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Cannabis has a long history of consumption both for recreational and medicinal uses. After the discovery of endogenous cannabinoid system and cloning of cannabinoid receptors during the last decade of the previous century, research interest in cannabis and cannabinoids increased again. Cannabis mediates its effects through cannabinoid receptors type 1 and type 2, which are present throughout the body and therefore demonstrate several pleiotropic effects. The newly discovered role and workings of cannabinoids represent an important contribution to the development of new strategies fortreatment of certain diseases. Nowadays, there is mounting evidence that cannabinoids are efficient cure for many diseases or can act as a relief agent that reduces some of the symptoms. Currently,
only a limited number of cannabis-based drugs is available for treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis, relief of neuropathic pain, for stimulation of appetite in AIDS patients and for prevention of cytostatic-induced nausea and vomiting. There are few tens of ongoing
clinical studies evaluating new cannabinoid drugs for use in new clinical indications. It is therefore expected that the number of indications will increase in the next few years as will the number of newly registered medicines. It is in turn also expected that the
number of cannabinoid drugs available in our health system will grow. Even though cannabis-based drugs are currently not available in our health system, patients can be given prescription to buy drugs in neighboring countries where these are already available.