Cannabis is something Thai people have long been familiar with. However, the cannabis that’s been making the news recently is something new. Some people may therefore be curious and want to try it but before you do that, let’s look at how cannabis can be both beneficial and harmful and, when beneficial, what form should we try it in? Before trying anything new, we should first find out about it and get to understand it. So, here goes.

What is cannabis?

Cannabis refers to a herbaceous plant species called Cannabis sativa L. in the Cannabaceae family. Stem length reaches up to 2 meters. Each leaf has 5-8 lobes or fingers, each of which is finely attached to the stem of the leaf. Small bouquets of green flowers appear on the various branches of the plant. The dried female leaves and inflorescences are called curry cannabis. These were originally classified as a narcotic of a type most often consumed mixed with tobacco. In medicine, cannabis extracts have been used to treat various conditions and ailments. Cannabis extracts include two primary active substances:

·       Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which acts in the central nervous system and many areas of the brain to reduce pain, muscle spasms and nausea, and

·       Cannabidiol, or CBD, properties of which include calming and reducing memory loss and psychosis and can also be used to counteract the effects of THC

In Thailand, cannabis extracts are used to produce these four medicinal products:

·       Cannabis oil

·       A Thai traditional cannabis recipe defined by the Ministry of Public Health

·       “Doctor Decha’s Cannabis Oil” under a Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine research project

·       Various Thai traditional medicinal formulations and applications of local healers certified by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine

Cannabis and medicine

The vast majority of medicinal cannabis compounds are inflorescences. More substances with medicinal properties can be extracted from some parts than others, especially pure female cannabis flowers. Overall, the plants are home to at least 400 medicinal compounds, including THC and CBD. Various studies have concluded that cannabis properties have the following medicinal applications:

·       Relieving sudden and chronic pain

·       Treating nerve pain

·       Treating muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis

·       Treating epilepsy in patients unresponsive to other treatments

·       Treating nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy

·       Treating anorexia in some AIDS cases

·       Helping relieve symptoms in terminally ill patients

Researchers are also investigating the possible benefits of using cannabis to treat or control symptoms of medical conditions such as:

·       dementia

·       Alzheimer's disease

·       Parkinson's disease

·       General anxiety

·       Insomnia

·       Various types of cancer

Side effects and signs you're allergic to cannabis

Although cannabis can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions, some people may be counter-indicated causing side effects including allergic reactions. So, if after using a cannabis product someone close to you has any of the following symptoms, you should take them to a doctor:

·       especially sleepy, mood swings

·       dry mouth, dry throat, thirsty

·       dizziness, nausea, vomiting

·       excessive sweating, trembling

·       difficulty balancing properly when walking

·       speaking indistinctly

·       feeling paranoid or anxious for no reason

·       dizzy, hallucinating, speaking in monologues

·       difficulty breathing, chest pain

·       racing and irregular heart beat

·       syncope

Who should avoid cannabis and why?

·       Those under 20 years old because it can affect the brain causing slow development and raising risk of schizophrenia. It also affects mood and mental state and can lead to long-term health problems. Moreover, children are more likely to become addicted to cannabis than adults.

·       Pregnant and breastfeeding women and women planning to become pregnant, because cannabis has a direct negative effect on the development of children. Pregnant women who use cannabis products risk giving birth prematurely or to an incomplete or stillborn baby.  If you are planning a pregnancy, cannabis use may cause an ectopic pregnancy or render you unable to become pregnant.

·       Those with a congenital disease, including:

o   heart disease because cannabis directly affects the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, causing the heart to beat irregularly which can cause blood pressure to be abnormally high or low or myocardial infarction

o   liver and kidney disease because cannabis directly affects these organs

o   cerebrovascular disease

o   those at risk of high or low blood pressure

o   those suffering from certain chronic diseases because cannabis affects excretion of certain drugs from the body which may reduce or exaggerate the impact of the drug

·       the elderly because cannabis accelerates heartbeat and affects blood pressure, raising risk of heart attack or sudden death, psychotic effects that can lead to self-harm, and affects balance making the elderly vulnerable to falls

·       users of clot-dissolving drugs such as Warfarin because cannabis makes such drugs more active or increases dosage by reducing blood clotting and allowing bleeding more easily

·       those with a history of cannabis allergy

·       those with a history of drug addiction, including to nicotine and alcohol

How to relieve symptoms of cannabis intoxication

·       drink plenty of plain water and don't stop until you no longer feel thirsty

·       drink the juice of half a lime mixed with a little salt, honey or sugar or chew a pepper and if you’re diabetic cut down the amount of honey or sugar

·       drink one cup (250 ml) of ginger water or ginger tea

·       drink some striarticles tea three times a day

Effects of cannabis consumption

Detrimental effects

·       dizziness, losing consciousness

·       dry mouth, dry eyes

·       drowsiness, sluggish response

·       low blood pressure

·       mood swings

·       problems communicating and concentrating

·       short-term memory loss

·       paranoia, anxiety, depression

·       affects brain development, reduces IQ

·       abnormal perceptivity

·       reduced driving ability due to impact on decision-making and response times leading to increased accident risk

·       addiction risk

Beneficial effects

·       helps relieve anxiety and panic attacks, can make you feel relaxed and can help you sleep better

·       increased appetite

·       some formulations can treat tremors, weakness and lethargy associated with Yellow Skin Fever that leads to insomnia and the body becoming pale, thin, yellow and torpid

·       relieves numbness of hands and feet and pains in various areas

·       some formulations help relieve itchiness from rashes, allergic rashes, psoriasis lesions, dermatitis and hemorrhoid symptoms

How to use medical cannabis products

·       Dropping cannabis oil under the tongue helps some people sleep better, increases appetite and aids in rehabilitation of patients recovering from chronic conditions

·       Cannabis oil massage can be useful for those with muscle aches and joint pains such as in the knees as well as to relieve chronic headaches and migraines

Precautions

·       People in vulnerable groups should completely avoid using cannabis.

·       If using cannabis in any form, start with the lowest dose and dial the dose up slowly until the desired outcome is achieved but without going too far.

·       When using a product for the first time and in early stages, watch closely for abnormalities.

·       Never use cannabis immediately before driving or doing anything that requires much concentration. Any dizziness resulting from ingesting cannabis normally subsides within 30 minutes to 2 hours. However, it depends on the amount consumed, how it enters the body and other factors.

·       Appraise yourself of the possible benefits and harms of cannabis before using it.

·       Diagnosis and prescription by a doctor are highly recommended.

Cannabis is a plant that can both do considerable harm and bring equal, or perhaps even greater, benefits. A lot depends on the method and purpose for which it is used. Although cannabis in certain forms has been legalized as a medicinal herb,  it is important to apply it appropriately according to the particular purpose. It should never be given to vulnerable groups and nor should anyone be tricked into taking it involuntarily. It should always be remembered that while useful in several ways, cannabis can also be toxic.

Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance customers interested in health care issues can find many more such articles at https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/health-advisories.

References

·       Yanhee Hospital
https://bit.ly/3BAx3V0

·       Medical Service Department
http://www.rajavithi.go.th/rj/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Final_Guidance2.pdf

·       Ministry of Public Health
https://bit.ly/3BBFgIm

·       Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University
https://bit.ly/3zssw4c

·       Pobpad website
https://bit.ly/3bmkVfl

·       Sikarin Hospital
https://bit.ly/3zQvgK1

AllWell website
https://allwellhealthcare.com/cannabis-allergy/