Gibraltar legalizes medical cannabis

Gibraltar, a British territory located south of Spain, has legalized the use of «non-smokable» cannabis for medical purposes to treat various identified conditions.

Licensed physicians working at the Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) will be authorized to prescribe cannabis-based products to patients. Each practitioner must first complete appropriate training on the use of these products, followed by continuing education. Only the pharmacy at Saint-Bernard Hospital, managed by the GHA, will be authorized to dispense cannabis-based treatments.

Patients eligible for the medical marijuana must have been diagnosed with one of the following conditions:

• moderate to severe muscle spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis that has not responded to conventional treatments
• severe, refractory epilepsy that has not responded to conventional treatments
• severe pain that is not relieved by pain medication
• Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy

Each prescribed product must be specifically approved by the GHA as safe and effective before its distribution is authorized.

Dr. Krishna Rawal, the hospital's medical director, has qualified 'decisive step» reforms for healthcare in Gibraltar, based on »extensive research and consultations.«.

«I am extremely eager to offer patients as many options as possible for their medical treatment and recovery. In my opinion, cannabis oil certainly has a place in modern medical care for certain patients. Over time, I am convinced that the increased use of cannabis for medical purposes will generate overwhelming evidence in favor of its use.»

The The United Kingdom legalized medical cannabis in 2018, with very limited actual access one year later.