The Filipino delegation of Senator Robinhood Padilla visited the ICRC. They aim to draw inspiration from cannabis research and treatment

St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno is considered a Czech pioneer not only in the field of cannabis treatment but also in the research of this plant. Cannabis capsules are prescribed to hundreds of patients monthly, most commonly to people suffering from chronic pain, mainly in the back or joints. Doctors at the hospital have been prescribing cannabis for several years, but a few weeks ago, the hospital also became independent in terms of the production and manufacturing of medicines.

Filipino Senator Robinhood Padilla, who is proposing a bill to legalize medical cannabis to the local parliament, chose it as a place for inspiration and education on the subject. The eight-member delegation from the Philippines was welcomed by the director of St. Anne’s University Hospital, Vlastimil Vajdák. Researcher Václav Trojan then presented all aspects of cannabis research at the International Clinical Research Center and the production of cannabis capsules, and also explained the Czech legislation regarding the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

Cultivation of cannabis.

However, it did not stop at theoretical knowledge. The foreign visitors toured the ICRC cultivation facility and the laboratories of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Masaryk University, where a new lifelong learning course, “Cannabis and Cannabis Products in Health and Disease,” has been introduced.

Filipino Senator Robinhood Padilla during his visit to the ICRC

The delegation also met with a patient who had been prescribed cannabis capsules. They were interested in the practical aspects of the treatment, such as whether and how the medication affects the patient’s daily life. THC, one of the substances contained in the medication, is tested for in drivers during traffic stops. “Our doctors are often asked in their practices whether patients can drive while taking this medication long-term. We have also focused on this issue in our research, and based on our results, the Czech Medical Chamber issued recommendations. If a patient takes cannabis for medical purposes under medical supervision in a small dose at night, there is no reason to revoke their driver’s license. They should not drive for the next 6 to 8 hours, which corresponds to the usual sleep duration of an adult,” says Václav Trojan.

Cannabis cultivation facility.

The average THC content in one capsule prescribed at St. Anne’s University Hospital ranges from 6 to 20 mg. “This is not a high amount. Each patient using cannabis capsules carries a card in their wallet with information about their treatment, which they can present during a check,” explains Dr. Radovan Hřib, head of the Pain Treatment Center at St. Anne’s University Hospital. The method of financing cannabis treatment in the Czech Republic also greatly interested the Filipino legislator. “Ninety percent of the treatment is covered by health insurance. Patients thus pay around eighty crowns per month,” added Hřib.

Cannabis capsules manufactured at St. Anne’s University Hospital

“The combination of cannabis treatment and its research is very inspiring to me. I was impressed by how doctors here work closely with scientists,” Senator Robinhood Padilla said of his visit to the ICRC. “There are still prejudices against this plant in the Philippines; we are quite a conservative country. The insights I gained, especially here at the International Clinical Research Center, are very valuable to me. We are an Asian country with a deep-rooted trust in the effects of medicinal plants, and their practical use is common for us. However, when it comes to medical cannabis, we are learning from the West,” he said.