Marijuana has been cultivated for thousands of years, but recently it is experiencing new and unexpected popularity. The most controversial plant in the history of the Western world is back in the spotlight. After the approval of two regulatory provisions that legalize its cultivation and sale on Italian territory.
What the law says
Law 462 which came into force in 2016 legalized the cultivation and sale of light cannabis , a variety of cannabis sativa that contains the same active ingredients as traditional marijuana. But in different and very small percentages.
The active ingredients contained in light cannabis are THC , which is responsible for the psychoactive effect of marijuana and causes the so-called "high", and cannabidiol, abbreviated to CBD , is probably the most famous chemical compound of the cannabis plant and has the ability to amplify and regulate the effects of THC and other cannabinoids.
The ministerial decree of 9 November 2015, which regulates the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes. The Ministerial Decree 9/11/2015 was not the first provision regarding the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes. For 10 years in Italy doctors have been able to prescribe preparations containing active plant substances based on cannabis for medical use. To be prepared in designated facilities. As already provided for by the Consolidated Law on Drugs 309 of 1990, the substance can be cultivated with the authorization of an ad hoc national body.
It is clear right now that cannabis light and medical cannabis are two completely different substances. Regulated by different laws and intended for different purposes. Unfortunately, however, there is a lot of confusion, and we need to do some order.
The active ingredients
When we talk about light cannabis and medical cannabis we are referring to the same family. But like two brothers who look very similar, they still have notable differences on a biological level. Both in terms of effects and composition .
Light cannabis contains THC and CBD like any other cannabis plant. The percentages of the two active ingredients are different from those of the illegal plant, and above all they are regulated. In fact, legal hemp can contain THC concentrations of up to 0.2% (with a margin of tolerance of up to 0.6%).
Quantity that excludes the occurrence of psychoactive effects, guaranteeing relaxation due to CBD and no other side effects.
Medical cannabis, unlike light cannabis, contains a quantity of THC ranging from 7% to 22% .
It causes a very different effect than that of light cannabis. Cannabis light induces a generalized sense of relaxation, promoting sleep. Medical cannabis has a much gentler impact on the body. Who instead perceives the so-called "high" due to the intake of THC in significant percentages.
Light cannabis inflorescences mainly contain cannabidiol, or CBD , a substance with multiple beneficial qualities. The Superior Council of Health and the scientific community as a whole continues to study interactions with the human body. And to date there are already many positive effects ascertained by science.
The properties of CBD
-analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties ; reduces the perception of pain thanks to its action on the endocannabinoid system present in the human body. In fact, cannabinoids bind to receptors present in the brain and stimulate responses in different areas of the body . Promoting beneficial neurological mechanisms.
-anxiolytic properties; It has been shown to mitigate symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) . According to various research, PTSD is generated by a deficiency of anandamide in the human endocannabinoid system. There is therefore a close relationship between cannabinoids and symptoms related to anxiety disorders, which can be alleviated by taking cannabis varieties with a high CBD and low THC content.
-Antipsychotic properties; Some scientific evidence suggests that cannabidiol helps treat chizophrenia and other mental health problems , such as bipolar disorder.
-Antiemetic properties ; CBD oils can easily reduce this disorder, effectively treating rejection symptoms . CBD oils are easily digestible, do not contain chemical components and do not release the unpleasant flavors of normal antiemetic drugs, rich in antacids and bismuth.
- Anticonvulsant properties ; CBD would be very effective in therapies to treat some forms of childhood epilepsy, including Dravet Syndrome. Studies are still very limited in terms of case series, but the progress made in this field seems promising.
Medical cannabis contains both THC and CBD in high percentages . The therapeutic value of the plant seems linked to the way our brain works. The human body already has an endocannabinoid system, made up of receptors that open and close. Regulating the psychological state, the immune system and much more. When the receptors remain closed due to a "malfunction" linked to a pathology, plant cannabinoids can be used to regulate nervous signals. And restore the balance distorted by the disease.
Medical cannabis can be used to treat chronic pain and pain associated with multiple sclerosis. As well as spinal cord injuries. Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, HIV therapies . As an appetite stimulant in cachexia, anorexia, loss of appetite in cancer patients or those suffering from AIDS and in anorexia nervosa. The hypotensive effect in glaucoma; reduction of involuntary body and facial movements in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. As required by the Ministerial Decree of 9 November 2015.
How do you buy it?
Light cannabis , after being legalized with law 242/2016, can be marketed freely . Since legalization in 2018, shops dedicated to the trade of light hemp inflorescences, the so-called grow shops, have opened their doors in all Italian cities. Who also sell other derivative products. Legal hemp is also sold in some tobacconists and bars. This is hemp grown in Italy and included in the Official Catalog of the European Community . Contains 67 legal cannabis light genetics. Eight of these are Italian, and they are the only ones that can be grown in the national territory. Since law 242/2016 prohibits the importation and hybridization of light marijuana plants.
Medical cannabis, on the other hand, can be purchased in authorized dispensaries, only upon medical prescription. Otherwise it is considered a narcotic substance. As already provided for by the Consolidated Law on Drugs 309 of 1990, the substance can be cultivated. But only with authorization from an ad hoc national body.
Since 2007 it has been possible to import medicines containing therapeutic cannabis such as Bedrocan, Bediol, Bedrobinol, Bedrolite, Bedica and Sativex . Following an agreement between the Minister of Health and the Minister of Defense in September 2014, the inflorescences for galenic preparations can be produced in the Military Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant of Florence .
Where, after an experimental phase of a couple of years, a cannabis genetic called FM2 is cultivated . The Ministry of Health underlines that, as these cannabis-based preparations do not have authorized therapeutic indications. «The doctor must obtain the patient's consent to the treatment and specify in the prescription the particular needs that justify the use of the extemporaneous prescription. In the prescription the doctor writes, without reporting the patient's personal details. A link to archive data in your possession. Which allows, in the event of a request from the health authority, to trace the identity of the patient being treated."
