Medicinal Marijuana Makes a Strong Case, Deserves More Research

A month ago, it was reported that a 12-year-old girl, Alexis Bortell, was suing an Attorney General in the US for the country’s national policy restricting access to medicinal marijuana. Bortell suffers from epilepsy, and after extensive trial and error, she found that cannabis oil is the only effective treatment for her debilitating illness.  

In India, all uses of marijuana remain illegal, but certain progress is being made in terms of research. Ratan Tata, former chairman of Tata Group, and Rajan Anandan, managing director of Google India, have provided funds to Bombay Hemp Company (Boheco). Boheco is India’s first startup planning to research the medicinal uses of cannabis. The company is partnering with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for this purpose.

Cannabis or marijuana is a psychoactive drug extracted from Cannabis plant. It is popularly known for recreational use, but medicinal use of the drug has also been recognised and legalised in several countries. CBD and THC are the two main chemical compounds present in marijuana. While THC causes the “high” and poses certain risks such as cognitive impairment and addiction, CBD has potential benefits and is noted for epilepsy treatment. 

In many cases, in fact, cannabis has been the only substance which has worked in reducing seizures caused by epilepsy. This is true in the case of Alexis Bortell, the 12-year old suing US Attorney Jeff Sessions. Bortell and family had to move to Colorado to access medicinal marijuana, as it is still illegal in her home state of Texas. These state restrictions on marijuana make it difficult for Bortell to visit her grandparents or travel. 

The efficacy of marijuana was also seen in the case of Charlotte Figi, born with a rare and severe form of intractable epilepsy. For years, Charlotte’s parents kept trying different drugs, but nothing worked. Cannabis oil having a high CBD ratio almost instantly relieved Charlotte’s seizures. The frequency of seizures, which was as high as 300 a week, went down to two to three times a month. 

Boheco-CSIR are also planning to study the use of marijuana for treatment of epilepsy, along with breast cancer and palliative care.

There have been other such cases as well, and not just for curing epilepsy, which shows strong evidence for the medicinal value of marijuana. The drug has shown positive results in cases of Parkinson's disease and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, among other health problems. However, since the amount of research done in exploring cannabis as a treatment remains scant, questions on the long-term effects remain. 

Drugs much stronger than marijuana, such as certain opioids and morphine, are commonly used for pain relief. They are also used for palliative care in treatments of terminal illnesses such as cancer. The reluctance to recognise and perform extensive research for the medicinal benefits of marijuana then raises questions.

Under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985, usage and carrying of all narcotic drugs is banned in India. The national policy of US also puts marijuana in the same class as heroin, although some states have passed legislation legalising its use.