References to cannabis as a medicinal substance have appeared in various texts throughout history. Let’s find out its legality and practical aspects
Over the years, medical cannabis made from the leaves of the plant known by the botanical name of Cannabis Sativa has been the subject of constant controversy for years in terms of both its clinical use in licensed dispensaries and its place in the public health policy sector.
Today, the medical use of this substance is increasingly widespread even if it is subject to a series of legal and practical aspects.
The legal aspects of medical cannabis
References to cannabis as a medicinal substance have appeared in various texts throughout history. In the United States, the medical use of the drug, for example, was reduced in the 1970s, when regulators cataloged cannabis as a substance of no medical value and with high health risks in case of excessive abuse.
Before its restriction, cannabis was prescribed for numerous medical conditions, and precisely for this reason, either for a sort of historical review that following new and more in-depth studies, currently the use of medical cannabis is now legal in almost everyone. countries of the world, including Italy.
The specific uses of medical cannabis
As a growing number of states have now approved the use of cannabis to treat a variety of medical conditions, practitioners who prescribe it are forced to understand and evaluate its effects on their patients. For example, short-term cannabis use can cause coordination, memory and rarely judgment disorders.
In the long term, on the other hand, medical cannabis has been associated with an increase in cardiovascular events, addiction, mental health and respiratory disorders, the latter similar to those associated with tobacco smoke, if the substance is inhaled through vaporizers.
With the new Italian law, it is also possible to grow a small seedling at home – for personal use – so many people are looking for a safe guide to growing cannabis at home, in order to cope with the lack of this product.
The physiological effects of medical cannabis
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is primarily responsible for the physiological effects of cannabis and these can vary significantly, depending on the method of use. In this regard it should be emphasized that in the case of medical cannabis, inhalation is the most common, as it provides the highest levels of THC as the substance passes from the lungs to the bloodstream.
When mixed with food, it can delay the effects of THC by up to 3 hours, but it can also increase the length of time an individual experiences a “high”. For this reason, when it comes to medical cannabis, it must be taken into account that the aforementioned THC must not exceed a certain number but must be synthesized with CBD (cannabidiol) which does not involve psychotropic effects.
The key elements for approving the use of medical cannabis
When a private doctor or hospital prescribes cannabis for therapeutic use, they must adhere to a series of tables that regulate the relationship between CBD and THC. In this regard it must be said that in the case of the CBD: THC 1: 0 type, the products do not generate any psychotropic effect, but positively affect the mood of the subject who takes the substance.
As for the ratio of the CBD type: THC 1: 2, the substance taken, albeit with a higher THC content, is prescribed because it has a satisfactory percentage of CBD (50%) and which is particularly suitable for providing a relaxing sensation. in subjects complaining of anxiety or stress.
Finally it is worth mentioning the ratio of the CBD type: THC 1: 1 which, as can be seen, contains both active ingredients and equally divided. The intake of the substance consequently produces very mild psychotropic effects and therefore such as to allow the individual doctor or hospital to prescribe it to treat some common pathologies such as insomnia, anxiety and depression.