Belgium: legalization of medical cannabis in sight

According to Het Laaste Nieuws, Belgium's Minister of Public Health, Maggie De Block, is reportedly in the process of legalizing medical cannabis.

«Maggie De Block is in the process of finalizing a royal decree,» Nele Lijnen, MP and member of the OpenVLD party, told Het Laaste Nieuws.

The announcement was made as part of a march for therapeutic cannabis organized in Maasmechelen, in the province of Limburg, in support of Jean Pierre Voncken and Ula Milata, who have been fighting for 3 years for their 9-year-old daughter, Sofie, who suffers from severe epilepsy and could benefit from’cannabis oil.

Former Flemish K3 singer Karen Damen accompanied the walk. She met the family several years ago and was moved by Sofie's story.

«It's incomprehensible that people have to remain illegal when they want to help a loved one,» she said.

«It's a first movement started in Maasmechelen,» explains Jean Pierre. «It's the first time that patients have taken to the streets for their rights. But it certainly won't be the last time we make our voices heard. Some of them are here with a lot of pain and in difficult circumstances. I can only admire that.»

Nele Lijnen's announcement is therefore in line with the opening up of medical cannabis in Belgium. Cultivation will be carried out under the supervision of the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP), and it is not yet known what form medical cannabis will take. medical cannabis in Belgium For example, oil only, several medicines or dried flowers.

A Belgian company positioned itself for cannabis cultivation in Limburg at the beginning of the month. It intends to produce 5 tonnes of cannabis a year and employ 150 people, but needed a change in the legal framework to be able to establish its plans. The cultivation of medical cannabis is currently illegal in Belgium. Only the Sativex has been authorized for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.

In France, Agnès Buzyn has also to access to medical cannabis for French patients at the end of last week.