Cannabis, on its way to modern medicine

The medicinal use of Cannabis is slowly gaining a more general acceptance worldwide. Canada (since 2001) and The Netherlands (since 2003) have government-run programmes, in which quality-controlled herbal Cannabis is supplied by specialized and licensed companies. In this presentation, a wide review will be given of all aspects of the Cannabis plant, its constituents, and their application in medicine and research. All data is based on scientific findings, with special attention for the results obtained through the Dutch medicinal Cannabis program over the last years. The presentation will cover topics such as: botanical information and varieties of Cannabis; chemical composition; analytical aspects; the endocannabinoid system; pharmaceutical development of natural cannabinoids; clinical trials; and the legal and practical aspects of performing scientific studies. The final goal is to better understand the status quo of Cannabis research, and to see the current opportunities for further studies into the medical applications of Cannabis.

Keywords: Cannabis, cannabinoids, THC, cultivation, quality control, administration forms, clinical trials