Medical marijuana. What can we learn from the experiences in Canada, Germany and Thailand?
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Medical marijuana. What can we learn from the experiences in Canada, Germany and Thailand? / Rehm, Jürgen; Elton-Marshall, Tara; Sornpaisarn, Bundit; Manthey, Jakob.
In: INT J DRUG POLICY, Vol. 74, 12.2019, p. 47-51.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Medical marijuana. What can we learn from the experiences in Canada, Germany and Thailand?
AU - Rehm, Jürgen
AU - Elton-Marshall, Tara
AU - Sornpaisarn, Bundit
AU - Manthey, Jakob
PY - 2019/12
Y1 - 2019/12
N2 - Cannabis policies are changing globally, and medical marijuana programs are part of these changes. Drawing from the examples of two high-income (Canada, an early adopter of medical marijuana, and Germany, a late adopter) and one middle-income (Thailand) countries, we illustrate two main pressures underlying these recent changes. First, in many high-income countries, cannabis has been used to self-medicate for different ailments and diseases, even though there is no evidence of effectiveness for many of these conditions. Second, the cannabis industry is pressuring governments and decision-makers to allow for medical marijuana use with lenient regulations-without specifying medical conditions (indications) and requiring only a prescription from a health professional to obtain it. As a result, demand is likely to increase, even in countries with low prevalence of use. Cannabis policy-makers need to consider a balance between the medical benefits of medical marijuana and the potential public health consequences and cost.
AB - Cannabis policies are changing globally, and medical marijuana programs are part of these changes. Drawing from the examples of two high-income (Canada, an early adopter of medical marijuana, and Germany, a late adopter) and one middle-income (Thailand) countries, we illustrate two main pressures underlying these recent changes. First, in many high-income countries, cannabis has been used to self-medicate for different ailments and diseases, even though there is no evidence of effectiveness for many of these conditions. Second, the cannabis industry is pressuring governments and decision-makers to allow for medical marijuana use with lenient regulations-without specifying medical conditions (indications) and requiring only a prescription from a health professional to obtain it. As a result, demand is likely to increase, even in countries with low prevalence of use. Cannabis policy-makers need to consider a balance between the medical benefits of medical marijuana and the potential public health consequences and cost.
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.09.001
DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.09.001
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 31525639
VL - 74
SP - 47
EP - 51
JO - INT J DRUG POLICY
JF - INT J DRUG POLICY
SN - 0955-3959
ER -