Overview
- The JAMA team assessed more than 2,500 studies published from 2010 through September 2025, prioritizing over 120 for detailed evaluation.
- Demonstrated benefits were limited to specific FDA‑approved cannabinoid drugs for chemotherapy-induced nausea, HIV/AIDS-related appetite loss, and certain severe pediatric seizure disorders.
- Roughly 29% to 30% of medical cannabis users met criteria for cannabis use disorder, and adolescent studies linked high‑potency products to higher rates of psychotic symptoms and generalized anxiety.
- Daily use—especially inhaled or high‑potency products—was associated with increased risks of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke compared with non‑daily use.
- The authors advise clinicians to screen for cardiovascular disease and psychotic disorders and note limitations such as the lack of a formal risk‑of‑bias assessment and the review not being fully systematic.