Cannabis and Cannabinoids: What Is There to Know Legally and Medically

Get to Know Cannabis and Cannabinoids

Often used interchangeably with marijuana, cannabis refers to all the products that are derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. Cannabinoids are naturally occurring substances (a class of chemicals) found in the cannabis plant. Out of the 426 compounds found in the plant, 66 are classified as cannabinoids. The most well-known are the Δ9-THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and cannabidiol (CBD).

Safety Concerns

A wide array of health concerns associated with the use of cannabis and cannabinoids have been raised time and again. Some of them include:

• Increased risk injury among the elderly
• Cannabis use disorder (CUD) in adolescent users (e.g., social withdrawal, lack of control)
• Problems with coordination (Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents)
• Low-birth-weight offspring as a result of smoking the weed during a pregnancy
• Higher risk of schizophrenia or other mental illnesses
• Recurrent severe vomiting

Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cannabis
Short Term	Long Term
1.      Amnesia 2.      Paranoia 3.      Hallucinations 4.      Panic 5.      Loss of sense of personal identity 6.      Slow reaction 7.      Increased risk of stroke	1.      Decline in IQ 2.      Poor performance in school and a high dropout chance 3.      Severe addiction 4.      Relationship issues (domestic violence) 5.      Antisocial behavior (lying or stealing)

CBD is not harmful to everyone but has proved deleterious to some. For example, before the Epidiolex (a purified CBD to treat rare and severe forms of seizures linked with Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet syndrome) was FDA-approved, it was tested on a few participants to gauge its effectiveness and safety. The most common side effects included drowsiness or diarrhea, while some developed mild liver abnormalities. But under medical supervision, these problems can be managed.

Overview of the medicinal use of cannabis-based products and CBD

Cannabis-based products	Name	Formulation	Treats
	Sativex	Oromucosal spray	Spasticity in multiple sclerosis
	Epidiolex	Oral solution	Childhood epilepsy
	Tilray	Oil	Under research (for breast cancer patients suffering from TIPN [taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy])
Synthetic CBDs
	Dronabinol	Liquid or capsule	Weight loss in patients with HIV; nausea
	Nabilone	Capsule	Cancer chemotherapy-induced vomiting and nausea

Non-medicinal cannabis products and non-medicinal CBDs are widely used for their intoxicating effects but are not FDA-regulated. For example, herbal cannabis, such as Bedrocan, can be administered through a medical vaporizer, while cannabis oils that contain THC can be taken orally. In the EU, the THC content should not exceed 0.2%, and according to FDA rules, THC- or CBD-based products cannot be sold as legal dietary supplements.

Other Health Conditions Cannabis Treats

• Sleeping disorder
• PSTD and Anxiety
• Appetite loss
• Chronic pain
• Movement disorders associated with Tourette syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel condition
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Legality of Cannabis

Cannabis is used both for recreation and medicinal uses that vary by country. While some have legalized its medical use, others have allowed the use of only certain cannabis drugs such as Sativex or Epidiolex. But it remains illegal on both fronts, especially on the recreational front, in most parts of the world (notably the Middle East and Africa).

The table lists the countries where cannabis is used for both recreational and medical purposes. This is quite an exhaustive list. Details for only a few countries are given.

Cannabis Legality
Country	Medical	Recreational
China	Illegal	Illegal
France	Legal( certain drugs)	Illegal
Canada	Legal	Legal
Germany	Legal	Illegal (occasionally tolerated under Federal law)
India	Illegal	Illegal (bhang is allowed)
Japan	Illegal	Illegal
United States	Legal	Legal (cultivation allowed; no foreign buying)
UK	Legal	Illegal
Switzerland	Legal	Decriminalized (allowed under 1.0%)
Australia	Legal	Decriminalized
South Africa	Legal	Legal
Saudi Arabia	Illegal	Illegal

 

What to Consider

Cannabis is still under investigation in terms of its potential role as a pain reliever. Get detailed information about how marijuana and crypto are coexisting from the recent CoinNewsSpan piece. The research aims to solidify evidence that cannabis components can play a strong role in pain management and inflammation. Also, remember never to take cannabis or CBDs without proper medical consultation. Make informed decisions when it comes to health.