El Comité de Farmacodependencia de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) recomendó que el CBD, conocido como cannabis light, no se incluyera como sustancia susceptible de fiscalización al tener propiedades terapéuticas y no causar efectos nocivos significativos, carecer de propiedades psicoactivas ni potencial de generar adicción. El Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la Unión Europea avaló la comercialización de productos CBD entre los Estados miembros. Son los argumentos que utiliza la Audiencia Provincial de Alicante en el auto de sobreseimiento que revoca el procedimiento abreviado contra el propietario de una tienda de productos CBD. (Véase también: Sentencia pionera sobre el CBD del cannabis: un juez contradice a la fiscalía antidroga y absuelve a un acusado al que devuelve sus cogollos)

La Comisión Europea ha propuesto que los estados miembros que participen en la Comisión de Estupefacientes de Naciones Unidas que se reunirá en Viena en marzo voten a favor de retirar el cannabis de la Lista IV de la Convención sobre Estupefacientes, donde se encuentran las drogas más peligrosas, para favorecer así el uso medicinal y terapéutico de la planta de la marihuana. Sin embargo, en la propuesta se aboga por solicitar un nuevo informe a la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para seguir analizando la conveniencia de dejar de considerar fiscalizable el cannabidiol (CBD), componente utilizado en algunos fármacos, o las tinturas y extractos.

In 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana -- which came into effect four years later -- permitting its sale in pharmacies, a move that helped to push many drug traffickers out of the domestic market. But a bland and insufficient state supply has meant most consumers still prefer the diversity of the black market. There are three legal ways for registered users to get hold of marijuana: purchasing it at pharmacies, through home growing for personal use, and by belonging to an official cannabis club. The most sought after legal method is membership of one of the 249 consumer clubs, which offer a greater variety to their 7,166 members than pharmacies. But many clubs have long waiting lists as they are limited by law to between 15 and 45 members.

Mais de 60 personalidades defendem numa carta aberta ao parlamento a regulação da canábis e propõem que a legislação defina a idade mínima para consumo, regras para cultivo e produção e crie um imposto especial. No documento defendem que Portugal vive um momento que deve servir para "clarificar e melhorar a eficácia das políticas públicas de drogas, na defesa da saúde pública e individual, do Estado de direito e do combate ao narcotráfico". A legislação a criar deve definir uma idade mínima de consumo, limitar o nível máximo de THC, definir regras sobre o cultivo e produção orientadas para a proteção da saúde e do meio ambiente e proibir e punir a condução de veículos e máquinas sob o efeito da canábis e equipar as forças de segurança com os meios necessários para o respetivo controlo.

Cuando ya había fecha para la inauguración del Museo del Cannabis, las expectativas recayeron sobre qué novedades traería en cuanto a la regulación vigente. "Todos están esperando tus anuncios, ¿eh?," le dijeron a Daniel Radío, secretario general de la Secretaría Nacional de Drogas y presidente del Instituto de Regulación y Control del Cannabis (Ircca). No hubo ningún anuncio. La posibilidad de que se habilitara la venta de cannabis también a turistas ya había sido descartada. Los consumidores que están dentro del sistema - a través de la compra en farmacias, por asociación a clubes cannábicos o por autocultivo - coinciden en que hay algunos aspectos de la regulación que deberían modificarse.

A compound found in marijuana can treat schizophrenia as effectively as antipsychotic medications, with far fewer side effects, according to a preliminary clinical trial. Unlike the main ingredient in marijuana, THC, which can produce psychotic reactions and may worsen schizophrenia, cannabidiol (CBD) has antipsychotic effects, according to previous research in both animals and humans.

Banning a plant with hundreds of industrial and medical uses was never going to work out well, but 2022 saw marijuana prohibition reach peak absurdity, not to mention peak confusion for consumers and new businesses trying to make sense of it all. At first glance, cannabis reform appears to be humming along smoothly. Maryland, Missouri and Rhode Island approved legalization initiatives in 2022 as states such as New Mexico and New York raced to establish regulations for legal recreational sales. New laws in mostly blue states expunged cannabis arrests from criminal records for thousands of people. President Joe Biden made moves to pardon federal marijuana prisoners and reconsider the federal “scheduling” of marijuana...

New research finds that the two main ingredients in marijuana have opposing effects on it. The study examined 15 normal men who had previously smoked cannabis only a few times. Researchers exposed the men to each of the two most psychoactive ingredients in marijuana — delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) and compared their effects with those of a placebo while the participants performed a mental task.

The Ministry of Public Health will next year push for legalisation of all cannabis parts, lifting the last remaining hurdle preventing full use and commercialisation of the plant. Thailand earlier removed stems, roots, leaves and sprigs of cannabis from its Category 5 narcotics list, but kept flowers and buds on it. The new Narcotics Code no longer has cannabis and hemp on it. The next step is for the ministry to announce a revised narcotics list of all five categories based on the new law. Cannabis in all but one form will no longer be on it, minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. The only exception is cannabidiol (CBD) extracts with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) of more than 0.2%, he added. (See also: Rethinking cannabis)

It may be the next big thing after the cannabidiol (CBD) wave and its controversies: HHC, also known as “synthetic cannabis”. HHC sellers tout the euphoric sensations and mental and physical relaxation it brings. But health professionals worry it could get people hooked, and say it should be regulated. HHC stands for hexahydrocannabinol, a semi-synthetic molecule. That means it needs to be made in a laboratory, where the THC extracted from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) is combined with hydrogen molecules. HHC emerged in late 2021 in the United States and then became popular in Europe in 2022, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).

