Spectrum of histopathological lesion in surgically removed appendix

Abstract

The background to this debate about legitimising cannabis (also called marijuana)—from the plant Cannabis sativa for analgesic use is that the drug has been used both therapeutically and recreationally for thousands of years. In Britain doctors were able to prescribe cannabis as recently as 1971and in a 1994 survey 74% of UK doctors wanted cannabis to be available on prescription, as it had been until 1971. The debate has included both the natural chemicals that act on cannabinoid receptors and the synthetic cannabinoid. The synthetic nabilone is the only legally available cannabinoid preparation in the United Kingdom and is licensed solely for use in nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most potent cannabinoid, and although it is available in the United States, it is not licensed for use in the United Kingdom.

Keywords: cannabinoids, marijuana