Q: I’ve heard that there’s some benefit in using marijuana to treat eye disease. Is this true?
A: There have been earnest studies about the possible eye-pressure lowering effect from marijuana to help one specific eye disease, glaucoma. According to the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, the clinical utility of marijuana for the treatment of glaucoma is limited by the inability to separate the potential clinical action from the undesirable neuropsychological and behavioural effects. The Society does not support the medical use of marijuana for the treatment of glaucoma due to the short duration of action, the incidence of undesirable psychotropic and other systemic side effects and the absence of scientific evidence showing a beneficial effect on the course of the disease. In short, treatment with specific eye drops or surgery is far safer and more effective.