High Maintenance
Medical marijuana has been a hot topic for a long time and
while it’s still illegal in South Africa, Terence Pillay shines a light on the
people canvassing for its legalisation.
Take a listen to the podcast below or read the blog:
Dagga, pot, weed, dope – these are the common street names for marijuana or cannabis. It’s also what most people who come into contact with the substance are familiar with. But there is a whole industry that goes beyond the drug people many people are using recreationally.
The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions. In fact, in 2014 South African MP Mario Oriani-Ambrosini introduced the Medical Innovation Bill in Parliament. Ambrosini was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and commenced a campaign to legalise the medical use of cannabis. Unfortunately, Ambrosini lost his battle with cancer and the bill remains rejected by parliament. So while many states in countries like America have legalised the medical use of marijuana, it remains illegal in South Africa.
Paul Jones is a dispenser of cannabis products that he claims treat everything from cancer to HIV and claims his case studies or patients as he refers to them as have seen remarkable changes to their condition.
Because the marijuana plant contains chemicals that may help treat a range of illnesses and symptoms, many people in South Africa, like Paul, argue that it should be legal for medical purposes.
You can email Terence Pillay at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter: @terencepillay1 and engage with him there