The Opinion of Indian Doctors on Cannabis

Cannabis or Marijuana has commonly been used in India since ancient times. many Doctors and alternate medicine practitioners such as Ayurveda specialists prescribe cannabis and other compounds that are derived from cannabis to treat a wide range of disorders, mainly to alleviate pain relief to the patient

However, in the 1980s, India and several other countries decided to outlaw cannabis as people began to use them for purposes recreational, Cannabis began to increase considerably, accelerating the process to make them illegal.

Cannabis in the 21^st Century

Cannabis farmers are only allowed to grow cannabis plants for scientific and industrial purposes. The cost of cultivation of cannabis is high, making cannabis derived medications unfeasible and inaccessible. Cannabis farmers need to have very strict measures in place to ensure that the cannabis do not go beyond the targeted customer.

The Opinion of Doctors

The opinion of doctors on the use of cannabis is divided. Some have experienced the benefits first-hand and recommend the legalisation of cannabis. Others fear the chaos legalisation will bring. Most doctor believe that cannabis used the right way can be impactful, but also agree that it should not be misused.

Dr. Syed Tahir Hassan, a physician who champions the cause of holistic and integrative medications believes that using plant-derived cannabis compounds in conjunction with allopathic medicines can be extremely beneficial to the patient. He believes that legalising cannabis is the way to go.

The Other Side of the Coin

Some doctors believe that legalising but putting checkpoints on the production and distribution of cannabis is the way to go. Some doctors believe cannabis should not be made available to all. They say it can quickly spread to the wrong hands and result in substance abuse. Cannabis should only be sold in their processed form with a prescription through a certified doctor.

The Scene in India

In 2020 cannabis made a comeback in the Indian market. Two alternative medicines that prescribed cannabis-based medications started to operate in Mumbai and Bengaluru while Uttarakhand have legalised the cultivation of cannabis  under  strict Government regulation

The stigma associated with an illegal substance still exists and removing this stigma by boldly legalising cannabis for medical use will remove or at least reduce this stigma.

The Advantages of Legalising Cannabis

Many doctors, alternate medicine practitioners and specialists believe that the advantages of cannabis far outweigh the problems caused by them. Here are some of the plus points of using cannabis:

• Many patients cannot use certain pain-relieving allopathic medications due to pre-existing conditions, for which Cannabis can be best alternative.
• Some patients who have taken cannabis for relieving chronic pain and distress have obtained significant relief.
• Legalising cannabis in India will help people suffering from mental health issues. It will only help these patients considerably, according to a report by the Department of Health.
• Cannabis has financial benefits for the government, according to a new report. By legalising, taxing, and regulating the production of cannabis, the government can derive good financial benefits, says the report.

The Last Leaf Standing

‘A knife can kill and perform a life-saving surgery too.’

This analogy holds good for cannabis too. Using them the right way depends on the person using them.

And they are right!