The Narcotics Control Board meeting has endorsed the Public Health Ministry's latest draft list of narcotic substances, in which all components of cannabis no longer appear as a Category 5 narcotic substance. After the meeting, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said this decision is in line with the government policy to promote the use of cannabis for medical, research and educational purposes. It also complies with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's order to have people benefit from cannabis. However, cannabis extracts must have less than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by weight. With cannabis legalisation being a flagship policy of Mr Anutin's Bhumjaithai Party, he said the party will propose a draft bill on the issue to the House of Representatives.

The notion that weed and schizophrenia are somehow related is by now a “water is wet” kind of non-statement. Scientists have been telling us for years that bongs aren’t good for the brain, and that heavy cannabis use—especially among adolescents—increases the risk of developing a psychotic disorder. But new research indicates our understanding of the relationship might have been one-sided. Because schizophrenia, in fact, may be contributing to your desire to get high. A study, published in Nature Neuroscience, states from the outset that “Cannabis use is a heritable trait that has been associated with adverse mental health outcomes.” (See also: Scientists identify 35 genes associated with cannabis use)

An analysis by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) concludes that most of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cannabis scheduling recommendations would either have little impact on international drug controls or actually tighten requirements. The analysis was provided to member states shortly before the start of the first in a series of UN meetings. The WHO recommendations are often celebrated as a positive step toward the easing of the international control of cannabis, which would be a positive development for the industry. But regarding practical implications in the level of international control, the INCB document found that, if adopted two recommendations would imply no meaningful change and two others would mean more control for pure THC.

Oxford scientists are to launch a major global trial to investigate whether cannabis-based medicine can treat people with psychosis or psychotic symptoms. Currently, cannabidiol (CBD) is only prescribed for a small number of conditions. “Cannabidiol is one of the most promising new treatments for people with psychosis,” said Oxford’s Prof Philip McGuire, who is leading the trial. “Many people with psychosis are open to trying cannabidiol and previous smaller-scale studies have indicated that it has beneficial effects.” (See also: Study reveals how CBD helps counter epileptic seizures)

Pharmacists in Belgium can now make and sell products containing cannabidiol (CBD), one of the active ingredients in the cannabis plant. The Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products has stated that it is lifting the ban on pharmacies preparing and selling products with the ingredient. The agency made the surprise announcement in a circular letter. It is effective immediately, on a prescription basis only. Kelly Vidts, brand manager of the Fagron pharmaceutical company, told De Standaard that apothecaries who order cannabidiol will be able to use it in different ways. “Pharmacists can use it to make an ointment, oil or pills,” she said. (See also: Police shut down pop singer’s shop selling cannabis oil)

Raphael Mechoulam, a pioneering Israeli chemist who is credited with opening the field of cannabis science after identifying the structure and function of the key compounds of cannabis, died on March 9 at his home in Jerusalem. He was 92. Professor Mechoulam’s groundbreaking work with cannabis began in the early 1960s, just before the use of marijuana and other drugs exploded in countries around the world, bringing seismic changes to popular culture while also kicking off decades-long battles about health effects and enforcement. His research earned him the unofficial title “the father of cannabis research.”

The Dutch government experiment with regulated marijuana cultivation must not give the impression that the state is encouraging the use of the drug, the ministers responsible for the trial have told MPs in a briefing. ‘On the contrary, using cannabis can lead to acute health problems, such as accidents, panic attacks and psychotic episodes,’ the ministers said. ‘It can also lead to addiction and lung problems, partly due to the way it is inhaled in combination with tobacco.’ For this reason, all the packaging will carry a compulsory health warning and there will be leaflets inside the packets with further warnings. The packaging should not be attractive and the THC-CBD levels in the drug should be indicated as well.

The use of cannabis medicines to treat people with depression, anxiety, psychosis or other mental health issues cannot be justified because there is little evidence that they work or are safe, according to a major new study. A review of evidence from trials conducted over nearly 40 years, published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry, concludes that the risks outweigh the benefits. And yet, say the authors, they are being given to people with mental health problems in Australia, the US and Canada, and demand is likely to grow. (See also: A big study on weed and mental health reveals just how little we know| Can we make cannabis safer?)

El CBD se ha convertido en uno de los productos derivados de la marihuana que mayor popularidad ha ganado en toda España, a pesar de su polémico origen. Un exitoso componente de la planta del cannabis, cuya comercialización ha sido aprobada por el Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea (TJUE). Concretamente, la legislación española no cuenta con amplios instrumentos legales que establezcan regulaciones y controles en torno a la comercialización del CBD. Por este motivo, para onocer el estado de legalidad de este popular y beneficioso componente de la marihuana, es necesario acudir a las normativas internacionales de estupefacientes.