Clinical Approach to the Heavy Cannabis User in the Age of Medical Marijuana

ABSTRACT

This article begins with a case vignette exemplifying the common clinical problem of heavy marijuana users. The epidemiology and basic science underlying cannabis dependence is outlined, followed by clinical strategies for basing a therapeutic alliance on known research findings and using motivational interviewing to deal with typical patterns of denial.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescence
• cannabis use disorder
• endocannabinoid
• “medical” marijuana
• treatment