Medical Cannabis

Everything you want to know about medical cannabis – One of the most studied plants in science.

The cannabis plant is the best-known genus among 11 genera of plants included in the Cannabaceae family. In the currently accepted division into categories, the genus of cannabis consists of a single species named Cannabis Sativa L., which is divided into 3 main subspecies, all of which differ from one another in structure, genetic background, and the number of metabolites they produce:

Cannabis Sativa

Cannabis Indica

Cannabis Ruderalis

The cannabis plant contains more than 500 different chemical compounds, which are divided into three families of plant metabolites:

  • Phyto-Cannabinoids1
  • Terpenoids2
  • Flavonoids3

Pharmacology

So far over 140 Phyto-Cannabinoids have been identified and it is still uncertain that all of them have been identified. The two main cannabinoids, which have been studied extensively relative to other cannabinoids, are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – which is considered to have psychoactive effects, and Cannabidiol (CBD) – which is considered to be relatively safe when it comes to psychoactivity.

Medical uses

Cannabis is one of the most researched plants in science. Knowledge and evidence of its clinical benefits are growing over the years.

Studies indicate that proper use of medical cannabis may help reduce the intensity of pain, improve sleep quality and sleep duration, and improve appetite.

Few countries approve the use of medical cannabis for medical purposes. Among them are Australia, Canada, Israel, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, and Malta. The recreational use of medical marijuana is common in many countries.

What are the concerns raised by treatment with medical cannabis?

The uses of medical cannabis have a long history. Its therapeutic effect has been documented in folk medicine for thousands of years. Despite this, and even though advanced medicine also recognizes the pool of patient testimonials and research findings that cannabis helps relieve certain symptoms and medical conditions, it is still defined in most countries as a “dangerous drug” and prohibited for use without a valid license or prescription.

The main concerns revolving around medical cannabis treatment probably stem from the following reasons:

  • Difficulty providing a standardized dose: Inconsistency in the concentrations of the active ingredients and difficulty in determining a metered dose of the active ingredients raises concerns about the instability and non-uniformity of the treatment and the risk of overdosing by higher doses than necessary.
  • Non-uniformity in treatment: every patient might consume different cannabis in each intake (varying composition and concentration of active ingredients)
  • Psychoactive adverse effects: Treatment with medical cannabis may cause psychoactive side effects. Cannabis may affect different patients differently; therefore, it is important to adjust a personal treatment plan that includes a consistent and low dose as possible, along with the monitoring and support of a medical professional
  • Other adverse effects: Treatment with medical cannabis may cause various side effects, most of which cease as the body adapts to the treatment. Common side effects: dry mouth, throat irritation, sleepiness or fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and more6
  • Negative social stigma
Read About Routes of Administration of Medical Cannabis
  1. Berman, P., Futoran, K., Lewitus, G. M., Mukha, D., Benami, M., Shlomi, T., & Meiri, D. (2018). A new ESI-LC/MS approach for comprehensive metabolic profiling of phytocannabinoids in Cannabis. Scientific reports, 8(1), 14280.
  2. Shapira, A., Berman, P., Futoran, K., Guberman, O., & Meiri, D. (2019). Tandem mass spectrometric quantification of 93 terpenoids in cannabis using static headspace injections. Analytical chemistry, 91(17), 11425-11432.
  3. Ross, S. A., ElSohly, M. A., Sultana, G. N., Mehmedic, Z., Hossain, C. F., & Chandra, S. (2005). Flavonoid glycosides and cannabinoids from the pollen of Cannabis sativa L. Phytochemical Analysis: An International Journal of Plant Chemical and Biochemical Techniques, 16(1), 45-48.
  4. https://www.health.gov.il/hozer/CN_106_2019.pdf
  5. https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/reports/licenses-status-june-2023/he/subjects_cannabis_docs_licenses-status-june-2023.pdf
  6. Medical Cannabis: Use Turns Into Treatment. Clinical guide for the medical and nursing staff at Rambam Health Care Campus (2020).