Spain's Health Minister Announces Imminent Medical Cannabis Legislation
In a significant development for Spain's healthcare and cannabis industries, the country's newly appointed Health Minister, Mónica García Gómez, has declared that Spain's much-anticipated medical cannabis legislation will be finalized "in the coming months." This announcement underscores the government's commitment to advancing medical cannabis access, a promise Gómez emphasized during her first address in Congress.
Gómez's dedication to formulating a medical cannabis framework reflects a broader effort to align Spain with global advancements in cannabis for therapeutic use. Despite previous delays, attributed to Spain's complex political landscape, the Health Minister's announcement signals a decisive step forward. In June 2022, a subcommittee, after extensive research into global medical cannabis policies, recommended a framework for Spain, receiving approval shortly thereafter. These recommendations, emphasizing prescriptions by specialists and dispensation in hospital pharmacies, with potential expansion to general practitioners and community pharmacies, now form the cornerstone of the forthcoming legislation.
The Ministry of Health's draft ministerial order aims to facilitate legal access to cannabis-based medicines for patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis spasticity, certain epilepsy forms, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, endometriosis, and chronic pain. Upcoming meetings with stakeholders, including the Spanish Observatory of Medicinal Cannabis (OECM), are scheduled to refine and implement these regulations.
Parallel to this legislative push, Spain has emerged as a significant player in the global medical cannabis market. According to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, nations must annually report their controlled substance production plans for medical and scientific purposes to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). Spain's Health Ministry projects a production of 36 tonnes of medical cannabis in 2024, a substantial increase from previous years, positioning Spain ahead of Portugal and just behind global leaders such as the UK, Canada, Uruguay, Colombia, and Israel.
This growth is mirrored in the surge of licensed cultivation companies within Spain, marking a 150% increase since 2019. As Spain advances towards the implementation of its medical cannabis law, this burgeoning sector is poised to offer thousands of patients legal access to therapeutic cannabis, reflecting the country's commitment to public health innovation and global competitiveness in the cannabis industry.
Originally reported by Business of Cannabis, this development represents a pivotal moment in Spain's healthcare policy, blending scientific rigor, ethical responsibility, and social sensitivity to meet the evolving needs of its population.
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