug’s effectiveness and side affects Employees can’t really recommend what customers should use, Thea Sagen said “she was disappointed to find that the staffers couldn’t say which of the products, with names like Pot ‘o Gold and Blockbuster, might boost her appetite or soothe her anxiety”

9. Benefits Manages neuropathic pain, bolsters appetite, and treats nausea (especially helps with cancer patients) More effective and faster than some prescription drugs, Glen Osaki says “smoking marijuana was more effective and faster than prescription drugs he tried, including one that is a synthetic version of marijuana’s most active ingredient, known as THC”

10. Side Affects Hallucinations, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, panic Loss of concentration Vomiting, upset stomach “an analysis published in the journal Lancet in 2007 tied marijuana use to a higher rate of psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia”