Germany: legalization of medical cannabis in sight

This is great news for Germany. The Ministry of Health has published a bill of law to treat medical cannabis like any other prescribable narcotic.

Under this law, all doctors will be able to prescribe medical cannabis, Patients will be able to purchase up to 100g per month from any pharmacy, without having to request permission from the Federal Bureau of Medical Products, as is currently the case. Only 450 people currently have access. The proposal also includes a provisional arrangement for medical cannabis to be reimbursable and covered by health insurance.

Patients will be able to transport their medical cannabis across German borders, just like any other medicine.

Home cultivation, however, will be prohibited. This part is proposed to prevent a court decision expected in the coming months. Patients are suing the state for the right to grow their own plants as part of their treatment.

The document published by the Ministry of Health also suggests the creation of a german cannabis agency. This agency would manage a state monopoly on the medical cannabis market and issue the necessary permits to companies wishing to cultivate cannabis.

Of course, this is just a proposal for the time being, and the resulting law will have to satisfy the Federal Administrative Court.