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Unregulated cannabis use could result in unwanted outcomes
View(s):By Minaza Hassan
Although cannabis can have potential medicinal benefits for some patients, widespread availability could lead to misuse and addiction among healthy individuals, said President of Sri Lanka Medical Association, Dr. Surantha Perera.
Extracts could be developed into controlled forms like tablets under medical supervision, but unregulated use carries risks, said Dr. Perera.
Any amendments to existing laws should involve expert consultation, public dialogue, and cautious evaluation of potential consequences, rather than simply following global trends, said Dr. Perera.
Cannabis holds therapeutic potential and can support conditions such as PTSD and depression
Raising concerns regarding the Government’s recent decision to allow foreign countries to cultivate cannabis in Sri Lanka, he added, local production may indirectly promote use, especially if illegal channels like online sales expand. Without proper controls, the potential public health impact and future repercussions could be significant, highlighting the challenge of balancing economic opportunity with social and health safeguards.
Researcher in archaeology and senior lecturer at Rajarata University who is a part of an Ayurvedic medicine manufacturer shop and a doctor of natural sciences, Dr. Wasantha Welianga argues that cannabis prohibition in Sri Lanka is linked to its colonial history and that its stigma has prevented Sri Lanka from reaping its full benefits.
This ongoing stigma continues to serve foreign interests, particularly multinational tobacco companies, whose profits flow out of the country, said Dr. Welianga.
There is medicinal potential in cannabis. The plant contains cannabinoids, which are chemical compounds that interact directly with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a natural biological network that regulates key functions like metabolism, appetite, sleep, mood, and overall physiological balance. This connection highlights why cannabis has been valued for health and wellness for thousands of years, explained Dr. Welianga.
There are different types of cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) which come from cannabis, explained Dr. Welianga.
Cannabis also holds therapeutic potential and it can support conditions such as PTSD and depression by restoring balance in the body, said Dr. Welianga.
There are around 200 local varieties, each suited for different purposes.
Cannabis is listed as a dangerous drug according to the National Dangerous Drugs Board of Sri Lanka, and Ayurveda practitioners are allowed to use it for medicinal purposes under strict regulation.
Licensed Ayurvedic manufacturers are legally allowed to produce cannabis-based medicines listed in the 1938 Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. However, since cultivation is prohibited, they cannot source fresh, quality cannabis directly, said Dr. Welianga.
According to the Ayurveda Act, licensed practitioners can get cannabis through the Ayurvedic Drug Corporation, provided they have an approval letter from the Commissioner General and as the cultivation of cannabis is illegal.
The corporation itself does not cultivate cannabis, instead, it receives cannabis seized by law enforcement and released through the Magistrate’s Courts for Ayurvedic use.
Cannabis leaves are bound in certain types of oil and it removes its addictive nature. When used as medicine it is often mixed with other ingredients, said Ayurveda practitioner and Professor in the Faculty of Indigenous Medicines in University of Colombo, Dr. Samantha Samarakoon. It is also sometimes used to relieve pain in cancer patients, he said.
In relation to conditions such as anxiety and PTSD there is some emerging but inconsistent evidence supporting the therapeutic use of CBD (cannabidiol) cannabinoid, said former National consultant and Psychologist, Shiyamalan Viyakesh.
In cases of PTSD, some controlled studies suggest that specific, carefully regulated dosages of cannabis may help reduce symptoms like nightmares and hyperarousal, said Mr. Viyakesh.
The overall evidence is still limited, and psychotherapy remains the safer, more effective approach, he explained.
Nevertheless, globally, research on CBD has been gaining a certain level of credibility in areas such as anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD, particularly for reducing nightmares and related symptoms, said Mr. Viyakesh.
Conversely, cannabis also contains psychoactive components, such as the THC cannabinoid, which have been linked to worsening mental health symptoms including psychosis, cognitive impairment and mood instability, said Mr. Viyakesh.
Schizophrenia, in particular, is seen as an area where cannabis poses a significant environmental risk factor. For individuals who are genetically predisposed to psychotic disorders, cannabis can increase the likelihood or severity of these conditions, making it especially risky in such populations, said Mr. Viyakesh.
The overall evidence is mixed, while some compounds may offer therapeutic potential, others may pose risks to mental health, said Mr. Viyakesh.
The evidence around cannabis and its compounds is still emerging, and more structured, evidence-based studies are needed, ideally, this kind of studies would involve collaboration between Ayurvedic practitioners, clinicians, and psychiatrists to better understand both the therapeutic potential and the risks, said Mr. Viyakesh.
But, much of the cannabis trade is underground, unregulated and unsafe. Beyond cannabis itself, a key issue is the lack of accessible, holistic mental health services, explained Mr. Viyakesh.
When these basic services are inadequate, it creates a gap that people may try to fill with alternatives like cannabis. This highlights the need for the Health Ministry to take the lead in exploring regulated, evidence-based approaches, while also strengthening basic mental health care systems, he said.
For instance, young adults dealing with intergenerational trauma sometimes use cannabis as a form of self-management to cope with anxiety symptoms, even though this may not always be safe, said Mr. Viyakesh.
Without proper regulatory bodies, cannabis often becomes a short-term escape mechanism rather than a safe treatment, said Mr. Viyakesh. This is worsened by the severe shortage of mental health services, especially for low-income families.
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