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8 min read
Sam North
World Health Day is upon us once more, and with it comes the opportunity to reflect on how the World Health Organisation (WHO) has helped shape recent global medical cannabis policies, changed public perception towards this intriguing plant, and continues to lead the way in promoting health and well-being for all.
With legal cannabis-based medical treatment slowly branching out across the globe, new patients are constantly looking to learn more about the power of cannabis sativa L. It's important to recognise the role of WHO in this changing landscape.
While the organisation's early research into the plant stayed very much in line with the political thinking of the time, there was a substantial shift in attitude in June 2018. A 'pre-review' by WHO spurred a more in-depth report of the plant's potential therapeutic applications, and the results were not what most expected...
Since then, WHO continued to push for evidence-based policies and promote the use of medical cannabis for a variety of conditions.
The World Health Organisation is an international agency of 194 Member States. With more than 8000 active members, including doctors, epidemiologists, scientists, and managers, the WHO brings together the world's leading public health experts, allowing them to coordinate a global response to health emergencies and address the most pressing health challenges of our time.
Established in 1948 through the United Nations, its goal is to build a better, healthier future for people all over the world while also protecting the vulnerable right now.
If the past few years haven't laid bare the obvious need for a global health authority, we don't know what will. WHO has been pivotal in recent global actions to fight health crises, highlighted by the recent global pandemic.
COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika viruses have all been met with a coordinated international response led by WHO in the past decade. WHO works closely with governments and other international organisations to shape health policies, set evidence-based standards for care, and provide technical support and funding for medical research.
2018 was a big year for medical cannabis.
On 1 November 2018, after decades of lobbying, cannabis-based medical treatment options were finally legalised here in the UK.
This unexpected backflip in policy came after more than a handful of high-profile cases of chronically ill patients being denied access to medical-grade cannabis oil and having to travel overseas to receive the life-saving treatment.
It is thought that WHO, and a specific report prepared in 2018, also played a significant role in this groundbreaking decision. The review, which was conducted by the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, went into great detail on the history, therapeutic potential, general pharmacology, and potential adverse effects of the cannabinoids THC and CBD, as well as cannabis extract and THC isomers.
Up until the release of this report, WHO had a history of being extremely cautious in its approach to medical cannabis, sticking closely to the long-held stance that it had no medicinal value.
In short, that certain cannabinoids offer a range of therapeutic benefits and have a much lower potential for harm than previously thought.
Regarding cannabidiol (CBD), the Committee advised against scheduling pure CBD products under the International Drug Control Conventions. They highlighted ongoing research into CBD's therapeutic uses across a range of clinical applications. Notably, trials have shown a pure CBD product (Epidyolex) to be effective in treating forms of epilepsy like Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, which often do not respond well to other medications.
For THC, the recommendations were a little more reserved, but still demonstrated that the overall stance of WHO had changed. While the report does mention that THC has shown at least partial effectiveness in reducing neuropathic pain, anxiety, and spasticity, aiding weight gain, pain management, and improving tics in Tourette syndrome patients, it did not go as far as recommending the removal of scheduling at that point.
Scheduling is how drugs are classified.
When a drug is scheduled, regulatory bodies take into account the potential for abuse, and also any medical or therapeutic benefits. Schedules range from I-IV, with Schedule I being the most restricted and Schedule IV being the least dangerous.
Nothing has changed since 2019, unfortunately.
A vote was supposed to take place regarding the recommendations in March 2020 at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, but it was postponed due to COVID-19. This was rescheduled for December 2020, but from our research, it seems to have never taken place.
So, as it stands, WHO regards:
While we would love to see these recommendations voted on and fully implemented, we cannot deny that the shift in WHO's stance is a great start. It has opened up the conversation for more evidence-based policies surrounding medical cannabis and has made it easier for countries to consider legalising cannabis medicine options.
It has also allowed medical researchers much easier access to funding for cannabis clinical trials and other research projects. This will undoubtedly lead to more concrete scientific data that can help shape future policies.
The WHO review has certainly played a significant role in the shift towards more progressive medical (and in some countries, recreational) cannabis policies around the world. Here in the UK, Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer at the time, was tasked with preparing a report on the use of medical cannabis. It is assumed that the shift in WHO's stance and the Expert Committee's recommendations were reviewed as part of this process.
This report was then used to inform policymakers, leading to the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK in November 2018. Other countries, such as Canada, Brazil, and Germany, have also cited the WHO review in their decision to legalise medical cannabis.
World Health Day is a global health awareness day, organised by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness about important health issues impacting our world. Each year, a different theme is chosen to highlight a specific area of global health concern.
World Health Day is celebrated each and every year on April 7th.
The theme for World Health Day 2024 is 'My health, my right’. This theme was chosen to highlight the fact that around 4.5 billion people (more than half the global population) around the world do not have access to essential health services.
The aim is to promote universal health coverage and advocate for everyone's right to have basic access to quality health services without facing financial hardship.
All said and done, WHO's shift in stance may seem like a small step, but it is, in fact, a giant leap towards more evidence-based medical cannabis policies globally.
Hopefully, the stigmatisation and negative propaganda that have plagued medical cannabis for the past 120 years are a thing of the past. With the world's leading medical body now openly stating that cannabinoids do have a place in modern medicine, we can only hope that this will lead to more support and understanding.
We see a bright future ahead, and in the next few years, expect big things to happen. Not only as a result of the WHO's recommendations but also because of the global shift towards a more open-minded approach to cannabis in general. We believe that cannabis-based medicine can help people, especially in cases where conventional approaches have failed, and it looks like the world is starting to see it that way too.
It is important to seek medical advice before starting any new treatments. The patient advisors at Releaf are available to provide expert advice and support. Alternatively, click here to book a consultation with one of our specialist doctors.
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Am I eligible?Sam North, a seasoned writer with over five years' experience and expertise in medicinal cannabis, brings clarity to complex concepts, focusing on education and informed use.
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