Canabidiol: therapeutic resources of marijuana

Abstract

Introduction: Marijuana is a substance derived from the plant Cannabis sativa used for centuries for medicinal, economic, recreational and religious purposes. The controversy surrounding this substance is that although it has psychotropic effects on the body, marijuana has a relevant therapeutic potential. Methods: This is a bibliographic research carried out in journals in the SciELO database, dissertation and national interviews published from 2006 to 2017, using phytotherapy, medicinal plants and marijuana as descriptors. Development: The study found that marijuana has been shown to be effective in treating glaucoma, depression, seizures, nausea due to chemotherapy, in stimulating appetite in patients with symptomatic HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and that there is no evidence of physical dependence even in frequent use and high amounts of the plant. The study also emphasized that canabidiol is a promising alternative for the treatment of epilepsy. Conclusion: There is a need for more studies involving marijuana in order to increase the knowledge of the process of its therapeutic use, thus contributing to undoubtedly prove its medicinal applicability and strengthen the release of its as a medicine.