Planting medicinal cannabis was one of the main drivers for the birth of YVY. We owe it to one of our cofounders, Kevin’s psoriatic arthritis. This condition causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness and its natural treatment includes both medicinal THC and CBD.
The time has come… In May we harvested our first pilot crop of medical THC. We have been growing and testing these balanced THC and CBD and high THC genetics in Uruguay for the last three years and we are very happy to know that we will be making them available to patients all over the world. Even though since 2020 it has been allowed in Uruguay to grow medical cannabis and export dried flowers, still no progress has been made to facilitate access for local patients. Sounds crazy, right? So, the objective of this crop is to export flowers to countries such as Australia, Israel or Europe, where the medical THC market has been operating for years.
We harvested 50 kg of flowers with medicinal THC, certified GACP, which will be exported to international markets.
Medical cannabis
In recent times, the stigmatization of cannabis, associated with its psychotropic effects, has shifted to a demand for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes that led to an exponential growth of the industry. We naturally hear more and more about medicinal cannabis, however, the components of the plant are rarely specified.
The medical aspect of cannabis is usually associated only with CBD, the component that does not alter our senses. THC, on the other hand, is better known as the cannabinoid used for recreational purposes and it does modify our state by generating euphoria, relaxation or sharpening of our sensory experiences. This is correct, but the truth is that both cannabinoids are used for medical purposes. They have different yet complementary effects.
To explain this briefly, both CBD and THC interact with our endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a kind of internal board in our brain that regulates many physiological functions. The interaction affects the release of neurotransmitters (chemicals responsible for transmitting messages between cells) in the brain that act on pain, stress and sleep, among so many other factors studied and so many others that have not yet been researched.
What are the applications of medical THC and CBD?
Medical THC is mainly used to treat chronic pain (from different causes and pathologies). It is also used to alleviate the side effects of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Its consumption in the form of oils, cigarettes, tinctures or capsules helps to reduce nausea and whet your appetite. It also helps to control eye pressure in patients with glaucoma.
CBD for its part, is mainly anti-inflammatory and has been used as an anticonvulsant in patients with epilepsy. It has also been recommended in the treatment of depression, certain mental disorders, migraine and anxiety. It is sold in the form of products for topic application, jelly gums or capsules, it can be smoked and inhaled; oils are also prepared and administered sublingually.
Treatment of certain conditions requires a combination of both components as their combined use improves the patient's general health condition and mood. The percentage, frequency and method of consumption of each cannabinoid will depend on each particular case and on the recommendations of each physician.
There is much to be discovered about the multiple beneficial effects that these and other less studied cannabinoids have in the treatment of various diseases. More and more laboratories are researching, more entrepreneurs and companies are investing in this industry and more countries are, little by little, legalizing and regulating its medicinal use and consumption.
At YVY we are very happy to be part of this transformation through the development of high-quality flowers in order to help patients around the world feel better.
We are on the right track :)
Sources:
Eficacia y seguridad del cannabis medicinal en el tratamiento del dolor de origen oncológico: revisión y metaanálisis (article).