Why in news?
Women and Child Development Minister has suggested legalising marijuana in India for medical purposes.
What is Marijuana?
- Marijuana is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used for medical, recreational & religious purposes.
- Cannabis can be used by smoking, vaporization, within food, or as an extract.
- It creates mental and physical effects, such as a "high" or "stoned" feeling, a general change in perception, and an increase in appetite.
- Short term side effects may include a decrease in short-term memory, dry mouth, impaired motor skills, red eyes, and feelings of paranoia or anxiety.
- Long term side effects may include addiction, decreased mental ability and behavioural problems in children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy.
What is its historic significance in India?
- Cannabis has been used since ancient times in India, dating back to 2000 BCE.
- The cannabis plant has been mentioned as one of the five sacred plants in the Vedas.
- Bhang, an edible preparation of cannabis, which is ‘consumed either in the form of a drink or smoked’ is common during the Hindu festivals of Holi and Mahashivaratri.
What are its medicinal qualities?
- There has been no rigorous scientific testing of the medicinal properties of cannabis due to restrictive laws.
- There is considerable evidence though, supporting its use in the treatment of chemotherapy - induced nausea and vomiting, neuropathic pain, and multiple sclerosis.
- Lower levels of evidence support its use for AIDS, wasting syndrome, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, and glaucoma.
What is its legal status?
- The possession, use, and sale of cannabis are illegal in most countries as a result of an agreement in the ‘International Opium Convention’ (1925).
- Indian government banned the use of cannabis by passing the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act-1985.
- The rigour of restrictive laws & its implementation varies greatly across countries.
- Canada, Belgium, Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, and several U.S. states are some territories were medical use of cannabis is legal.
- Netherlands (1976) & some US states (recently) have allowed for the recreational use of marijuana.
What do the doctors say?
- The opinion among medical practicners in India is divided.
- Some are of the opinion that, it is a better alternative to alcohol & tobacco consumption.
- While supporters claim that denying medical use of marijuana is a violation of ‘Right to life’, others believe it is not all that important a drug for Palliative Care.
- Most doctors advocate caution, as a wrongly worded policy could potentially aggrevate substance abuse among youngsters.
