Nature Magazine Launches 'Dossier' on the Cannabis Universe

Nature magazine, one of the world's leading scientific publications, released an independent supplement on August 28 with 11 articles about the cannabis universe. The material covers various aspects of the plant, from environmental issues, bioengineering, market professionalization, to regulatory matters.

The material is titled Nature Outlook: Cannabis, was funded by a cannabis company, Auxly, and is available only in English. The Sechat portal translated the opening text of the supplement, which we reproduce below.

Fifty years ago, marijuana was popular for its reputation as the "most emblematic drug of the counterculture." Today, people see it as another source of treatment for various diseases. This change in thinking is also reflected in legal regimes: the medicinal use of cannabis is now allowed in many countries, with some even permitting recreational use of the plant.

Cannabis extract has received regulatory approval in the United States for treating childhood epilepsy. Additionally, cannabidiol is often promoted (with little supporting evidence) as a general health aid.

Essential clinical trials are investigating the potential medical benefits of the many chemical components of cannabis that are showing a promising picture. Researchers are also examining the effects of combining marijuana consumption with exercise, following decades of positive anecdotal reports from athletes.

Therefore, legalization brings the benefits and burdens of operating in a regulated sector. Cannabis producers are paying more attention to quality control and the environmental impact of cultivation, while genetic engineering is allowing researchers to optimize the cannabis plant for mass drug production. At the same time, policymakers looking to integrate cannabis into society may need to rethink their approach.

Read the full material on the Nature Magazine special page