The European Union, 60 years after the last decision on the toxicity of psychoactive plants and derivatives, has recognized the medical properties of cannabis, which is now no longer considered dangerous substances. On this porpuse, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs voted on a series of measures proposed by the World Health Organisation and in particular approved the declassification of the substance, which was associated with other fatal opiates such as heroin, recognizing its therapeutic value.
What has happened.
Thanks to the favourable vote of 27 countries (25 against, 1 abstention), the Narcotics Commission recognized the therapeutic effects of cannabis.
For years, a large part of the scientific community has maintained that cannabis for therapeutic purposes has multiple benefits on the nervous system and, to confirm this, it is today used for the treatment of various diseases, such as Parkinson’s, sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic pain, muscle spasms and tumors.
What will happen.
This decision, through which the positive effects of the substance on patients have been recognized, will stimulate medical research on the different uses of the plant.
However, to date, in most of the world, owning and consuming marijuana is illegal and globally only about 50 countries have adopted cannabis-based treatment programs, such as Canada, Uruguay and 15 US States.
The Asian and European countries are less tolerant, excluding Holland, where the penalty for possession, sale, transport and cultivation has been lifted and Spain, where it is possible to grow or consume cannabis, but only in the home or in private clubs.
Probably the road will still be long, but it is undeniable that there is now a new form of thought confirmed by the UN change of course.
