The Leaf THE LEAF July-August 2019 | Page 6

“In adults with multiple sclerosis (MS)- related spasticity, short-term use of oral cannabinoids improves patient-reported spasticity symptoms.” Smoking weed was also proved to help athletic performance as it deepens concentration, increases tissue oxygenation, and decreases muscle spasms before, during and after exercise. The extensive 395-page report unearthed more than 100 conclusions about the health effects of recreational and therapeutic cannabis use. The nature of the relationship between cannabis and psychiatric disorders has been hotly debated for decades, with the report confirming it does have risks. “Cannabis use is likely to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychoses; the higher the use the greater the risk,” the report read. However, research found smoking weed did not appear to increase the likelihood of developing depression, anxiety or PTSD. It also addressed the risk of cancer from smoking. “The evidence suggests that smoking cannabis does not increase the risk for certain cancers (i.e., lung, head, and neck) in adults,” it read. And while it did admit smoking cannabis on a regular basis is associated with chronic cough and phlegm production, it explained consuming the drug orally will likely reduce these symptoms. The report also confirmed the many therapeutic effects of weed. “In adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, oral cannabinoids are effective antiemetics,” the report read. “In adults with chronic pain, patients who were treated with cannabis or cannabinoids are more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms. WHAT VIEW AUSTRALIA’S POLITICAL PARTIES HOLD Australia is slowly taking steps to change its stance on weed, with Victoria becoming the first state to legalise marijuana for young children suffering from epilepsy, while NSW also allows use for patients suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer or multiple sclerosis. Queensland’s laws are the most flexible in the country, which grant patients of any age or suffering from a range of illnesses access to medicinal cannabis products. Tasmania allows medical cannabis in limited circumstances where conventional treatment has been unsuccessful, as does Western Australia, South Australia, the NT and the ACT. The Greens are the only political party to be pushing to make cannabis recreationally legal, with Labor and the LNP only showing support for medical marijuana at a federal level. However, a bill for the legalisation of cannabis in the ACT is currently before the territory’s legislative assembly, with support from both Greens and Labor. The Liberal Democrats also support legalisation, with Senator Leyonhjelm’s main argument against the prohibition of cannabis being "adults should be free to make their own choices as long as they do not harm others".