Will medical cannabis be legalised in the European Union?

As cannabis is on the rise in demand, EU governments still remain deeply divided in their attitudes to cannabis which is hindering the process of legalisation. Many patients, and even scientists, have pleaded for the use of cannabinoids to treat certain conditions which greatly benefit and improve the symptomologies of pathologies such as cancer pain, depression, sleep and neurological disorders. From this, a few countries have already allowed, or are in the process of allowing, medical cannabis for certain illnesses including the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and France. Some think that legalising cannabis production will be the best option in order to be able to regulate consumption, enable prevention and even create economic opportunities in agriculture.

Will recreational cannabis use be legalised?

Due to the stigma around the cannabis plant, the government is still divided because the people are divided. With appropriate legal framework, the legalisation of recreational use can benefit society by ensuring that safe products are sold to consumers and phase out black markets. In other words, complete legalisation may be the most efficient way to regulate cannabis, not leaving people at the mercy of the black market. A prime example of this is Canada, who have legalised and regulated and have greatly benefited from this decision.

Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/high-time-for-legal-cannabis-in-europe-weed-marijuana-health-care-eu-brussels/

The World Anti-Doping Agency has officially removed cannabidiol from the 2020 list of prohibited substance

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has recently published the new list of prohibited substance for the new year. Even though it still states that all natural and synthetic cannabinoids are banned, cannabidiol (CBD) is an exception. Tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs) are still on the list whether natural or synthetic as it has been thought to cause respiratory illnesses due to vaping. However, under the US federal law, if CBD contains less than 0.3% THC, it is legal.

THC still under investigation

THC, the psychoactive compound, has raised certain concerns due to its relation to respiratory illnesses. THC, CBD and even nicotine, mixed with other chemical substances within e-liquids can be a possible factor to these illnesses. However, this is still under investigation.

Source: https://sputniknews.com/sport/201910011076930256-cannabidiol-excluded-from-wadas-2020-prohibited-substances-list/

The Obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) is a mental disorder marked by anxiety or distress, characterized by the presence of persistent thoughts (better known as obsessions). These recurrent thoughts are suppressed by new ones or actions, known as compulsions (acts performed in response to the obsession). The compulsions aim at preventing the anxiety or distress.

Around 60% of patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder do not respond to first-line treatment. Options in these cases include an increase of dosages or switching to another drug. In this sense, new evidence reported patients with treatment-resistant OCD who could respond better to an increase dosage of medications combined with medical cannabis.

Clinical studies confirm effective results using cannabinoids in patients with OCD

In 2008, researchers published an article in the American Journal of Psychiatry. In this article, the researchers presented the experiences of two refractory OCD patients after synthetic THC administration.

To the female subject, doctors had prescribed for 8 months an antidepressant and psychological therapy to treat her OCD and major depression, but without success. Interestingly, the woman reported that when she smoked cannabis, her symptoms were relieved. It was then decided to supplement her current treatment with synthetic THC. Her OCD symptoms were reduced, and her severity disease score improved by 50%. Regarding the male subject, after the addition of the synthetic THC to the ongoing medication, his symptoms were reduced within 2 weeks, and his severity disease score improved by 35%.

In 2010, a clinical study was subsequently published in the Journal Behavioral Pharmacology, describing the observation of CBD effects on rodents. In this study, the researchers found that Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to have anxiolytic effects, both in animals and humans, could significantly reduce symptoms associated with stimulated compulsive animal behavior.

In general, these studies demonstrated a therapeutic potential of cannabinoids to reduce Refractory obsessive compulsive disorders. However, new studies are needed to definitively validate its utility or not.

Source:

https://www.kalapa-clinic.com/en/refractory-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/