Science has long investigated the therapeutic effects of marijuana, since its use as a medicinal plant dates back millennia. Currently, a part of the medical community prescribes it as a palliative for chronic pain, and although thousands of people consume it around the world, there is very strict legislation in this regard that restricts it to the private sphere. Uruguay has taken an important step towards normalizing its therapeutic use by becoming the first country in the world to legalize its sale .
Marijuana is, according to statistics, the illicit substance most consumed in the world, which exerts pressure in favor of the legal regulation of its production and distribution. The predominant chemical compound in this drug is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the alterations in the nervous system that characterize the effects of its ingestion. However, its main component is cannabidiol (CBD), a psychoactive extract to a lesser degree that has multiple pharmacological effects , such as the powerful sedative effect caused by the inhibition of nerve signals associated with pain.
A large number of researchers postulate in favor of the legalization of marijuana, considering its effectiveness to relieve anxiety, nausea, inflammation, seizures and to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. A study from the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) showed that cannabidiol is effective as an atypical antipsychotic in the treatment of schizophrenia. Other points made for the legalization of this substance is that marijuana also has a low rate of addiction compared to other illegal substances, and its consumption cannot induce a fatal overdose. However, scientists continue to study its long-term effects, especially when consumption begins at an early age.
Spain is one of the European countries in which a greater number of clinical studies have been carried out on the benefits of marijuana , although the legal framework does not allow the sale of these drugs. The consumption and cultivation of this narcotic for own use is not penalized (as long as it does not exceed 40 g of hashish), but its marketing and promotion in public places are.
