The National Rehabilitation Center warned individuals against believing incorrect information that is promoted by "social media" sites about the benefits of the cannabis plant and its derivatives such as hashish and "marijuana", warning of the danger of this plant and its derivatives, as it contains toxic substances that directly affect the brain, And addictive.

And «Emirates Today» monitored websites and accounts on social networking sites, reviewing several benefits of cannabis use, and its claim to its ability to treat several diseases.

The National Rehabilitation Center stressed that the medical use of one of the chemicals derived from this plant does not necessarily mean that it is free of harmful substances on the body, noting that the medical use of cannabis derivatives is limited and for certain cases in some hospitals around the world.

He noted that cannabis and (marijuana) lead to mental damage that is disturbing memory, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and panic, social damage including isolation, lack of physical production, loss of ability to social skills and dealing with people, and physical damage such as weak immunity, high incidence of pneumonia and epilepsy cases.

The Center emphasized among its awareness campaigns about the dangers of drugs that addiction is a chronic disease that affects the brain, and has effects and complications on the soul and on personal and social behavior, noting that there is an economic and social cost to this issue.

The center explained that the motives for addiction are weak religious faith, family disintegration, a sense of failure, blind imitation and emulation of bad friends, emptiness and unemployment, and ignorance of the dangers of drugs that some people take such as amusement and entertainment, escaping from problems or trying to forget them.

He noted that types of narcotic substances include stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, stimulants such as khat, cocaine, and amphetamines, and depressants such as alcohol, codeine, and hemp, and hallucinogens such as hallucinations. He mentioned that the stages of addiction disease start from trying the drug, then the stage of getting used to taking it, then the stage of addiction.

He stressed that the UAE is making great efforts to confront the danger of addiction.

New narcotics

International studies have reported that about 271 million people, or 5.5% of the world's population between the ages of 15 and 64, used illicit substances (except alcohol) at least once in 2017, and that 585,000 people died as a result of drug use. She pointed out that between 2009 and 2016 739 new drugs were reported, and in 2015 about 500 new drugs appeared on the global market. Reports of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime indicate that drug addiction consumes 2% of the gross national income of countries.

The use of chemicals derived from hemp does not mean that there is no harm to the body.

Medical use of cannabis derivatives is limited and in certain cases in some hospitals.