Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-170) and index.

Should marijuana be a medical option? -- Is medical marijuana dangerous? -- Should marijuana use be regulated by the government? -- What are the effects of state medical marijuana laws?

The debate about marijuana as a medicine / Anna Wilde Mathews -- Marijuana has been proven to effectively treat many medical conditions / David Bearman -- Studies show marijuana can be an effective medicine for pain / Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research -- Legalizing medical marijuana is not a good idea / Mark L. Kraus -- Crude marijuana is not a safe or effective medicine / Henry I. Miller -- Overview: the debate about the dangers of medical marijuana / Jill U. Adams -- Marijuana is dangerous for its users and others / U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration -- Marijuana's dangers make it a poor candidate for medicine / National Institute on Drug Abuse -- The objections to medical marijuana's safety are unfounded / Marijuana Policy Project -- Research shows that marijuana is not dangerous / Russ Belville -- Overview: American opinion on marijuana regulation / Gary Langer -- Congress should lift legal restrictions on medical marijuana / Marijuana Policy Project -- Marijuana should be regulated like other prescription medicines / Paul Armentano -- The time is right to abolish federal prohibition of marijuana / Mike Miliard -- State medical marijuana laws / Mark Eddy -- State legalization of medical marijuana has led to misguided local regulation / Travis Kavulla -- Legal medical marijuana has caused problems for local communities / Bill Croke -- The fight against medical marijuana will determine the fate of legalization / Brian Doherty -- Failing to enforce federal marijuana law supports Mexican criminals / John Walters.