The article analyzes current data on the medical use of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and its main bioactive components. A historical overview of the use of hemp in ancient civilizations and pharmacopoeias of the 18th-19th centuries is provided, and the reasons for limiting its use in the 20th century are outlined. The pharmacological properties of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, mechanisms of action through the endocannabinoid system, therapeutic effects, and potential risks are characterized. Evidence-based medicine data on the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and cancer are presented. Special attention is paid to the pharmacopoeial standards of Cannabis flos, methods of identification and quality control, requirements for the content of active substances and impurities, as well as the prospects for harmonizing the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine with the European Pharmacopoeia. Cannabinoid dependence within the ICD-10 and ICD-11, the algorithm for determining its status, and social risks are analyzed. Separately, the international experience of legalizing medical cannabis (USA, Canada, Israel, EU countries) and the possibilities of its implementation in Ukraine are considered. The conclusion is made about the need for an interdisciplinary approach that combines medical, pharmaceutical and legal aspects, which will allow forming a balanced strategy for the implementation of medical cannabis in clinical practice in Ukraine.
Lavoshnyk et al. (Thu,) studied this question.