German MPs just legalized, unanimously, the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes. From now on, doctors across the Rhine will be able to prescribe cannabis to their patients suffering from progressive incurable diseases (Cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosiss) and cannot benefit from “alternative therapies”.
According to the Conservative Minister of Health, Hermann Gröhe, the law passed will notably improve the care of patients in palliative care.
Coverage of treatment by health insurance
With their prescription, German patients will be able to obtain cannabis extract or its synthetic derivatives in pharmacies from next March. The law provides for the payment of costs by the health insurance.
However, this law does not allow patients to grow their own cannabis. A public agency of medical cannabisresponsible for the culture of the product will be created.
The bill was announced a few months ago, after German justice authorized 3 patients suffering from chronic pain and having exhausted all other therapeutic possibilities, to use cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
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