Medical self-cultivation of cannabis authorized on an exceptional basis in Germany

On April 6, the German federal justice system authorized the first permit to grow cannabis for medical use. A 52-year-old patient suffering from multiple sclerosis since 1985 has just been granted the right to grow his own weed at home. to treat symptoms. A first in Germany under the banner of «medical self-therapy using cannabis flowers».

Michael F. had already requested this authorization in 2000. Authorization was refused at the time, and the police even searched his home, confiscating all his flowers. What's more, his refused to subsidize it so that he could buy medical cannabis in pharmacies at €15 a gram. Michael took his fight to the legal authorities in 2005. He first won his case against the German Ministry of Health in 2014, which will appeal the decision.

Defeat of the German state

The Administrative Court of Leipzig, the highest legal authority, therefore ruled earlier this month: « In accordance with section 3, paragraph 2 of the Federal Narcotics Law (BtMG), the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices can only issue a permit for cannabis cultivation in exceptional circumstances for scientific research or in the public interest. In this exceptional case, the treatment of the plaintiff's serious illness with home-grown cannabis is in the public interest since, according to the findings of the Court of Appeal, the ingestion of cannabis considerably alleviates his symptoms, and there is currently no other form of treatment as effective and affordable».

What's more, Michael F. now has considerable experience in self-medication, so he knows what type of plant to use and what dosage to use. THC are necessary to treat its symptoms.

The German government wanted to create a dedicated agency to cannabis to regulate the pharmaceutical distribution of cannabinoid products to prevent self-cultivation. Not lively enough, this exceptional legal decision opens the door to other Germans practicing self-medication. For the moment, only 450 people have access to cannabis-based care in Germany.

Theo caillart