India for leadership role in cannabis use for medical therapies

India needs to assume a leadership role in cannabis use for medical therapies. That is because cannabis has made a significant change in the pharmaceutical industries of the United States and Canada. A similar trend is also prevalent across several other countries, including South Africa, Thailand, Spain, and Uruguay. Hence, the pharma industry of India cannot afford to lag behind the competition. The pharma players of the country need to gear up for this transformative future and try to become one of the leading cannabis wellness markets of the world, claimed Shivam Singhee.

Shivam Singhee is the co-founder & chief executive officer at Arshad. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a beneficial compound derived from cannabis. The products derived from Cannabidiol are flooding the markets all over the globe as they are known to help combat the rising modern-day lifestyle disorders. Scientific studies from various parts o the world over the past decades indicate that the cannabis plant can offer several health benefits. He claimed that one of the most common products from the plant that has become popular in recent times is CBD.

“Globally too, India needs to buck up to take a leadership role in cannabis use for medical therapies CBD based oils and supplements are prescribed as an alternative therapy to pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders. That has been preferred over antibiotics and painkillers that usually have serious side effects. Additionally, CBD has been proven useful for cancer patients to battle chemotherapy’s severe and painful symptoms. There is a huge gap between what people are looking for and the medications offered by today’s doctors and pharmaceutical companies. CBD is bridging this gap as these health and wellness products are not only safe to use daily, but have virtually no side-effects and are completely non-addictive,” Singhee claimed.

Currently, those suffering from psychological or health problems like anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain are usually offered very strong opioids (opium-based drugs) that are likely to have dire long-term consequences and invariably lead to addiction. We have seen the backlash of these over-prescribed opioids in the market of western countries, and Indians need not need to walk through that trail. Cannabis, on the other hand, is a highly versatile plant. Moreover, he added that its use has its roots in the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine.

Unlike other similar natural and chemical drugs that are to be ingested, cannabis actually has natural receptors in the bodies attached to the endocannabinoid system (ECS). These are named CB1 and CB2 receptors. It means that all mammals have evolved with natural receptors capable of engaging cannabis compounds, including the CBD molecules. He observed that this eases the nervous system and makes it calm, thus assisting the body to heal itself.

But it is the combination of factors like gross misinformation, arbitrary geopolitics, and misaligned laws which has deprived the public of these miraculous benefits of cannabis healthcare products for decades. “We have an opportunity, and in turn, a responsibility to rectify our stance on cannabis and move ahead with the rest of the world,” Singhee asserted.

Here, his firm Awshad is a Delhi-based cannabis wellness startup putting in its efforts. It is working toward becoming a trusted name in medical cannabis, and it is also working hard to bring the highest-quality CBD-driven products to the Indian market. Its flagship products, namely Hemp and Hempistani, are capable of tackling several medicinal ailments. The company co-founded by Mr. Singhee is also planning to come up with a whole new product line of topicals and cosmetic products, which have already been well-received in western countries.