Spain Will Regulate Medical Cannabis by the End of This Year

Spain is taking the plunge: cannabis for therapeutic purposes should be distributed by pharmacies by the end of this year. The approved list of conditions, while limited, has been expanded from an even smaller list that was initially proposed. As with other restricted medicines, patients seeking access to medical cannabis in Spain will need to obtain a prescription from their doctor.

The Special Committee on Health of the Spanish Congress of Deputies approved a text last Monday that gives the green light to the regulation of cannabis for therapeutic purposes in Spain. The measure, which gave rise to negotiations between political parties, counted on the support of the PSOE, Unidas Podemos, Ciudadanos, PNV, and PDeCAT. The ERC and Bildu parties abstained, while Vox and the Partido Popular opposed the project.

What Forms of Cannabis Will Spain Legalize?

The marketing of cannabis derivatives for therapeutic purposes in Spain has nothing to do with the legalization of cannabis in all its forms: do not believe that it will be possible to obtain a medical prescription to be able to smoke a joint, far from it. The project plans to make certain cannabis-derived medicines accessible to consumers. These are formulas using particular active components of the plant to fight against chronic pain. The inhalation of the cannabis flower (by vaporization) still seems to be excluded. Smoking the plant also remains totally prohibited.

Who Will Spain Grant Access To Cannabis?

Doctors in Spain will prescribe cannabis-based treatments, and the public targeted by these prescriptions will also be extremely limited: not all pain or pathologies are eligible to be treated with therapeutic cannabis.

Initially, the text studied by the commission contemplated using cannabis only for patients with multiple sclerosis, convulsions, or certain forms of epilepsy. Finally, after the debate between the parties concluded, the prescriptions were extended. Patients in Spain suffering from a list of other conditions, such as endometriosis, oncological pain, or nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy treatments, will also be given access.

In general, this type of substance can help patients suffering from severe chronic pain: it is estimated that around eight million people are victims. But beware, this does not mean that medical cannabis will be the solution to be prescribed for everyone. Instead, each patient and each pathology must be studied on a case-by-case basis.

From Where and From When?

The Congress of Deputies validated a report on the use and control of this type of substance in order to ask the Ministry of Health to authorize the marketing of medicinal products derived from the cannabis plant in Spain. It is now the Spanish Medicines Agency that is in charge of integrating these new measures into the current regulations, and this within six months.

The document validated by Congress recommends that medical cannabis be distributed by pharmacies in the public health system in Spain, preferably by so-called hospital pharmacies.

Spain, therefore, joins the list of European countries in which cannabis for therapeutic purposes is legal. Since the WHO revised the classification of cannabis in 2020, the number of countries authorizing medical cannabis has continued to increase. The therapeutic cannabis market is now booming, with annual growth estimated at a minimum of 20% per year until 2026. According to specialists, the medical cannabis market will exceed 25.5 billion euros by four years.

—

(Featured image by Nataliya Vaitkevich via Pexels)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third-party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff, or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published by Le Petit Journal, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.

Desmond O'Flynn

Desmond O’Flynn believes in minimalism and the power of beer. As a young reporter for some of the largest national publications, he has lived in the world of finance and investing for nearly three decades. He has since included world politics and the global economy in his portfolio. He also writes about entrepreneurs and small businesses, as well as innovation in fintech, gambling, and cannabis industries.