These are the world’s 6 most advanced countries in terms of medical cannabis research

Multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, fibromyalgia, chronic pain… The therapeutic effects of cannabis make the plant a great treatment option for a number of conditions. This is probably the reason why an ever-increasing number of international researchers are exploring its medical benefits.

Here are the countries that are contributing the most to research on therapeutic cannabis.

1- Israel, the initiator

Besides being a world-leader in medical cannabis research, Israel is the country that pioneered the study of the chemical properties of the substance. In fact, it was Raphael Mechoulam, professor and researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, that first isolated THC more than 50 years ago. And not just that, he also synthesized cannabidiol (CBD), carrying out the first study into its effects on epilepsy patients over three decades ago. Mechoulam has been devoted to research ever since, and only a few months ago embarked on yet another project, this time as the leader of a team responsible for researching the effects of CBD on asthma patients.

Israel started promoting research in this field over a decade ago, when the Government launched an ambitious programme aimed at boosting medical cannabis at national level, providing access to prescription cannabis to over 25,000 Israelis and encouraging scientists, producers and institutions to engage more actively in the research and development of the plant.

2- Canada, the country of big companies

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to legalise recreational marijuana within the summer. Plus, his Government has committed to support 14 research projects focusing on cannabis through funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

This, however, is hardly surprising, as Canada is among the countries that pioneered a more liberal approach to cannabis: in the late '90s the Government implemented a programmed aimed at granting access to medical cannabis and, in the last few years, the regulation has been modified to cover the cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes in an effort to make it easier for companies to get in the market. As a result, a number of Canadian companies have become industry giants in terms of research, production and exports.

A number of Canadian companies have become industry giants in terms of research.

3- The Czech Republic, at the cutting edge of research

The central European country regulated medical cannabis in 2013 so that patients including cancer and chronic pain sufferers could have prescription access to the substance. And while high prices are not helping consumption, it is also true that the country is home to one of the most cutting-edge research centres in the field of medical cannabis: the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute (ICCI).

Located in Prague and opened at the end of 2015 with backing from American organisations and from the Czech Ministry of Health, amongst others, this multidisciplinary centre works with universities, tech companies and organisations from around the world which have an interest in developing therapeutic cannabis. In fact, the purpose of the ICCI is "to enable scientific examination of the relation between bioactive cannabis compounds and the effect on the human organism in the treatment of specific syndromes."

 4- Spain, land of senior researchers

Home cultivation is permitted in Spain as long as it is not for selling purposes. Accordingly, the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) may issue cultivation licenses for therapeutic and research purposes, with five companies having already obtained a permit and benefiting from 20,000 hectares where they can grow legally.

Meanwhile, various Spanish research groups have made significant progress in the last few years. At the Complutense University of Madrid, for instance, a team of scientists led by Dr Guillermo Velasco has been researching the applications of cannabinoids for the treatment of various diseases for over a decade, and as early as 1998 researchers from the same university discovered that THC may induce programmed cell death of tumour cells. Moreover, a research group led by Dr Manuel Guzmán announced in 2002 that they had used THC to destroy incurable brain tumours in rats.

Various Spanish research groups have made significant progress in the last few years. 

A few years later, in 2015, top experts from the field of cannabis research, monitoring and outreach founded the Spanish Observatory on Medical Cannabis with a view to promoting, coordinating and organizing activities aimed at increasing awareness of the therapeutic properties of cannabis and its derivatives.

5- The Netherlands, slow but steady

In 2003, The Netherlands allowed the sale of medical cannabis in pharmacies to qualifying patients. And while research is also permitted in the country, it is subject to strict regulation, with the Office of Medical Cannabis - run by the Ministry of Health - being fully responsible for the production and distribution of the cannabis to universities, pharmacies and research centres.

In the same vein, Bedrocan is the sole producer supplying medical cannabis in the country. Besides conducting its own studies, the company collaborates with other research centres, including the Leiden University Medical Center, which is currently researching the effects of inhaled cannabis on the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

6- Uruguay, the next research hub?

Over and above these countries, there are other nations that seem set to become major hubs of research in the years to come. One of them is definitely Uruguay, the first country in the world to have fully legalised the production and selling of cannabis nationwide, along with the export of medical cannabis.

Earlier this year, the country's president, Tabaré Vázquez, announced the opening of a large, privately-owned cannabis research and production plant, but despite the favourable regulatory environment, researchers across the country complain that the lack of funding is affecting their research projects.

Uruguay is the first country in the world to have fully legalised the production and selling of cannabis nationwide.

Another South American country that could become research friendly in the near future is Colombia. The cultivation of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes is already legal, and researchers across the world regard the country as an ideal location because of its favourable weather and its low production costs.

An interesting case is that of the United States. While many of the studies on therapeutic cannabis are conducted there - 29 states have already legalised the medical use of cannabis - the substance is not legal federally, meaning that researchers have to overcome a myriad of obstacles in what is an administrative battle that may last for years before they can conduct one clinical study.

Accordingly, the United States is not exactly what one would describe as a friendly environment for cannabis research. Presumably, though, the list of countries interested in making the benefits of cannabis available to its citizens will just keep growing in coming years.