Spain’s government has officially legalized medical marijuana, a decision patient advocates are calling historic.
The Council of Ministers approved the change today, allowing specialists in hospitals to prescribe marijuana to patients. However, the government has not yet outlined which conditions will qualify. That guidance is expected in the coming weeks from the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products
“It’s a long-awaited demand by the Congress of Deputies, by professionals and by patients,” says Health Minister Mónica García. “This model allows for continuous updating based on scientific advances and available clinical evidence, opening the door to the incorporation of new prescriptions in the future, always under rigorous criteria of efficacy, safety and medical necessity.”
Carola Pérez, president of the Spanish Observatory of Medicinal Cannabis, welcomed the decision, saying patients who have long waited for regulation are now celebrating, noting that around 300,000 people in Spain use cannabis for medicinal or therapeutic purposes. She noted that the move could allow marijuana to be prescribed for a wide range of illnesses but cautioned about challenges ahead, including the fact that many doctors remain untrained in how to properly prescribe marijuana, which could lead to inconsistent access. She also warned that demand could overwhelm hospital laboratories tasked with processing prescriptions.
Spain’s step puts it among European countries with legal access to medical marijuana, but how widely available it becomes will depend on the regulations still to come.
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