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Ramírez-Méndez JF, Wong-Salgado P, Gámez P, Solis P, Moya-Salazar J. Patients' knowledge about the uses, risks, and beliefs surrounding the regulation and safety of Cannabis sativa L. in Peru. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27068. [PMID: 38689986 PMCID: PMC11059411 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, there has been a significant rise in the utilization of medical cannabis. Understanding the various facets surrounding its usage and regulation is paramount for patients, health professionals, and policymakers. This cross-sectional study conducted at the CANNAVITAL clinic in Lima, Peru aimed to assess the basic knowledge, attitudes towards use, and beliefs regarding regulation and safety of Cannabis sativa L. Among 86 patients (mean age: 41 ± 7.8 years; 53.4% women) actively receiving medical cannabis treatment for at least one year, we utilized the 22-item KUC-22 questionnaire to evaluate their understanding of cannabis, risk factors, legislation, medical and recreational use. The average duration of medical cannabis use was 3 ± 1.2 years. Results showed that 60.2% of patients were familiar with different forms of cannabis consumption, while 77.3% recognized the importance of product quality. Chronic pain, nausea and vomiting (each 23.9%) were the primary conditions treated with cannabis, followed by cancer and epilepsy (both 21.6%). A significant correlation was found between knowledge and cannabis use (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 92% of patients believed that a medical prescription was necessary, while 84.1% engaged in self-medication practices. Concerning perceptions, 69.3% of participants perceived psychological dependence from long-term cannabis use, and 65.9% believed it could cause health damage. Significant correlations were observed between the perception of risk factors, knowledge of legislation, and cannabis use (p < 0.001). In conclusion, Peruvian patients exhibited a high level of knowledge regarding the risks, uses, and regulatory framework surrounding Cannabis sativa L. These findings provide valuable insights into patients' perspectives on medical cannabis, offering important information for medical providers and researchers aiming to enhance cannabinoid-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Wong-Salgado
- CANNAVITAL Clínica Especializada en Terapias con Cannabinoides, Lima, Peru
- Centro de Estudios del Cannabis, Lima, Peru
| | - Peter Gámez
- CANNAVITAL Clínica Especializada en Terapias con Cannabinoides, Lima, Peru
- Department of Medicine, Essalud Hospital Jorge Voto Bernales Corpancho, Lima, Peru
| | - Pedro Solis
- Graduate School, Universidad Alas Peruanas, Lima, Peru
| | - Jeel Moya-Salazar
- Digital Transformation Center, Universidad Norbert Wiener, Lima, Peru
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Wong-Salgado P, Soares F, Moya-Salazar J, Ramírez-Méndez JF, Moya-Salazar MM, Apesteguía A, Castro A. Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid Profiles Identified in Cannabis L. Crops in Peru. Biomedicines 2024; 12:306. [PMID: 38397908 PMCID: PMC10886879 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cannabis is a plant that is cultivated worldwide, and its use is internationally regulated, but some countries have been regulating its medicinal, social, and industrial uses. This plant must have arrived in Peru during the Spanish conquest and remains widely cultivated illicitly or informally to this day. However, new regulations are currently being proposed to allow its legal commercialization for medicinal purposes. Cannabis contains specific metabolites known as cannabinoids, some of which have clinically demonstrated therapeutic effects. It is now possible to quantitatively measure the presence of these cannabinoids in dried inflorescences, thus allowing for description of the chemical profile or "chemotype" of cannabinoids in each sample. This study analyzed the chemotypes of eight samples of dried inflorescences from cannabis cultivars in four different regions of Peru, and based on the significant variation in the cannabinoid profiles, we suggest their therapeutic potential. The most important medical areas in which they could be used include the following: they can help manage chronic pain, they have antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, and antipruritic properties, are beneficial in treating duodenal ulcers, can be used in bronchodilators, in muscle relaxants, and in treating refractory epilepsy, have anxiolytic properties, reduce sebum, are effective on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, are proapoptotic in breast cancer, can be used to treat addiction and psychosis, and are effective on MRSA, in controlling psoriasis, and in treating glioblastoma, according to the properties of their concentrations of cannabidiol, cannabigerol, and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, as reviewed in the literature. On the other hand, having obtained concentrations of THC, we were able to suggest the psychotropic capacity of said samples, one of which even fits within the legal category of "non-psychoactive cannabis" according to Peruvian regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Wong-Salgado
- CANNAVITAL, Clínica Especializada en Terapias con Cannabinoides, Lima 15022, Peru;
- RENATU Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15039, Peru; (F.S.); (A.C.)
- Centro de Estudios del Cannabis del Perú, Lima 15022, Peru;
| | - Fabiano Soares
- RENATU Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15039, Peru; (F.S.); (A.C.)
- Centro de Estudios del Cannabis del Perú, Lima 15022, Peru;
- REAJA Laboratory, Curitiba 80045-180, Brazil
| | - Jeel Moya-Salazar
- Faculties of Health Science, Universidad Privada del Norte, Lima 15001, Peru
| | - José F. Ramírez-Méndez
- CANNAVITAL, Clínica Especializada en Terapias con Cannabinoides, Lima 15022, Peru;
- Centro de Estudios del Cannabis del Perú, Lima 15022, Peru;
| | - Marcia M. Moya-Salazar
- Centro de Estudios del Cannabis del Perú, Lima 15022, Peru;
- Cannabis and Stone Unit, Nesh Hubbs, Lima 15001, Peru
| | - Alfonso Apesteguía
- Centro de Información, Control Toxicológico y Apoyo a la Gestión Ambiental CICOTOX, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15039, Peru;
| | - Americo Castro
- RENATU Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15039, Peru; (F.S.); (A.C.)
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