SIX YEARS AFTER LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL USE: DID WE MAKE A MISTAKE?

Abstract

The both form of Cannabis oil (THC and CBD) are approved for medical use in North Macedonia since February 2016. The aim of the study was to analyze the benefits and eventual troubles caused by legalization of cannabis for medical use. For that purpose we analyzed the Register of the Health Fund Insurance for prescript doses of both types of cannabis oil in last six years, The Annual Bulletins of car accidents caused by Cannabis abuse from the Ministry of Interior in last twelve years, the patients observed with ultrasound examination after cancers in our Ultrasound cabinet in last six years, and the number of patients registered after abuse of psychoactive substances in our Poisoning Information System in last twelve years. The number of sold Cannabis oil have continues trend of growing in the last six years, from 14.327 doses in 2016 to 47.653 in 2022, More than 97% of the sold bottles are with pure CBD oil, mostly 12%. More than 65% of the patients examined in our ultrasound cabinet after different types of cancers, used Cannabis oil during their treatment with cytostatics. There weren’t noticed any significant disturbances in the number of car accidents after abuse of cannabis, and abuse of PAS after legalization of cannabis for medical use. Legalization of cannabis for medical use was a brave but successful step forward that gave another opportunity for treatment of some medical conditions without any significant side effects for patients and our society.