Comment on 'Health aspects of cannabis: revisited' (Hollister)

Twelve years ago Leo Hollister (1986) published a review on health aspects of cannabis which can truly be called a 'classic'. In a field where emotions, prejudices and personal preferences frequently supplant objectivity, Hollister drew a picture not only solidly based on clinical studies - some of which came from his laboratory - but also on his thorough knowledge of drug dependence and medicine and on his common sense. For over a decade, at meetings, 'Hollister says' meant his 1986 review. He has now revisited the field, again demonstrating his mastery of the topic. In the 1986 review a portion was devoted to therapeutic uses. This aspect has not been revisited now, which we can only regret. I certainly would have liked to hear what he has to say on the debate on 'medical marijuana', on the clinical advantages of marijuana versus THC (or vice versa), and on specific issues such as the use of marijuana in multiple sclerosis, which is widely used by patients. Such a use is not supported in the US by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, while in the UK, the British Medical Association strongly recommends 'carefully controlled trials of cannabinoids in patients with chronic spastic disorders which have not responded to other drugs'. Such trials merit a high priority (British Medical Association, 1997).