Germany legalizes medical cannabis

L’Germany has fully legalized medical cannabis during 2016, a legal development that will come into effect on January 19, 2017 by a vote of the Bundestag (the German Parliament). This legalization, already announced last year by Germany's Minister of Health, The new law will facilitate access to therapeutic cannabis for patients, who will be able to be prescribed cannabis by any doctor. From April 2017, a general practitioner will be able to prescribe a cannabinoid treatment under the name of «narcotic prescription».

A gram of medical cannabis will cost around 15 euros. This price is higher than on the black market, but can be explained by two factors: cannabis imported from abroad and the scarcity of available varieties. However, the legalization of medical cannabis will enable German companies to launch their own production. The arrival of German cannabis on the market should bring prices down. Varieties will be distributed according to the patient's pathologies and the doctor's advice.

Medical cannabis varieties available in Germany

Here are some of the varieties available to German patients. The first are from the Dutch laboratory Bedrocan BV, followed by Canadian varieties of Tweed and Peace naturals.

Varieties distributed by Dutch Bedrocan B.V.

Bedrocan , Jack Herer: 22% THC and less than 1% CBD

Bedrobinol, Jack Herer/ Afghaan : 14.5% THC, less than 1% CBD

Bedica, Afghani / Herijuana : 14% THC, 1% CBD

Bedrolite : 1% THC, 9% CBD

Bediol : THC 6.5%, CBD 8%

Tweed's Canadian cannabis strains

Argyle 6.30 % THC and 8.92% CBD

Princeton : 14% de THC, <1%de CBD

Penelope 10.2 % THC and 7.42% CBD

Houndstooth 13.5 % THC and <0.5% CBD

Varieties distributed by Canadian Peace Naturals

Pedanios 22/1 22% of THC and 1% of CBD

Pedanios 14/1 14% THC, 1% CBD

Local cannabis production

Local production will be a major asset in lowering prices, enriching Germany's cannabic heritage and catching up with the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic. Like the Canadians, German companies will need to draw on the experience of still-illegal growers. The know-how of local growers could enable local companies to develop competitive treatments, both in terms of quality and price. One German cannabis expert estimates that around 175,000 people will require cannabis treatment.

Here are the symptoms that will enable German patients to access treatments based on therapeutic cannabis:

• nausea, vomiting
• chemotherapy
• loss of appetite
• glaucoma
• asthma
• epilepsy
• arthritis
• eczema
• painful periods

It should be noted that some patients with multiple sclerosis have access to the Sativex from GW Pharmaceuticals. With the exception of Sativex, medical cannabis is not currently reimbursed by the German social security system, but could be, as reimbursement of medicines is guaranteed by German law. Clinical tests will be carried out on volunteer patients to broaden the range of cannabis prescriptions and to see whether therapeutic cannabis should be reimbursed.