Medical Cannabis on the Parliamentary Agenda: Not Prohibition, but Rational Regulation Is Needed
The recent discussions in Parliament regarding medical cannabis—brought to public attention through statements by AKP Deputy Group Chair Leyla Şahin Usta—may represent the first signal of a long-awaited step. As legal reforms in the field of healthcare are considered, the controlled use of cannabis has also entered the agenda. 👏
As a specialist clinical psychologist, and as someone who has witnessed not only theoretical frameworks but also the multifaceted human realities of the field and the true face of addiction, I am following this development closely.
Prohibition Does Not Reduce Addiction—It Pushes It Underground
Years of policies based on “prohibit, suppress, and deny” have shown that they neither reduce addiction nor protect society. On the contrary, they push use into underground markets and lead to the spread of unregulated substances.
What Does Controlled and Medical Use Offer?
Supporting the medical use of cannabis brings several key advantages for public health:
- It provides a scientifically grounded and legally regulated alternative.
- Reduces the tendency to turn toward fake or illegal substances.
- CBD derivatives can be safely used in areas such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic pain, and anxiety.
- Offers harm-reduction benefits for individuals prone to addiction.
A New Paradigm in Addiction Science
For years, we have fought the wrong battle. We punished the outcome without addressing the root of the problem. Yet real progress begins:
- Not with prohibition, but with regulation,
- Not with punishment, but with rehabilitation,
- Not with silencing, but with understanding.
"Some substances, when used correctly, are not poison—but medicine."