The World Health Organisation's involvement in medical cannabis

With legal cannabis-based medical treatment slowly branching out across the globe, new patients are constantly looking to learn more about the power of cannabis sativa L. It's important to recognise the role of WHO in this changing landscape.

While the organisation's early research into the plant stayed very much in line with the political thinking of the time, there was a substantial shift in attitude in June 2018. A 'pre-review' by WHO spurred a more in-depth report of the plant's potential therapeutic applications, and the results were not what most expected...

Since then, WHO continued to push for evidence-based policies and promote the use of medical cannabis for a variety of conditions.

What is the World Health Organisation?

The World Health Organisation is an international agency of 194 Member States. With more than 8000 active members, including doctors, epidemiologists, scientists, and managers, the WHO brings together the world's leading public health experts, allowing them to coordinate a global response to health emergencies and address the most pressing health challenges of our time.

Established in 1948 through the United Nations, its goal is to build a better, healthier future for people all over the world while also protecting the vulnerable right now.

The role of WHO in global health

If the past few years haven't laid bare the obvious need for a global health authority, we don't know what will. WHO has been pivotal in recent global actions to fight health crises, highlighted by the recent global pandemic.

COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika viruses have all been met with a coordinated international response led by WHO in the past decade. WHO works closely with governments and other international organisations to shape health policies, set evidence-based standards for care, and provide technical support and funding for medical research.

Reshaping cannabis perceptions - 2018 WHO review

2018 was a big year for medical cannabis.

On 1 November 2018, after decades of lobbying, cannabis-based medical treatment options were finally legalised here in the UK.

This unexpected backflip in policy came after more than a handful of high-profile cases of chronically ill patients being denied access to medical-grade cannabis oil and having to travel overseas to receive the life-saving treatment.

It is thought that WHO, and a specific report prepared in 2018, also played a significant role in this groundbreaking decision. The review, which was conducted by the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, went into great detail on the history, therapeutic potential, general pharmacology, and potential adverse effects of the cannabinoids THC and CBD, as well as cannabis extract and THC isomers.

Up until the release of this report, WHO had a history of being extremely cautious in its approach to medical cannabis, sticking closely to the long-held stance that it had no medicinal value.

What did the 2018 WHO medical cannabis review conclude?

In short, that certain cannabinoids offer a range of therapeutic benefits and have a much lower potential for harm than previously thought.

Regarding cannabidiol (CBD), the Committee advised against scheduling pure CBD products under the International Drug Control Conventions. They highlighted ongoing research into CBD's therapeutic uses across a range of clinical applications. Notably, trials have shown a pure CBD product (Epidyolex) to be effective in treating forms of epilepsy like Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, which often do not respond well to other medications.

For THC, the recommendations were a little more reserved, but still demonstrated that the overall stance of WHO had changed. While the report does mention that THC has shown at least partial effectiveness in reducing neuropathic pain, anxiety, and spasticity, aiding weight gain, pain management, and improving tics in Tourette syndrome patients, it did not go as far as recommending the removal of scheduling at that point.

What does drug 'scheduling' mean?

Scheduling is how drugs are classified.

When a drug is scheduled, regulatory bodies take into account the potential for abuse, and also any medical or therapeutic benefits. Schedules range from I-IV, with Schedule I being the most restricted and Schedule IV being the least dangerous.

What is WHO's stance on CBD and THC now?

Nothing has changed since 2019, unfortunately. 

A vote was supposed to take place regarding the recommendations in March 2020 at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, but it was postponed due to COVID-19. This was rescheduled for December 2020, but from our research, it seems to have never taken place.

So, as it stands, WHO regards:

• CBD as having solid medical potential, with a low risk of harm and recommends that it should not be scheduled

• THC still has scheduling recommendations in place. The report recommends placing THC in the Schedule II category, which means that it can only be used for medical or scientific purposes, with strict control measures in place.

While we would love to see these recommendations voted on and fully implemented, we cannot deny that the shift in WHO's stance is a great start. It has opened up the conversation for more evidence-based policies surrounding medical cannabis and has made it easier for countries to consider legalising cannabis medicine options.

It has also allowed medical researchers much easier access to funding for cannabis clinical trials and other research projects. This will undoubtedly lead to more concrete scientific data that can help shape future policies.

How have WHO's new cannabis recommendations impacted medical cannabis globally?

The WHO review has certainly played a significant role in the shift towards more progressive medical (and in some countries, recreational) cannabis policies around the world. Here in the UK, Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer at the time, was tasked with preparing a report on the use of medical cannabis. It is assumed that the shift in WHO's stance and the Expert Committee's recommendations were reviewed as part of this process.

This report was then used to inform policymakers, leading to the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK in November 2018. Other countries, such as Canada, Brazil, and Germany, have also cited the WHO review in their decision to legalise medical cannabis.

Frequently asked questions

What is World Health Day?

World Health Day is a global health awareness day, organised by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness about important health issues impacting our world. Each year, a different theme is chosen to highlight a specific area of global health concern.

When is World Health Day?

World Health Day is celebrated each and every year on April 7th.

What is the theme of World Health Day 2024?

The theme for World Health Day 2024 is 'My health, my right’. This theme was chosen to highlight the fact that around 4.5 billion people (more than half the global population) around the world do not have access to essential health services.

The aim is to promote universal health coverage and advocate for everyone's right to have basic access to quality health services without facing financial hardship.

The journey ahead – WHO, medical cannabis, and global health

All said and done, WHO's shift in stance may seem like a small step, but it is, in fact, a giant leap towards more evidence-based medical cannabis policies globally.

Hopefully, the stigmatisation and negative propaganda that have plagued medical cannabis for the past 120 years are a thing of the past. With the world's leading medical body now openly stating that cannabinoids do have a place in modern medicine, we can only hope that this will lead to more support and understanding.

We see a bright future ahead, and in the next few years, expect big things to happen. Not only as a result of the WHO's recommendations but also because of the global shift towards a more open-minded approach to cannabis in general. We believe that cannabis-based medicine can help people, especially in cases where conventional approaches have failed, and it looks like the world is starting to see it that way too.