Jammu, July 23: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that Jammu is going to pioneer India’s first Cannabis Medicine Project.
‘Cannabis Research Project’ of CSIR-IIIM Jammu is a first-of-its-kind in India initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Private Public Partnership with a Canadian firm, which has a great potential to put the substance of abuse for the good of mankind, especially for patients suffering from neuropathies, cancer and epilepsy.
Dr Jitendra Singh said this during a visit to the Cannabis Cultivation Farm of CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine at Chatha near here to get firsthand information about the cultivation practices for cannabis in the protected area of the institute and research work being carried out on this important plant.
The minister said the project of CSIR-IIIM is also important from the perspective of Atma- Nirbhar Bharat as after getting all the approvals, it will be able to produce export quality drugs meant for different kinds of neuropathies, diabetic pains, etc. “Since J&K and Punjab are affected by drug abuse, this kind of project will spread awareness that this substance of abuse has diverse medicinal uses, especially for the patients suffering from malignancies and other diseases,” he said.
Dr Singh said the signing of a scientific agreement between CSIR-IIIM and IndusScan was historic not only for J&K but for the whole of India as it has the potential to produce those kinds of medicines which have to be exported from foreign countries. This kind of project will give an impetus for huge investment in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
During the field visit, the union minister took stock of the one-acre protected area where CSIR-IIIM is presently doing large-scale cultivation of superior accessions of Cannabis.
The minister also visited the glass houses with climate control facilities where research work on improving the varieties for desired cannabinoid content is being performed. He complimented the efforts of the CSIR-IIIM for pioneering research in exploring the therapeutic properties of Cannabis, a plant which is otherwise prohibited and known for abuse. He expressed his satisfaction with the research work conducted on Cannabis Project by CSIR-IIIM and also acknowledged the immense potential of cannabis-based treatments in addressing various health conditions.
Dr Jitendra emphasized the importance of using the latest technology and cultivation practices for increasing the produce that would help the farmers. He stressed the need for developing newer indigenous varieties that would suit the environmental conditions of our country. He also highlighted the role of biotechnology in this endeavour and encouraged the researchers to continue pushing the boundaries of scientific development.
While briefing the media on the occasion, Dr Singh said, “Cannabis is a wonder plant from which FDA has approved the drugs such as Marilnol/nabilone and Cesamet for treatment of nausea and vomiting, Sativex for neuropathic pain and spasticity, Epidiolex, Cannabidiol for epilepsy and being used elsewhere in countries. In J&K, the license was granted to CSIR-IIIM, Jammu for research and protected cultivation and upon permission of GMP manufacturing, the rest of pre-clinical and clinical studies would be completed.”
