Spain: A commission of deputies to consider medical cannabis

It's a small step towards the possible authorization of medical cannabis in Spain. The Spanish Congress of Deputies has approved the creation of a specialized sub-committee within the Health Commission. Over the next six months, its members will analyze the various experiences of using the plant for therapeutic purposes around the world. At the end of this period, the deputies will «will provide the Spanish government with a report that can be used for the authorization of cannabis for medical use in the Spanish state, based on the experiences of other states.», notes the parliamentary document.

Spain has decriminalized the consumption of small quantities of cannabis since the 1990s, but medical use of the plant is still prohibited. A legal curiosity, since Spanish cannabiculturists can grow the plant, to export its flowers internationally. «We have the feeling that here in Spain, our leaders tell us it's illegal, while we export to other countries!« says Carola Pérez, President of the Spanish Medical Cannabis Observatory, quoted by the online newspaper El Diario.

One member of parliament is determined to put things right by setting up this sub-committee. She is Josune Gorospe, a member of the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) and elected to Congress. Her colleagues voted 20 to 14 in favor of her proposal. «It's time to put an end to the dynamic of negation, and start taking the first steps».», she reacted in the columns of the Barcelona newspaper La Vanguardia.

Fun fact: in the explanatory memorandum, the parliamentarians cite France as an example of its therapeutic cannabis program. «France, Portugal, Germany, Italy [...] have established some form of program for the use of or access to medical cannabis as a treatment for several diseases».», notes Basque MP Aitor Esteban Bravo. And this, even if France has just begun an experiment, which is expected to last two years.

The Socialists, with a majority, could say «yes».»

On the Health Committee, among the 20 votes obtained by Deputy Gorospe are those of the Socialists. A key element. On several occasions, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), in power in Madrid, has refuted the existence of «It's all about »existing scientific evidence". If the Congress of Deputies comes to vote for or against the legalization of medical cannabis, the Socialist vote could tip the balance.

Pedro's party Sánchez has the largest contingent of deputies, with 120 seats in the Cortes Palace, and a majority of 176 votes. But other political parties are also in favor of legalizing medical cannabis in the kingdom. Podemos (radical left), with 35 seats, is also in favor.has long been vocal on the subject. The nationalist parties also said «yes». They represent 15 deputies on the Congress benches.

On the other hand, right-wing parties remain opposed to medical cannabis. This is the case of the People's Party (PP) and the far-right VOX. These two parties are in opposition, and together with their allies represent 155 votes. Exactly the same number as the majority. If there is a plenary vote in Congress, the debates promise to be lively.