Luxembourg: medical cannabis to be legalized

Luxembourg will join the current list of 21 Countries in Europe that allow the medical use of cannabis.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel announced this last Friday during a briefing at the Cabinet meeting. «The government has given its approval in principle to the Minister of Health» to draft a bill authorizing medical cannabis.

The details of the legalization of medical use are not yet known and are expected to be clarified soon. For now, medical cannabis is expected to be available by prescription for people suffering from cancer (chemotherapy side effects or pain) or multiple sclerosis (spasticity), to be prescribed by specialized physicians and dispensed at pharmacies.

«The need is there, and there are examples in several other countries, such as the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Germany…» explained Xavier Bettel.

A new central authority is expected to regulate and monitor the use of medical cannabis in Luxembourg.

Until now, only strains containing less than 0.3% of THC were legal in Luxembourg. Possession of cannabis is decriminalized and punishable by a fine of €250 to €2,500.

22 out of 28 European countries will then allow the medical use of cannabis. In practice, the situations vary:

• France does not offer any medications containing natural cannabinoids, and the Marinol is distributed sparingly. Receiving a prescription for medical cannabis in France is a real obstacle course, but it is possible, and puts the patient in an illegal situation
• Other countries authorize only Sativex and/or dronabinol: Austria, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Sweden
• Some countries also allow CBD oil: Cyprus, Ireland, and the United Kingdom
• Some countries allow or facilitate the use of dried flowers: Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Czech Republic…