The cultivation of cannabis has been legal in Italy for several years, subject to growers’ compliance with certain obligations before engaging in this activity.
Let’s find out everything there is to know about THC treatment of legal cannabis, in order to understand when this procedure can prove really useful.
What is the cultivation of legal cannabis?
When we talk about legal cannabis, it’s usually in association with the adjective sativa, indicating its membership of the cannabinaceae family, which can grow to over 7 metres in height.
This plant is available in the dioecious variant, meaning it has both a female and a male plant, or in the monoecious variant, in which the plant has both sexual genders, and can self-reproduce without any type of external input.
If you are interested in growing cannabis, this is the only type of plant you can consider to start your legal cultivation, as other types of the same variety are prohibited by law.
Cannabis sativa may also be called cannabis light and, although apparently very similar to the better known marijuana, it does not have the effects and active ingredients that make this plant a rather potent and dangerous drug.
Since 2016 it has been possible to purchase the plant, which can be consumed and taken in various circumstances, which we will explore later.
The role of THC in legal cannabis crops
THC is a cannabinoid that belongs to the family of opiates and may be present in some plant species, such as cannabis.
This active ingredient is extremely dangerous because it causes psychotropic effects related to the intake and assimilation of substances contained in cannabis.
This could cause side effects such as lack of awareness, tremors, agitation, a sense of alienation from reality and many other phenomena that may prove dangerous to the health of the individual.
To ensure that the cannabis grown is completely legal, it is important to be aware that you must buy seeds of proven provenance and variety, as any plants that contain less than 0.2% THC are permitted.
For this reason, it is a good idea to rely on certified producers who supply seeds accompanied by a tracking document containing all the information relating to a specific batch of seeds, but also certificates and tags which must be kept for at least 12 months along with the sales invoice, as they may be required if the authorities decide to carry out specific checks on your plants.
If excessively high amounts of this substance were found during such an inspection, the production and origin of the seeds would be investigated.
In some cases, penalties could be imposed on both the grower and the seller of the seeds and, if necessary, the authorities could order the destruction of the entire crop.
THC is normally used to stimulate appetite and reduce nausea and pain, which can often be very difficult to manage.
For this reason, in some cases, cannabis is used as a medicine, particularly for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
Are there any benefits to using legal cannabis?
Legal cannabis has numerous benefits and applications in different spheres and can lead to improvements in health.
Users of the substance could benefit in cases of anxiety, stress, obsessive compulsive disorders or to combat trauma caused by a violent event.
At the same time, the plant is highly recommended for the treatment of epileptic seizures or convulsions, as well as skin disorders and inflammatory diseases.
Possible contraindications
There is a remote possibility that side effects may arise due to the presence of another active ingredient, namely CBD; however, unlike THC, this is completely natural and has a beneficial effect on the human body, without compromising the user’s judgement and alertness.
Clearly, care is required here too, as substance abuse is never a good thing.
Contraindications may arise if the treatment lasts for a long period, since in addition to symptoms such as headaches and stomach pains, the body may adapt to the characteristics of the product and no longer receive any benefit from taking it.
Cannabis and its role in medicine
When we talk about cannabis for medical use, we refer to therapeutic cannabis administered through medicines, taken by the patient only when explicitly prescribed by their doctor.
These medicines can be taken orally, topically or by inhalation, since the aim is to convey them into the bloodstream, so that they can easily reach the organs and tissues that require the action of this component for their benefit.
When choosing the best method of administration, it is always advisable to consult your trusted doctor, who will recommend the most appropriate solution according to the problem to be treated.
The various products that can be produced from a legal cannabis cultivation
A large number of products can be made with legal cannabis, and they vary according to the ultimate use the customer decides to make of it.
Among the products currently most in demand on the market are cannabis oil, resin, decarboxylated capsules, sprays, decoctions and infusions.
Each of these products is prescribed to treat different symptoms, as these substances are intended to combat some irritating and painful phenomena.
A decoction, for example, can be used to treat chronic pain and prevent the onset of cramps, nausea and diarrhea, but at the same time can play an important role in relieving the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (pms) or alleviating sleep-related issues.
The spray, like the oil, can be combined with other preparations or taken under the tongue.
There are also tinctures which can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic and are administered by dropper under the tongue; these are used to treat specific problems.
For skin problems, it can be formulated as creams or ointments which have the ability to penetrate the dermis and combat infectious agents which led to the problem being treated.
As mentioned above, cannabis with high doses of THC can be used when prescribed by a doctor and if it meets all the criteria for administration, but it must be marketed and administered solely for therapeutic purposes and not as a narcotic substance.
