Source: PIB
Context: Jammu is set to lead India’s first Cannabis Medicine Project, a collaboration between CSIR-IIIM Jammu and a Canadian firm under PPP.
Aim:
- The project aims to harness the potential of cannabis for medical purposes, particularly in treating neuropathies, cancer, and epilepsy.
- To address drug abuse awareness in J&K and Punjab
- Emphasizing the medicinal benefits of cannabis.
Significance:
- The cannabis research project holds promise for discovering therapeutic properties of the plant, previously known for abuse, and obtaining regulatory approvals for clinical studies and drug development.
- It will foster investment opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir
- The project will boost CSIR-IIIM’s reputation as a prestigious scientific research institute in India
About Cannabis:
Cannabis (also called marijuana ), a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant, has been used for recreational and medicinal purposes for centuries. In India, possession of prohibited drugs is an offence, but medical use is allowed. Cannabis-based medical treatment utilizes compounds like THC and CBD to manage conditions like chronic pain, nausea, muscle spasms, and epilepsy, interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system.
