Medical Marijuana: Mexico Permits Millions of Epilepsy Patients to Use Legal Cannabis John Houck - The Inquisitr
go to original April 29, 2017

Is Mexico Ending the War on Cannabis? (Cannabis News Network)

On Friday, lawmakers in Mexico overwhelmingly approved a bill authorizing cannabis for medical use nationwide.

The popular bill passed by a 374-7 vote in Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies. As medical marijuana legislation was previously accepted by the Senate five months ago, it will move to President Enrique Pena Nieto for signature.

Pena Nieto originally proposed the idea to update Mexico’s cannabis prohibition law last year. At the very least, the new law will help Mexican citizens get access to alternative medical treatment.

The language of Mexico’s medical marijuana bill tasks the Health Ministry with creating rules for the use, import, and production of products made from cannabis. Up to one percent of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for marijuana’s infamous high, will be allowed in products. Growing marijuana, as long as it is for medical or scientific purposes, can also be done without penalty.

...According to Representative Arturo Alvarez, medical marijuana “is a step in the right direction.” Legalization will allow for controlled and managed use of the drug, instead of forcing citizens to get cannabis from drug cartels that already have a major hold on the country.

As marijuana research continues to find medical promise for the substance, the time is right for medical cannabis in Mexico. Earlier this month, a survey released by the Por Grace Foundation found eight out of 10 children diagnosed with refractory epilepsy experienced a reduction in symptoms after using CBD oil. Additionally, more than 20 percent of the children were able to decrease the amount of traditional anti-epileptic drugs they were taking.

...According to MarketWatch, 1.5 million people suffer from epilepsy in Mexico, many without access to suitable treatment options. As much as 30 percent of patients have refractory epilepsy, which is resistant to most anti-epileptic medications. The passage of Mexico’s medical marijuana law will not only open up more choices for these patients but will also allow for more study of cannabis’ potential for reducing or stopping epilepsy symptoms.

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