World Health Organization: Medical Marijuana Has No Health Risks

Even the World Health Organization (WHO) is now saying that there aren’t any health risks associated with medical marijuana. According to the organization, CBD – the relaxant in cannabis used for medical marijuana – poses no health risks.

After months and years of speculation regarding the side effects of using cannabidiol (CBD), the WHO declared that the component is a conducive treatment for epilepsy and palliative care and it is neither dangerous nor addictive. However, the WHO is scheduled to undergo a more expansive review of cannabis in 2018.

The report, published Wednesday, reads:

There is increased interest from Member States in the use of cannabis for medical indications including for palliative care.

Responding to that interest and increase in use, WHO has in recent years gathered more robust scientific evidence on therapeutic use and side effects of cannabis and cannabis components.

Recent evidence from animal and human studies shows that its use could have some therapeutic value for seizures due to epilepsy and related conditions.

Raul Elizalde, the Mexican father who spearheaded the fight with the Mexican government to legalize medical marijuana so his daughter Grace could help treat the hundreds of seizures she suffered every day, was overjoyed at the news. “I’m ecstatic that these international health leaders agree that CBD is a substance that should not be scheduled and has therapeutic value for a variety of medical conditions,” said Elizalde to Mail Online. 

And it’s important to keep in mind, according to Leafly, there is a distinct difference between CBD and THC.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many cannabinoid molecules produced by Cannabis, second only to THC in abundance. These plant-derived cannabinoids, or phytocannabinoids (phyto = plant in Greek), are characterized by their ability to act on the cannabinoid receptors that are part of our endocannabinoid system. While THC is the principal psychoactive component of Cannabis and has certain medical uses, CBD stands out because it is both non-psychoactive and displays a broad range of potential medical applications. These properties make it especially attractive as a therapeutic agent.

CBD is famous for the promise it holds for treating treatment-resistant forms of childhood epilepsy. A number of clinical trials, testing the efficacy of CBD in human epilepsy patients, are currently underway. But there is also evidence, mainly from animal studies and in vitro experiments, that CBD may have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, and potential therapeutic value in the treatment of motivational disorders like depression, anxiety, and addiction.

What’s the biological basis for this wide range of potential medical uses? A key part of the answer lies in CBD’s promiscuous pharmacology—its ability to influence a wide range of receptor systems in the brain and body, including not only cannabinoid receptors but a host of others. -Leafly

Hopefully, this is just one more step toward a health solution for those who are stuck because the law isn’t on their side.