The subject of medicinal cannabis has long been a point of contention, sparking fierce debates in both the medical community and the general public. Despite its polarising nature, it is imperative to examine the potential of medicinal cannabis in the context of healthcare, particularly its applicability to mental health. Considering Australia’s burgeoning focus on mental health, illustrated by government initiatives and the increasing prevalence of telehealth services (Parsa-Parsi, 2017), an evaluation of medicinal cannabis merits serious consideration. In this article, we aim to shed light on the scientific evidence backing the medicinal uses of cannabis, its safety profile, legal implications, and its possible significance to mental healthcare. The subject of medicinal cannabis has long been a point of contention, sparking fierce debates in both the medical community and the general public. Despite its polarising nature, it is imperative to examine the potential of medicinal cannabis in the context of healthcare, particularly its applicability to mental health. Considering Australia’s burgeoning focus on mental health, illustrated by government initiatives and the increasing prevalence of telehealth services (Parsa-Parsi, 2017), an evaluation of medicinal cannabis merits serious consideration. In this article, we aim to shed light on the scientific evidence backing the medicinal uses of cannabis, its safety profile, legal implications, and its possible significance to mental healthcare.
Therapeutic Applications
Pain Management
Cannabis has been used for centuries as a form of medication for various conditions. One of the most robust areas of research lies in its application for pain management. A meta-analysis by Whiting et al. (2015) found moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain. This application could be pivotal in tackling Australia’s opioid crisis, providing a less addictive alternative for pain relief (Campbell et al., 2018).
Mental Health
Particularly relevant to the Australian mental health landscape, there’s evidence to suggest that medicinal cannabis may have utility in treating conditions such as anxiety and depression (Cuttler, Spradlin & McLaughlin, 2018). It is not a panacea but could be considered an additional tool in the therapeutic arsenal, complementing existing psychological interventions.
Epilepsy
Significantly, cannabis has also shown promise in the management of treatment-resistant epilepsy. A study by Devinsky et al. (2017) reported a median reduction of 38.9% in monthly motor seizures among patients treated with cannabidiol (CBD). This could potentially provide new avenues of treatment where traditional pharmaceuticals have failed.
Safety Profile
When discussing the medicinal application of any substance, the safety profile cannot be overlooked. While cannabis is generally considered to have a favourable safety profile, there are important caveats. For instance, the risk of developing mental health issues such as psychosis is increased among users of high-THC strains (Di Forti et al., 2019). This underlines the importance of a controlled, medical framework for cannabis distribution, which could ensure the provision of strains that maximise therapeutic benefits while minimising risks.
Legal Implications
In Australia, medicinal cannabis is legal for certain conditions under strict regulation (Therapeutic Goods Administration, 2021). However, there’s a need to expedite the process of legalisation and standardisation for broader therapeutic use. This not only aligns with global trends but would also facilitate research, thereby empowering healthcare providers like Therapy Near Me to offer a wider range of evidence-based treatments.
Policy Recommendations for Australia
Given Australia’s commitment to low-cost, high-quality healthcare, integrating medicinal cannabis into the healthcare system would not only serve the diverse needs of patients but could also stimulate economic growth through domestic production. Moreover, this could enhance Australia’s capability to secure government contracts for healthcare provision.
1. Public Awareness: Dissemination of evidence-based information to de-stigmatise medicinal cannabis.
2. Research and Development: Investing in high-quality studies to expand the evidence base.
3. Regulatory Reforms: Streamlining the existing approval process to make it more accessible for healthcare providers.
4. Quality Control: Ensuring stringent quality checks for safe and effective strains.
5. Telehealth Services: Particularly given the growth of telehealth services, there’s a strong argument to be made for allowing qualified healthcare professionals to prescribe medicinal cannabis through telehealth platforms, in line with existing models for other forms of medication.
Conclusion
Medicinal cannabis presents a paradox: it is both one of the most polarising and promising topics in contemporary healthcare. The available scientific evidence, while not unequivocal, indicates potential benefits that cannot be ignored. By adopting a more progressive stance towards medicinal cannabis, Australia has the opportunity to lead in providing comprehensive, evidence-based mental healthcare. Furthermore, this would align well with the goals of forward-thinking healthcare providers committed to delivering cost-effective yet high-quality services.
References
Campbell, G., Hall, W. D., Peacock, A., Lintzeris, N., Bruno, R., Larance, B., … & Degenhardt, L. (2018). Effect of cannabis use in people with chronic non-cancer pain prescribed opioids: findings from a 4-year prospective cohort study. *The Lancet Public Health*, 3(7), e341-e350.
Cuttler, C., Spradlin, A., & McLaughlin, R. J. (2018). A naturalistic examination of the perceived effects of cannabis on negative affect. *Journal of Affective Disorders*, 235, 198-205.
Devinsky, O., Cross, J. H., Laux, L., Marsh, E., Miller, I., Nabbout, R., … & Wright, S. (2017). Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome. *New England Journal of Medicine*, 376(21), 2011-2020.
Di Forti, M., Quattrone, D., Freeman, T. P., Tripoli, G., Gayer-Anderson, C., Quigley, H., … & La Cascia, C. (2019). The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study. *The Lancet Psychiatry*, 6(5), 427-436.
Parsa-Parsi, R. W. (2017). The Revised Declaration of Geneva: A Modern-Day Physician’s Pledge. *JAMA*, 318(20), 1971–1972.
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2021). Access to medicinal cannabis products: steps to using access schemes. Retrieved from https://www.tga.gov.au/access-medicinal-cannabis-products-steps-using-access-schemes
Whiting, P. F., Wolff, R. F., Deshpande, S., Di Nisio, M., Duffy, S., Hernandez, A. V., … & Schmidlkofer, S. (2015). Cannabinoids for medical use: A systematic review and meta-analysis. *JAMA*, 313(24), 2456-2473.
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If you or your patient/NDIS clients need immediate mental healthcare assistance, feel free to get in contact with us on 1800 NEAR ME – admin@calmandcaring.com.
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