Page 255

medications for efficacy and safety considerations. There might be some patient populations for whom the inhalation route might offer advantages over the currently available capsule formulation. Smoking plant material poses difficulties in standardizing testing paradigms, and components of the smoke are hazardous, especially in the immunocompromised patient. Therefore, the experts generally favored the development of alternative dosage forms, including an inhaler dosage form into which a controlled unit dose of THC could be placed and volatilized.

World Health Organization

Not discussed in the context of medical use, although many health hazards associated with chronic marijuana smoking are noted.

Drug Development

Health Council of the Netherlands

Not discussed.

AMA House of Delegates

The National Institutes of Health should use its resources to support the development of a smoke-free inhaled delivery system for marijuana or THC to reduce the health hazards associated with the combustion and inhalation of marijuana.

British Medical Association

Pharmaceutical companies should undertake basic laboratory investigations and develop novel cannabinoid analogs that may lead to new clinical uses.

National Institutes of Health

NIH should use its resources and influence to rapidly develop a smoke-free inhaled delivery system for marijuana or THC. A recommendation was made for the development of insufflation/inhalation devices or dosage forms capable of delivering purer THC or cannabinoids to the lungs free of dangerous combustion byproducts.

World Health Organization

Not discussed.