Top 17 Hospitals’ Positions on Medical Marijuana

Chart of the top 17 hospitals in the United States, according to the U.S. News and World Report “Honor Roll” for 2011-2012, with their positions on our question: “Should marijuana be a medical option?” Not one hospital provided a pro or con statement.

Rank Hospital “Should marijuana be a medical option?” Statement & Source
1. Johns Hopkins No Position
“We do not have an institutional position on this issue.”
Email to ProCon.org on behalf of Johns Hopkins on May 8, 2012
2. Massachusetts General ? The hospital did not respond to emailed requests for statements on May 15 and May 29, 2012. We could not otherwise find a position.
3. Mayo Clinic Not Clearly Pro or Con
“[R]isks should be taken into account when considering the use of marijuana for medical purposes.”
“Marijuana as Medicine: Consider the Pros and Cons,” Mayo Clinic website (accessed on Aug. 25, 2006)
4. Cleveland Clinic Not Clearly Pro or Con
“Marijuana use and possession is illegal in the state of Ohio. Cleveland Clinic does not recommend the use of illegal substances to treat health conditions.”
Email to ProCon.org, Mar. 1, 2012
5. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center No Position
“We have no stated position.”
Email to ProCon.org on behalf of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on May 8, 2012
6. New York Presbyterian
(University Hospital of Columbia & Cornell)
?
“We have no comment at this time.”
Email to ProCon.org on behalf of New-York Presbyterian Hospital on May 30, 2012
7. UCSF Medical Center ? No position found as of July 16, 2012. On June 13, 2012, a hospital spokesperson said she would forward our request for a statement to the medical center. On July 16, 2012 a follow-up email was sent to the spokesperson.
8. Brigham and Women’s Hospital No Position On May 29, 2012 a spokesperson for Brigham and Women’s Hospital advised ProCon.org that the hospital does not have a position on our question “Should marijuana be a medical option?”
9. Duke University Medical Center ?
“We will not be participating.”
Email to ProCon.org on behalf of Duke University Medical Center on May 29, 2012
10. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania No Position
“We have not taken a position on this issue.”
Email to ProCon.org on behalf of Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on May 29, 2012
11. Barnes Jewish Hospital
(Washington University)
? The hospital did not respond to emailed requests for statements on May 15 and May 29, 2012. We could not otherwise find a position.
12. University of Pittsburg Medical Center ? The hospital did not respond to emailed requests for statements on May 15 and May 29, 2012. We could not otherwise find a position.
13. University of Washington Medical Center ?
“We will not be participating.”
Email to ProCon.org on behalf of University of Washington Medical Center on June 1, 2012
14. University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers Not Clearly Pro or Con
“There are many other classes of analgesics and many nonpharmacological therapies that either have greater effectiveness than marijuana or have less side effects, and these treatments should generally be tried prior to using marijuana… Marijuana has a strong potential for abuse and is regulated as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Marijuana appears to have antiemetic and analgesic effects… Marijuana can be harmful to the heart, lungs, brain, endocrine system, and eyes. In particular, inhalation of marijuana can result in impaired lung function…THC and other cannabanoids can be effective analgesics in some individuals. They are probably as potent or weak as moderate strength opioids… patients treated with cannabis experienced improvements in the disturbing symptoms [of multiple sclerosis] including pain and spasticity.”
UMHS Information for Clinicians on the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program”  (50 KB), Mar. 2009, www.med.umich.edu
[Editor’s Note: University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers confirmed its position as “not clearly pro or con” in an email to ProCon.org on May 18, 2012.]
15. Vanderbilt University Medical Center No Position
“We do not have an institutional position on the use of medical marijuana.”
Email to ProCon.org on behalf of Vanderbilt University Medical Center on May 30, 2012
16. Mount Sinai Medical Center ? The hospital did not respond to emailed requests for statements on May 15 and May 29, 2012. We could not otherwise find a position.
17. Stanford Hospital and Clinics ? No position found as of June 22, 2012. On May 15, 2012, a hospital spokesperson said she would look into our request for a statement. On June 13, 2012, the spokesperson said she had not received a response, but would follow up the chain of command again.
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  Hospital “Should marijuana be a medical option?” Statement & Source