Uso de cannabis pela população: conhecimento acerca do uso e seus riscos/benefícios

Abstract

The use of cannabis has been reported for millennia in religious rituals, recreational use, and medicinal purposes, taking various forms. In Brazil, its use originated with African slaves and spread throughout the country, undergoing modifications over time. Starting in 1924, marijuana began to be persecuted and prohibited. The discovery of the endocannabinoid system, which is present throughout the body and reacts to compounds derived from cannabis, changed the scientific perception of the plant. Currently, a considerable portion of the world population uses marijuana daily for various purposes, while medical prescription is still infrequent, despite the various evidence of its benefits. This study observed a population of 237 individuals, predominantly young, with the majority being white and mixed-race respondents, from a higher socioeconomic class, with higher education and positive self-perception of health. Our study showed that a significant portion of the respondents had tried marijuana at some point of their lives, around 83.8%, and 61% reported improvements in comorbidities with cannabis use. The most frequent form of use was smoking for recreational purposes. Most participants knew people who used marijuana for medicinal purposes, approximately 72.5%. Additionally, 91% of participants who affirmed the benefits of cannabis in the medical field had completed or incomplete higher education. It became evident the need to plan policies that facilitate access to cannabis-based medications without excessively burdening the product, as well as to educate the population about the potential benefits of cannabis as a therapeutic option for numerous comorbidities.