Founder and Secretary General Harm Reduction Society DR Kariuki Urges Policy Shift on Medical HEMP, Citing CBD’s Proven Health Benefits

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By irene 
 Founder and Secretary General Harm Reduction Society of Kenya CEO Dr. Michael Kariuki has called for urgent policy action to recognize and regulate medical hemp, emphasizing its potential to transform healthcare outcomes across the country.

Speaking during LSK annual conference held at Mombasa Kariuki highlighted that cannabidiol (CBD) — the non-psychoactive compound in hemp with THC levels below 0.3% — is significantly less harmful than THC and has been scientifically proven to offer multiple medicinal benefits.
He outlined evidence-backed uses of CBD, including pain management for cancer patients, easing chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, treating anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and assisting in addiction recovery by reducing opioid and alcohol dependency. Other noted benefits include lowering blood pressure, managing gastrointestinal disorders, treating complex childhood seizure syndromes such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut, alleviating HIV-related inflammation, and improving skin health conditions like acne, eczema, and dryness.

“CBD is not just an alternative; it’s a lifeline for patients whose conditions have been resistant to conventional treatments,” Dr. Kariuki said, citing case studies from Zambia, Uganda, and South Africa where medical hemp has been integrated into care systems with promising results.

Dr. Kariuki urged Kenyan lawmakers, healthcare practitioners, and stakeholders to adopt harm reduction principles and create a legal framework for medical hemp cultivation, processing, and prescription, noting that such reforms could improve patient care, stimulate research, and create new economic opportunities.





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