Legalization of medical cannabis needs constant scientific support
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is preparing for the second reading consideration of draft law No. 7457 dated 10.06.2022 "On regulating the circulation of cannabis plants for medical, industrial purposes, scientific and scientific-technical activities to create conditions for expanding patient access to the necessary treatment of oncological diseases and post-traumatic stress disorders resulting from war".
In the conditions of external aggression by the Russian Federation and prolonged military operations, the medical system of Ukraine needs more use of painkillers and therapeutic agents to solve the psychological problems of the victims. In addition, the properties of cannabinoids are studied by world science for the treatment of a number of diseases.
The working group based on the Institute of Biochemistry named after O.V. Palladin, under the guidance of Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Biological Sciences S.V. Commissioner sent the list of recommendations to the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on national health, medical care and medical insurance.
"For many years, our Institute has been conducting fundamental research on the biological action of the components of the endocannabinoid system under various pathological conditions of the body, has considerable experience in the development of medicines, a technical base and is ready to participate in research related to medical cannabis," Serhiy Komisarenko notes.
Additions relate to the possibility of participation of scientific institutions in large-scale studies of the therapeutic effect of biologically active compounds that are part of medical cannabis and the creation of new methods of treating diseases.
Currently, EU countries and Switzerland are implementing test periods for simplified public access to medical cannabis products. At the same time, legislative conditions have long been established for conducting research in scientific institutions.
The bill expectedly caused great interest and discussion in society. Legalizing medical cannabis in a civilized and thoughtful way would allow medicine and science to help hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who suffered during Russia's war in Ukraine.
