A scientific and open view

In 2017 the Dutch cabinet of the day announced plans to let a select group of municipalities experiment with regulating / decriminalising / legalising cannabis. A good idea — the current tolerance policy, where coffeeshops are allowed to sell cannabis but not to buy it, and growing the plant is forbidden, isn’t exactly bursting with internal logic. Various models were floated for how the experiment might work: state-grown cannabis, social clubs, cultivation permits. Several municipalities indicated they were willing to take on the grower role, but only for cannabis with a THC content below 15% — because indications exist that using stronger strains can sometimes lead to psychosis, and the municipalities did not want to risk municipally-caused psychoses. “Indications”, “sometimes”, “can”… (sigh). Solid factual knowledge seemed hard to find.

A real cannabis experiment is now running in a handful of Dutch municipalities. The core of the discussion has barely shifted in all those years — so the old point stands.

What’s actually in it?

A fact: cannabis contains several active compounds, each with its own action — but they also influence each other.

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the best-known cannabinoid and is psychoactive — that’s what recreational users are looking for. THC is what makes you stoned. Research is ongoing into possible effects on tumour growth and on symptom relief for various conditions — chronic pain, MS-related spasticity and glaucoma among them. The scientific support varies per indication, and not every claim circulating in the public debate is well evidenced.

CBD (cannabidiol) is a second important cannabinoid — non-psychoactive, and the subject of a lot of recent research. Studies point to possible activity in inflammation reduction, neuropathic pain, certain forms of epilepsy (such as Dravet syndrome), and anxiety. CBD oils are now available at every drugstore or health-food shop — though not every claim on those bottles is equally well-evidenced.

The entourage effect

When THC and CBD are combined, something magical happens. There’s a well-known term — the so-called entourage effect — that describes how the two cannabinoids appear to shape each other’s properties. Pure THC can cause anxiety or stress in some users; in combination with CBD, users report more relaxation and positive feelings. CBD also seems to amplify THC’s pain-relieving properties.

THC and CBD are only two of the many active compounds in cannabis. There’s also CBC (cannabichromene), CBG (cannabigerol), and CBN (cannabinol) — all part of a family of more than a hundred cannabinoids with varied properties.

Finally

It’s time we stopped demonising this remarkable plant and using it for fear-mongering, and instead looked at it with a scientific and open mind. We humans have used it for more than 6,000 years — so…