Annual health report misleading the public on cannabis – SKA |30 September 2022
The Seychelles Kanabis Association (SKA) is claiming that the annual health-sector report of 2021 from the Ministry of Health stating that 19% of its admissions for mental health were because of cannabis is misleading.
The SKA is demanding that the Ministry of Health releases to the public the full details of
this report including:
• What data and method of testing were used to determine if these admissions
were due to cannabis only?
• Does the ministry have proof to substantiate the data published from 2019 to 2021?
• In December 2020, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) re-classified cannabis and
cannabis resin under an international listing that recognises its medical value. Why is the ministry not promoting the health benefits that have been associated with cannabis?
SKA says it is disappointed that a governmental ministry could make “such reckless and unfounded claim” without providing any evidence in support.
Today cannabis remains in an uncontrolled market where anyone can get access to unregulated cannabis potentially containing mould and fungus which can have detrimental effects on our mental and physical health.
SKA says it will continue to advocate and engage the government to provide safe access to cannabis to its users, irrespective of being used for medicinal or recreational purposes.
“Studies continue to show cannabis to be far safer than tobacco, alcohol and the majority of the pharmaceutical medicines being prescribed to the public today. Research also shows the therapeutic benefits of cannabis far outweigh the risks associated with this godly plant,” says SKA in a press release.
SKA is urging all governmental bodies to review research data available on cannabis and to refrain from misleading the public with inconclusive information.
Press release from SKA