Caracterización de la problemática del uso terapéutico del Aceite de Cannabis en Córdoba, Argentina

INTRODUCTION: The therapeutic use of the “cannabis” oil is a social problem that puts legal, health, scientific and cultural aspects under stress. Difficulty in access generates an emptiness exploited by the illegal market, to which patients and relatives resort to improve their health and quality of life. These oils, with unknown chemical composition, are used without therapeutic follow-up. An interdisciplinary team from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC) started the study of this problem with the aim of characterizing the socio-therapeutic use of “cannabis" oil in Córdoba and establishing a relationship with the real content of cannabinoids. METHODOLOGY: Observational-descriptive and cross-sectional study approved by the Comité Institucional de Ética de las Investigaciones en Salud, Hospital Nacional de Clínicas from UNC (CIEIS-HNC-UNC): interviews with patients/caregivers of legal age who used the “cannabis” oil (year 2019). Experimental study: analysis of oil samples obtained from interviewees to determine their cannabinoid content, specifically delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), by High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis (HPLC). RESULTS: thirty-seven interviews were conducted, and 48 samples were analysed. The 73% were adults and older adults. The 92% started using the oil without prescription or medical suggestion, mainly due to the lack of effectiveness of other therapies (54%) and in the search for therapeutic alternatives (33%). The 84% perceived it to be effective (moderate to highly effective), and 78% reported no adverse events. Main uses: refractory epilepsy 27% and arthritis/arthrosis 24%. Fifteen percent of the samples showed no quantifiable content of CBD and THC, and 67% had only THC. The quantifiable content of cannabinoids was very low. CONCLUSION: This work allowed carrying out a preliminary information-gathering on several aspects (social and therapeutic) about the use of “cannabis” oil in Córdoba, and to analyze the chemical quality of the oils consumed. An important finding was the discrepancy between the effectiveness perceived by users and the low cannabinoid content detected.