India has always been associated to natural remedies, medicinal plants, and Ayurveda! Decades have gone by, Medical Cannabis is one plant that is yet to take over in the pharma and healthcare industry!
Since the beginning of time, Homo sapiens have used plants for both preventive and curative healthcare. With the advancement of human civilization came the use of medicinal plant resources to treat human illnesses, which served as the foundation for the development of modern medicine.
The World Health Organization encouraged developing nations to use traditional plant-based medicine to treat ailments that modern systems were unable to treat, giving herbal medicine a boost on a global scale.
According to data, 75–80% of the world’s population, mostly in developing nations, use plant-based or herbal medicine for primary healthcare.
All of India’s officially recognised Indian medical systems, including Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani and Homeopathy, heavily rely on herbal therapies (AYUSH).
What is the status of Medical Cannabis in India?
Introduction
According to the World Health Organization, cannabis is the substance that is most often grown, traded, and used. Legislative acts show that general acceptance of cannabis use, for both recreational and therapeutic purposes, is growing across countries.
To treat symptoms including pain, nausea, and other medical conditions, numerous states do permit its use. The term “medical marijuana” refers to Cannabis sativa plant products that are used to treat symptoms brought on by particular illnesses.
The use of medical marijuana for therapeutic purposes is still up for dispute. Marijuana is legal for medical use in more than 30 states in the US. And an increasing amount permits leisure use.
Debating over the merits of legalizing medical cannabis has always been in the process but never concluded. The Pew Research Center reports that 91% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana. Of them, 60% believe it should be permitted for both medical and recreational purposes, while 31% believe it should only be permitted for medical purposes.
As per healthline, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, which might have significant side effects, are often said to be replaced with medical marijuana in some cases.
Legal Status in India
In India, cannabis has a lengthy history that is shrouded in myths and religion. The Vedas, or revered Hindu literature, include the first recorded mention of cannabis.
Although we are yet to witness the benefits on a larger scale, we are still not clear with what the legal status is…
Cannabis use is not entirely outlawed in the nation because it is legal for medical and scientific purposes. Under the NDPS Act, cannabis is not entirely prohibited, but it can be utilized for industrial, horticultural, scientific, and medical purposes with the appropriate state government approvals, according to the Director of Narcotics Control at the Ministry of Finance.
“The AYUSH Ministry’s approval of using hemp as medication or in our daily lives as food has been found to be beneficial in maintaining customers’ focus and keeping up with the speed.
The seeds and leaves are not considered to be part of the cannabis plant. Bhang, an edible cannabis concoction, is likewise uncontrolled by the NDPS Act, can be used legally as an ayurvedic medication.
So until and unless cannabis is used as a medicinal plant and not a drug, it surely has some great benefits!
Benefits of Medical Cannabis
The plant’s seeds, which are abundant in amino acids and Omega 3, 6, and 9, are utilized to manufacture nutritional supplements that may be purchased and ingested over-the-counter.
The main benefit of marijuana use is that it can help calm disabled youngsters, especially those with autism spectrum disorder. Not only this, but also insomnia, epilepsy, and chronic pain.
Like all beneficial products/ medicines/ elements, medical cannabis also has its own pros and cons…
- Nausea: Cannabis is useful for treating nausea and vomiting. Cannabis has been demonstrated in studies to reduce chemotherapy-related nausea and almost completely abolish vomiting.
- arthritis
- fibromyalgia
- endometriosis
- Migraine
Doctors occasionally recommend medical cannabis to treat the neurological and mental health disorders because of its limbic system-activating properties:
- Epilepsy,
- Multiple sclerosis
- Anxiety Post-traumatic
- Stress disorder (PTSD)
- Tourette syndrom
Conclusion
What India needs is a clarification in the existing laws itself which would make it easier and clearer to understand the situation.
It is quite obvious to have drawbacks to a particular substance. Any medicine taken in excess will also have its own cons and might end up being serious too.
Why a restriction on Medical Cannabis only?
