Germany becomes latest country to OK medical marijuana legalization
By Meera Senthilingam
January 20, 2017
An act to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes was passed by German parliamentarians. They voted unanimously in favor of the new bill, first approved by the country's cabinet in May 2016.
On Thursday, votes were unanimous in favor of the new "cannabis as medicine" law, which will come into effect March 2017.
People with multiple sclerosis and other severe illnesses will be able to obtain the drug legally with a prescription. Doctors will also be able to prescribe marijuana or cannabis to patients for whom the drug could alleviate symptoms, such as chronic pain or nausea, or who may see a positive effect on their disease progression, according to a statement (PDF) from Germany's Federal Ministry of Health.
"Critically ill people must be cared for in the best possible way," Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe said in a statement, adding that "costs of using cannabis for medicinal purposes will be met by the health insurance companies of the critically ill, if no other form of treatment is effective."
The law was welcomed by parties on both the left and right.
Germany will now create a state-regulated program to cultivate the crop for its medicinal use in the future and to ensure its quality. Until then, plants will be imported.
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