Cannabis as Medicine
A Clinician's Guide
For centuries, cannabis has been used across cultures as a therapeutic medicine. Once accepted in 19th-century medicine, its use declined with the rise of standardized pharmaceuticals. Only in the modern era — following the discovery of THC in 1964 — have its pharmacological effects begun to be understood in depth.
Today, despite mounting evidence, cannabis-based medicines remain underutilized, often obscured by regulatory barriers. Yet cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids found in Cannabis sativa L. offer real potential to help patients living with chronic pain, inflammatory conditions, neurological disorders, and other debilitating illnesses.
As legalization expands, clinicians urgently need a reliable, science-based guide to prescribing medical cannabis. This book delivers exactly that: a structured overview of cannabis science and its application in practice, complete with practical tools for dosing, formulation, and patient guidance.
Inside you'll find:
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A clear overview of cannabis botany, biochemistry, and the endocannabinoid system
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Guidance on cannabis use in conditions such as cancer, diabetes, mental health disorders, insomnia, pain, migraines, and arthritis
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Evidence on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, plus insights into dosing and formulation
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Research on treatment plans, drug-cannabis interactions, and safe delivery systems (vapes, edibles, creams, suppositories)
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Appendices including a glossary of cannabis vocabulary, patient guides, recipes, and even insights on cannabis for pets
My own contribution, Chapter 13: Achieving and Sustaining Precision Effects — Understanding and Prescribing Cannabis Chemotypes, focuses on how clinicians can move beyond general dosing to tailor therapies using chemotype-based strategies. This precision approach helps practitioners match cannabinoid ratios and profiles to patient-specific needs, improving both safety and outcomes.
Why It Matters: As cannabis moves into mainstream medicine, clinicians cannot rely on anecdote or hype. Cannabis: A Clinician’s Guide provides the scientific foundation and clinical tools needed to make informed, responsible prescribing decisions. It bridges the gap between traditional uses of cannabis and the demands of modern evidence-based practice.
Whether you are a physician, nurse, pharmacist, or allied health professional, this book equips you with practical knowledge to guide your patients safely and effectively. It’s also a valuable reference for students and researchers seeking to deepen their understanding of cannabis in clinical care.
Published by CRC Press (2019)
Edited by Betty Wedman-St. Louis
Hardback ISBN: 978-0-367-15054-9
Page Count: 332
Price: $66.00