Spain's Ministry of Health confirms that medical cannabis will be legalized «soon».»

Spain's Ministry of Health, newly headed by Mónica García, is reportedly on the verge of approving comprehensive regulations for the medical use of cannabis, according to the Spanish media ElPlural. This initiative, which is part of the broader program of the Sumar party from which the Minister hails, aims to consider cannabis as a medicine whose use is based on scientific evidence.

The proposed regulation, currently in draft form by the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS), is expected to be approved in the coming months, bringing Spain into line with the majority of European countries that have already legalized medical cannabis.

Before finalizing the ministerial order, the Ministry plans to hold talks with stakeholders, in particular the Observatoire du cannabis médical (OECM), to gather their views and reactions.

Voy a ser ministra con la misma vocación de servicio público que me ha acompañado todos los días de mi vida, dentro y fuera del quirófano.

Viva la sanidad pública. pic.twitter.com/slRH95uGDc

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- Mónica García (@Monica_Garcia_G) November 21, 2023

Delays in implementation

The road to regulation of medical cannabis in Spain has been marked by numerous delays. The sub-commission held in June 2022 mandated AEMPS to produce a report within six months. However, former health minister José Miñones apologized for the delay, citing «overzealousness». The subsequent submission of the report to the new Minister, Mónica García, in December, however, shows that efforts are continuing to ensure the availability of cannabis-based treatments.

Once the political decision has been taken, Spain will face the same obstacles as other countries. On the one hand, approval of medical cannabis regulations could catalyze major changes. The pharmaceutical industry is expecting a boom, with local and international companies exploring the development and production of cannabis-derived medicines.

For the cannabis market itself, however, the road ahead looks complex. While demand for medical cannabis products is expected to grow, strict regulation, particularly in terms of medical prescription and monitoring, could initially limit accessibility. This will be a challenge for producers and distributors alike. distributors, which will have to comply with what are likely to be stringent regulatory requirements, and will only be able to supply a small number of patients to start with.

Spain's current approach to regulating medical cannabis is still in its infancy compared to other countries. Countries such as Uruguay, Israel and the Netherlands have long since legalized medical cannabis, while Canada and some American states have already embarked on regulating recreational use.

The regulatory diversity in Europe, from Germany's approval of cannabis-based medicines to Portugal's authorization of prescription cannabis extracts, highlights the potential complexity of the legislative framework surrounding medical cannabis.