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sunday, april 6,
THe GuarDian www.ngrguardiannews.com
newsFeaTure
GrowinG DruG usaGe: Launch into Medical Marijuana, nations watch Cautiously
Processed marijuana on display, intended for medical purposes (Inset: the weed farm)
By Fabian Odum n alagbado, a Lagos suburb, there are pockets of marijuana (indian hemp)-smoking joints in different areas, usually adjoining residential neighborhood, while other convergence points for smokers are isolated. as early as 5.30am, in one of the residential estates’ play ground at ijaiye, young men and older adults, including lay-abouts take the lead, but other ‘respectable’ people come around, too. They poke their fingers into crevices in a nearby carpenter’s shed and makeshift kiosks, where wraps of the weed had been hidden for the next morning round. Lighters and match boxes are never in short supply, but if sellers of these items hope to make money from these class of consumers, they are mistaken; once one is lit, others take the fire to their cold stubs and on it goes. and all through the city, exists an army of indian hemp smokers, who even dare law
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Weed smoking, reaching for the highs
enforcement authorities by smoking in the open and public places, like bus stop rain shelters and rail tracks. uncompleted buildings or abandoned properties, even vehicles hold prime place in the choice of smoking hubs. This is akin to what the state of Colorado, united states calls ‘recreational marijuana’ for which an industry has recently been opened, the first in the united states and washington, also. The dealing in ‘pot’ is still a no-go area federally in the us except for states that have given its use by the public a legal approval. For such states as alaska, arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, new Mexico, new Hampshire and eight others, users can have it administered as medical marijuana while it has been decriminalised in 14 states. uruguay, a country of 3.3million people, was the first to legalise the drug, by allowing citizens to grow six marijuana plants in their
homes per year, or as much as 480 grams and forming smoking clubs of 15 to 45 members that can grow up to 99 plants per year. The Guardian inquiry revealed that in the netherlands, india, spain, switzerland, iran, Cambodia, Portugal and russia, it is a more liberalised environment for users.
from some severe health conditions, olatunji said. while many worry themselves sore, justifiably so, about the negative sides of the deal, drugs manufacturers and researchers are extracting medically active ingredients for inclusion in the various world pharmacopeia. in the formulation of some drugs, experts say iKe the gradual creeping into the society of certain chemicals that have similar attributes as same sex marriage, legalising of marijuana those that exist in marijuana plant have been is gradually inching its way to communities, used. states and countries of the world. Biochemically, drugs have particular pathways it is huge business for wheelers and dealers, in the Kreb Cycle (of the human body metabobut the money generated have been linked to lism) and that is to say even marijuana has a several crime rings, gunrunners and even terspecific way in which the brain processes it. rorism, according to reports by notable world Pharmaceutical drugs based on marijuana are organisations. already in existence though some are yet to be a nigerian medic, academic and a deputy approved and undergoing clinical trials. They commissioner of police, Dr. wilson akhiwu include: says there are two sides of medic marijuana, • sativex, direct marijuana extract used as the positive and negative, and care must be mouth spray, whose chemical compound is exercised in its administration. derived from natural extracts of the plant. Doctors know marijuana is generally harmful, Medical use: quite so, he stressed, adding that it is more used in treatment of neuropathic pain and addictive than cigarette and there are many spasticity in patients with Multiple sclerosis problems associated with it. (Ms); analgesic treatment in adult patients with it is quite understood by medical experts that advanced cancer, who experience moderate to being so, many people cannot leave it. “it caus- severe pain. es psychiatric problems for people who are its current standing is that: the uK, since June pre-disposed,” akhiwu held. 21, 2010, has made it the first cannabis-based The regulatory capacity of the agencies of gov- prescription medicine in the world. approved ernment in the country is in doubt as the sen- for use in spain, Canada, Czech republic, ior cop puts it: “The problem is that we will not Denmark (June 8, 2011), Germany (July 4, 2011), be able to regulate the use in nigeria, things sweden (December 22, 2011), austria (February 7, are hardly ever properly regulated. if people 2012), italy (May 7, 2013), and switzerland now know that it has some uses, there would (november 27, 2013). it is also approved in be an abuse for an already abused drug - that is Finland, israel, norway, and Poland. •Dronabinol/Marinol has found medical use in the big issue.” it is different strokes for different folks. while treatment of nausea and vomiting for patients activists and marijuana advocates think legali- in cancer treatment; appetite stimulant for sation would cut down the cost on americanaiDs patients and analgesic to ease neuropathic led war on drugs, and sales would generate pain in multiple sclerosis patients. revenue for the state, cynics have their conof its status, this drug is FDa-approved in cerns. They say the stuff would find their way united states for appetite stimulation (1992) to teens, though legally, only those above 21 and for nausea (1985); also in Denmark for mulmay make purchases. tiple sclerosis (september 2003), Canada for Mr. Koolchap olatunji, national secretary of aiDs-related anorexia (april 2000) and for nauthe association of Community Pharmacists of sea and vomiting associated with cancer nigeria (aCPn) and researcher in the field chemotherapy (1988). observed that marijuana gives narcotic effect; a some of the drugs (made from synthetic chemfeeling of “getting high,” elated and performicals that have semblance to that in the plant) ance booster. have not been approved by regulatory agencies Marijuana can be smoked, just like cigarette to give the desired effect, providing a fast relief CONTINUED ON PAGE...
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