Interesting stuff, and a very good write up, Cort. Thanks for that.
Good to see somebody in the medical establishment standing up for the medical benefits of cannabis.
I do have to nitpick two points from Clauw about it though.
Firstly, the risks of serious lung disease from smoked cannabinoids is more-or-less statistically nil.
"Our results may have been affected by selection bias or error in measuring lifetime exposure and confounder histories; but they suggest that the association of these cancers [of the mouth, throat and airways] with marijuana, even long-term or heavy use, is not strong and may be below practically detectable limits."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17035389
"Given the consistently reported absence of an association between use of marijuana and abnormal diffusing capacity or signs of macroscopic emphysema, we can be close to concluding that smoking marijuana by itself does not lead to COPD."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19364782
Nonetheless, there are unquestionably much safer methods of delivery, particularly tincture (applied sub-lingual or dermal), and inhaling vapourised canabinoids.
Secondly, it is true that there is a statistical risk of developing schizophrenia associated with using cannabis before about 18-20 years of age. But as I understand it, it is also true that the risk is quite small, and really only applies to the section of the teenage population already at risk for developing schizophrenia. (Which is not to downplay the potentially serious consequences of developing the disorder.)