Mission Angel Dust, the anti-narcotic arm of Yenepoya University, is conducting a seminar on the medicinal value of the marijuana or cannabis plant at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to Shreekumar Menon, University Registrar, and CEO, Mission Angel Dust, the cannabis plant has a history of medicinal use in different cultures. The whole unprocessed marijuana plant and its basic extracts are used to treat a variety of ailments.
Marijuana contains hundreds of chemicals, especially Tetra Hydro Cannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), that are extremely powerful and hence of medical interest, Dr. Menon said. THC can increase appetite and reduce nausea, decrease pain, inflammation and muscle control problems. CBD is reportedly effective in controlling epileptic seizures, and even treating mental illness.
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Recent studies show that marijuana extracts may help kill certain cancer cells and reduce the size of others. The legalisation of marijuana for medical treatment is still a controversial subject. Currently, India has around 3 million cancer patients and this figure is expected to reach 11 million by 2025. Medical marijuana could be the poor man’s answer to expensive cancer drugs.