Using cannabis frequently (daily or almost daily) and over a long time (several months or years) can[1]:

• Hurt your lungs and make it harder to breathe, if smoked
• Cannabis smoke may contain many of the same harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke
• Affect your mental health
• Frequent use of THC based products over a long time increases the risk of cannabis dependence
• Increased risk of developing psychotic disorders
• Early exposure of cannabis use during the adolescent years can impair brain development and functioning
• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease

[1] Weinstein, AM, Cohen, K. Synthetic and Non-synthetic Cannabinoid Drugs and Their Adverse Effects-A Review from Public Health Prospective. Frontiers in Public Health 2018; 6:1-8. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2018.00162.

Cannabinoids are chemicals which interact with the endocannabinoid system in mammals. These can be found in the Cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids), endogenously derived (endocannabinoids) or synthesised chemically. Research has found that the cannabis plant produces approximately 120 cannabinoids and about 300 non-cannabinoid chemicals. The two main clinically relevant cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The most commonly known of the two is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical that is primarily responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis.

The Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA) is the sole regulator, that is mandated to create and position the local medicinal cannabis industry as a global centre of excellence in training, certification, research and development and to provide a high quality, accessible and advanced patient-centric environment to qualifying individuals.

The BMCLA also ensures that the safety of the public and consumers of medicinal cannabis and its by-products are adequately protected, by appropriately regulating the importation, sale, distribution, possession, purchase, manufacture, cultivation, transportation and exportation of medicinal cannabis.

There are two major concerns regarding smoking medicinal cannabis.

Firstly, smoking is a particularly harmful way of taking medicinal cannabis, mainly because it poses comparable risks for bronchitis and lung cancer, as is the smoking of cigarettes. Smoking medicinal cannabis is not permitted by local or international Health authorities.

Secondly, approved medicines used in Barbados are produced under strict conditions to ensure efficacy and safety. It is important that medical doctors know that medicines have been tested and are standardized by dose and therapeutic response. This means doctors can monitor the effects of the drug and doses can be adjusted according to a patient’s needs.

It is understood that smoked cannabis will not be prescribed in Barbados because smoked plant products will not satisfy governmental requirements.

A patient who needs to change his or her caregiver should notify his or her medical practitioner of the change, and give that medical practitioner such information as the medical practitioner may require in respect of the new caregiver.

Some people use medicinal cannabis for their health problems. Deciding if medicinal cannabis is appropriate to treat your symptoms is best done in discussion with your doctor.Research so far has suggested that cannabinoid therapy is promising for the treatment of a number of different conditions.