Though medical marijuana may be taken via an oral prescription called Marinol, a UC San Diego psychiatrist named Igor Grant is lighting a fire under the *ss of legislators. A researcher for the UC Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research in San Diego (yes, it does exist), Dr. Grant supports smoking marijuana, as opposed to just taking Marinol, for decreasing pain associated with nerve damage, to help abate nausea from chemotherapy and antiretroviral therapy, and to increase appetite for patients suffering from AIDS wasting syndrome.

According to a statement Dr. Grant made to the Los Angeles Times, “Smoking is a very efficient way to deliver THC.”

Stoners have known this for years, but three recent studies have all concluded that smoking weed can mollify pain suffered in association with neuropathic pain in a way similar to other analgesics. Another study showed that amongst 51 multiple sclerosis patients, intensity of spasms was decreased by 32% after smoking up, and pain was reduced by 50%.

So why deal with marijuana if there are other comparable analgesic treatments? Grant believes that because patients do not always respond to certain analgesics, it is vital to permit different treatment options. A spokesman for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Tom Riley, disagrees fervently and said that those seeking the legalization of smoking medical marijuana “want to be exempted from the regular approval process.”

Dr. Grant was awarded the top national award from the National Academy of Neuropsychology, the Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2007. Potheads hoping for the slippery slope effect think he’s pretty dope too.