As of: March 26, 2024, 7:24 p.m
By: Kathrin Reikowski
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At first glance, the legalization of cannabis has no connection to medical cannabis that has already been legalized.
However, patients and the industry have expectations.
Magdeburg - “I am very positive about the legalization of cannabis because I want to try it out for my pain,” says pensioner Ursula Reisch to MDR
.
On Friday (March 22nd), the Federal Council approved the legalization of cannabis.
Like many pain sufferers, the pensioner hopes that it could now become easier to consume cannabis for medical reasons.
From April 1st, new rules on cannabis consumption will apply throughout Germany.
Medical cannabis after legalization from April: What will change for consumers now?
But when it comes to medical cannabis, which has long since been legalized, there are still many questions unanswered.
The industry is hoping for an upswing similar to that in Canada, where two to three percent of people use cannabis for pain.
“Cannabis is becoming, so to speak, the equivalent of Ibuprofen 600,” David Henn, CEO of Cannamedical Pharma, told
Wirtschaftswoche
.
But is that really the case?
How does cannabis work?
A hemp plant contains several hundred chemical compounds, including the so-called cannabinoids and substances from other groups of substances such as amino acids, proteins, sugars, alcohols or fatty acids.
The two main ingredients in cannabis are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Among other things, they are said to have a pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, appetite-stimulating, relaxing to euphoric and antispasmodic effect - THC in particular has an intoxicating effect.
The pharmacological effect has not yet been fully elucidated.
Cannabis primarily affects the limbic system, which is linked to short-term memory, certain emotional qualities and the ability to concentrate.
(Source: AFP)
Medical cannabis: what already applies now?
Patients have been able to legally be prescribed medical cannabis since March 2017.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, cannabis medicines can be “in the form of dried flowers or extracts of standardized quality” and “medicines with the active ingredients dronabinol or nabilone”.
Four requirements must be met for a prescription: firstly, the illness must be serious, secondly, alternatives must be ruled out, thirdly, there must be a prospect of positive change and fourthly, there is an obligation to take part in anonymous accompanying research.
According to the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, health insurance companies must agree to the initial prescription and the prescriptions are issued as drug prescriptions.
Cannabis as a finished medicinal product is to be preferred.
“So far, no doctor has prescribed it voluntarily because it involves so much effort,” explained Ursula Reisch to
MDR
.
Pain patient Reinhard Müller has not yet been prescribed any cannabis products by his doctor, although he has already had good experiences with CBD oil.
CBD oil is considered non-psychoactive and is sold as a dietary supplement.
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Medical cannabis no longer available as a prescription for narcotics
In some cases, the medical distribution of cannabis seems complicated for doctors and patients.
The legalization of cannabis through the law on private consumption introduced by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) initially has no connection with this.
Furthermore, pain patients need to have their cases examined carefully.
“The regulations on medical cannabis remain unaffected,” writes the Saxony-Anhalt Medical Association to the
MDR
.
However, there are improvements: According to the law, a prescription for a special narcotic drug prescription is no longer required for medical cannabis; in the future, a regular prescription will be sufficient to redeem it in the pharmacy.
So far, cannabis products do not seem to be equated with ibuprofen.
The Techniker Krankenkasse warns of side effects from cannabis consumption, such as susceptibility to depression, dizziness or even an increased risk of heart attack.
An industry representative told
SAT.1
that they are now hoping for a destigmatization of the products, and the effects and side effects of cannabis are being further researched.
Patient Reinhard Müller, on the other hand, has other plans after cannabis legalization: “In addition, in the course of legalization, you may also be able to deal with the cultivation and processing of cannabis,” he told
MDR
.
(kat with afp)