Medical cannabis in Lebanon: history and therapeutic, ethical, and social challenges. A narrative review
Dublin Core
Title
Medical cannabis in Lebanon: history and therapeutic, ethical, and social challenges. A narrative review
Author
Fakhry, Battoul
Abdulrahim, Mostafa
Chahine, Mirna N.
Abdulrahim, Mostafa
Chahine, Mirna N.
Language
English
Publication Date
20210310
Abstract
Legalizing cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes is currently a worldwide trend. Lebanon, a Middle Eastern country, recently became the first Arabic state to legalize the cultivation of medical and industrial cannabis amid a huge economic crisis and the COVID 19 pandemic. However, the state of the art regarding the Lebanese cannabis is still poorly defined. Hence, our aim is to highlight medical and social concerns, and to clearly define the ethical framework for medical cannabis prescription and usage. Studies showed cannabis therapeutic potentials in treating numerous diseases such as epilepsy (high level of evidence), multiple sclerosis (moderate level of evidence), PTSD (low level of evidence), as well as in alleviating symptoms related to other conditions, for instance weight loss in HIV patients and chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (high level of evidence in both cases). Nonetheless, legalizing a drug known worldwide for its abuse potential could hinder several ethical principles. Whenever prescribing medical cannabis, the physician should respect patient’s autonomy, assess the risk benefit ratio of his actions, and act by justice. Moreover, authorizing cannabis usage for medical purposes could give rise to stigmatization, and further increase the burden on a society already struggling with the issues of self-medication, unemployment, and drugs diversion phenomena. By legalizing medical cannabis, Lebanon has entered a new chapter that warrants assessments, regulations, and readiness in order to insure a safe and successful experience.
Primary Classification
9.5.1
Secondary Classification
9.5.1; 9.7
Primary keywords
drugs [pri]; ethical analysis [pri]; medicine [pri]
Secondary keywords
epilepsy; historical aspects; legal aspects; principle-based ethics; public health; religious ethics; risk and benefits; social control; social problems
Subject
Lebanon
Subject
cannabis; medical marijuana
Journal Article
Archives of Clinical and Biomedical Research 2021 April; 5(2): 137-157
Link for Internet access
Note
Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY) license 4.0
Primary Document Type
j
Subject Captions
r
Bibliography
114 refs.
ISSN
25725017 (online)
Collection
Citation
“Medical cannabis in Lebanon: history and therapeutic, ethical, and social challenges. A narrative review,” Islamic Medical & Scientific Ethics, accessed January 15, 2025, https://imse.ibp.georgetown.domains/items/show/38334.