Medicinal Cannabis

With a background in molecular biology and human genetics, studies in both traditional and natural medicine, and a 15-year medical practice in this area, Malka (private consultant) is particularly well positioned to discuss medicinal cannabis. The book is organized into three parts: the first describes the history of therapeutic cannabis use, its chemistry, and the physiology of its use. This section requires that readers possess a solid background in human physiology and biochemistry. Part 2 includes discussion of various aspects of patient management: potential adverse effects, dosage and delivery options, and developmental variations. One chapter discusses using cannabis to treat common pet ailments. The final, longest part includes 34 short (4–10 page) chapters on using cannabis to treat a diverse array of common mental and physical ailments. In these final, condition-specific chapters, Malka presents case examples from her clinical practice, ending each example with what she terms “clinical pearls.” These passages generally summarize what she learned from the particular example. The book is very well referenced throughout. Health providers who care for a clientele already using or open to trying medicinal cannabis will find this a useful reference. Those without such experience may find the book a challenging read. It will be a welcome addition to any medical library.

–T. D. DeLapp, emerita, University of Alaska Anchorage

Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals.

Deborah Malka, MD, PhD, is a holistic physician with certification in Integrative Holistic Medicine. Prior to clinical practice, Dr. Malka completed her PhD in Human Genetics from Columbia University, and studied both natural and traditional medicine, with degrees from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the Santa Fe College of Natural Medicine. She has been supportive of patient empowerment and alternative medicine throughout her career. She practiced as a primary care physician, directing a holistic medical clinic in Aptos, California, for 15 years. Following this, she specialized in cannabis medical consulting serving over 30,000 patients to date. Her private practice, “Cannabis Plus,” provided medical cannabis evaluations and natural health consulting with offices in Monterey and Santa Cruz, California. She has been committed to educating the public and professionals about medicinal cannabis, teaching at conferences nationally and internationally. She developed and served as faculty director for the first online CME accredited course in Clinical Cannabinoid Medicine sponsored by the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. She currently provides private cannabis medical consultations and natural health guidance for clients from her home office in New Mexico.

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