One Colorado hospital's experience administering medical marijuana to its patients

Physicians at Children's Hospital Colorado describe in a new paper their institution's experience with providing medical marijuana through a new hospital program. Colorado was one of the first states to pass medical marijuana laws, and the hospital worked with a social worker and pharmacist to establish its medical marijuana program. Nearly 80% of the first 50 patients to receive the drug at the hospital had cancer, the study says, and medical marijuana was used to help alleviate symptoms of nausea, seizures, and pain. But in nearly two-thirds of the patients, medical marijuana use was considered potentially unsafe, and a recommendation against using the drug was made in half of all patients. The authors write that as more states adopt medical marijuana laws, hospitals will have to come up with their own policies to address potential requests from patients and their families.