Cannabis approved for cancer patients in Chile

First legal cannabis harvest in Chile

09/04/2015

After harshly prosecuting and punishing cannabis possession in Chile for decades, the country has become the first state in South America to approve medicinal marijuana. Since the change in the law last year, the cultivation of hemp for medical use is now legal. In the meantime, the first plants have already been harvested and processed in order to distribute the resulting medicinal products to needy cancer patients.

In the municipality of La Florida, Santiago de Chile, cannabis was legally harvested for the first time five months after sowing, according to the news agency „APA“ citing the radio station „Radio Cooperativa.“. For further processing into medicines, the flowers and leaves of a total of 850 hemp plants were picked. The resulting medicinal products should be distributed free of charge to 200 cancer patients. The example of the municipality La Florida should follow 20 other Chilean communities, the „APA“ continue.

Free cannabis therapy for cancer patients
From the plants of the first legal Hanfernte in Chile is won, according to the news agency hemp oil that can be used for pain treatment. In the context of a clinical study for the treatment of cancer patients with the help of cannabis, the study participants will be offered the treatment free of charge. The scientists hope to find out if and how cannabis can help with the medical care of cancer patients. The Daya Foundation played a key role in the cultivation project, which among other things advocates the provision of pain-relieving preparations for cancer patients, according to the news agency „APA“. In view of the success of the current project, the foundation hopes for an extension of the initiative. 20 other Chilean communities could grow cannabis for cancer patients using the same model in the near future. (Fp)

Image: Petra Bork