I have written this review several times. I don’t usually share or write that many negative reviews and I found it more difficult than any others to write. I’m only sharing this review because this is such a “hot” topic nowadays and because I have had some personal experience with marijuana myself.

I know that the use of cannabis is controversial and that is one reason why I wanted to read the book! Also, in the state of Arizona, where I live, recreational marijuana has been legalized, so I thought it would be interesting to see what the medical community thinks I need to know about this drug.

To be fair, I should start by saying that I lean towards natural remedies (herbs, essential oils, CBD, and yes, marijuana) whenever possible to aid in health problems.

The majority of the book focused on medical usage of marijuana and had a very negative slant because of the long-term side effects that they believe marijuana can cause, although more studies have to be done to confirm this theory.

The doctor that wrote the book actually uses cannabis in her practice to treat certain patients with a high level of success.

As someone who has known a lot of people that have suffered from cancer and used medical marijuana, I can say that I was a little offended by the negative viewpoint. They obviously haven't watched someone suffering from a terminal illness because if they had, then they would know that the person will take anything to help them ease the pain.

The stories in the book discussed ailments that marijuana is being used for and the possible side effects it could have to the person using it, but never once did they discuss the alternative pharmaceutical drug prescribed and all the negative side effects that go along with them and the studies that have already been done!! It was very one-sided.

On my soapbox for a minute: I’ve used prescribed pharmaceutical medications for anxiety/depression for years and I’m sure you have seen the commercials where the list of warnings is longer than the benefits of these drugs. So, when my state legalized marijuana, I asked my doctor about it and she advised that there have been studies done that show that marijuana is successful in treating my ailments. So, I gave it a try to see if I could get off the medications. Let me just tell you, if you are taking an antidepressant or antianxiety medication, please know that although your doctor may say that they are not addictive, don’t believe it for a minute!! I went through three months of painful detoxing/withdrawals. After using marijuana gummies with the guidance of my doctor and also seeing a therapist, I am no longer taking prescribed medication nor do I need to use the marijuana gummies anymore. Getting off the prescribed medication was the best thing I ever did because it allowed me to think clearly for the first time in years. Then, everything seemed to make more sense, even therapy worked better because I was able to get to the root cause of my anxiety/depression. I couldn’t do this on the prescribed pharmaceutical medication because my brain was always in a fog, I just didn’t know it. Before long, again with my doctor’s guidance, I began weaning off the gummies!! Now, I don’t need any medication or gummies and can live a normal life. I don’t know what the prescribed medication that I took for so many years will do to my body long-term, only time will tell, but I do know that I didn’t need to take marijuana for very long to get to a better place.

If you read this book, just go in knowing that the majority of the stories show the very worst-case scenarios. That being said, I’m sure they are based on facts, but they did say throughout the book that there is a greater need for research before long-term side effects can be understood.

The book does give a plethora of information that can be added to your toolbox if you are researching this method of treatment for your own illness/ailment.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and all thoughts are my own. If you have a medical problem/condition and want to try medical marijuana, please see medical advice.

Interesting information. I would say thorough, but haven't checked their sources. Sounds accurate and some of it a little scary. But overall, for some people, taking in some thc is helpful.

With new states allowing cannabis to be legal this is a pretty good book to have on hand to read. It explains exactly what happens to your brain when you're on cannabis. Fortunately, Siegel and Starbuck focus on the medical aspects of cannabis and how it has become more than something for people to get high on.

I found this book to be a fair but critical look at medical cannabis. Ultimately, there is such little research on cannabis as medicine (due to being categorized as a Schedule I drug - which the book touches on multiple times), that it’s hard for the book to say anything definitively. I would recommend this book for patients and doctors who are unfamiliar with cannabis as medicine and need somewhere to start.