Marijuana helps ease muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis and pain caused by certain neurological illnesses or spinal cord injuries, says a report released Wednesday by the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California, San Diego.
The document includes the findings of five studies that included participants who were randomly selected to receive either marijuana or placebos, the Associated Press reported.
"There is good evidence now that cannabinoids may be either an adjunct or a first-line treatment," psychiatrist Igor Grant, the director of the research center, said at a press conference where he presented the study results.
The California Legislature created the center in 2000 to investigate claims about the effectiveness of medical marijuana. California is the only state to sponsor such research, the AP reported.