Good news for the cannabis industry and part of the medical community: the World Health Organization (WHO) declared in a report that "medical marijuana does not present risks to public health" and should not be considered a drug.
Slowly but surely, cannabis legalization has spread around the world, being approved in several countries and states. And while elsewhere the debate continues, the WHO declared in a report that "medical marijuana does not present risks to public health" and should not be considered a drug. The report notes that medical marijuana should not be withheld because it is beneficial for patients with cancer, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's.
In recent years, the WHO has gathered stronger scientific evidence on the therapeutic use and side effects of cannabis and its components. Among the important points, it states that cannabidiol (CBD), one of the main components of marijuana, is a useful treatment for chronic diseases and for patients with epilepsy, and carries no risk of addiction. In fact, medical marijuana use does not lead to addiction to THC, the plant's psychoactive component.
"Recent evidence from studies in animals and humans shows that the use of cannabidiol could have some therapeutic value for seizures due to epilepsy and related conditions", the WHO states in the report. This year we have highlighted the medical benefits of marijuana, according to science, as well as the "Sisters of the Valley Society", where nuns grow marijuana to help the sick. Adding this WHO statement, there's now important backing to eliminate the prejudiced barriers that so hinder the use of medical marijuana. On the other hand, the organization recommends imposing greater restrictions on the drug fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has caused the deaths of thousands of people in the United States.
Official website: WHO
