Medical Students from the University of the Republic of Uruguay Will Take a Course on Marijuana

In late 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully legalize the production and sale of marijuana, as well as a reference for cannabis activism and for other nations that are changing their attitude towards the plant.

Now, a group of researchers from the University of the Republic is not only studying the therapeutic properties of marijuana but it intends to incorporate, from next year, a specific discipline in the medical degree curricular program. They want to train new generations of physicians in the use of cannabis for the creation of medicines that can be produced in their own country.

This group seeks to analyse the benefits of some components of the plan to treat pain, nausea,vomiting, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, anorexia or lack of appetite. Chemist Carlos Garcia explained that their intention is to examine as many plants as possible in order to generate a database and be able to make biological assays.

The team, with members linked to the faculties of Medicine and Chemistry and registered with the Instituto de Regulación y Control del Cannabis or IRCCA (Institute of Regulation and Control of Cannabis), also aims to promote cannabis investigation in master degrees and PhD’s so that they may contribute in some way to their own studies and students may participate in part of the research.

From the University, they usually advise state-bodies responsible for law enforcement and contribute to IRCCA. They are aware that investigation on the benefits of marijuana should be promoted among young researchers.