The European Parliament approved yesterday Wednesday 13th February the resolution calling on the European Commission and the Member States to regulate cannabis and to provide clear legislation regarding the medical use of cannabis.

The Parliament urges;

• The European Union to encourage innovation in the medical cannabis field
• The effective cannabis-based medicines to be covered by the national health systems
• The effective cannabis-based medicines to be covered by the national health systems

“Enhance and sponsor the research”

In more detail, the resolution calls on the European Commission and the Member States to address the regulatory, financial, and cultural barriers which weigh on scientific research in the specific field and sponsor it as well.

“Allow the doctors to prescribe cannabis-based medicines”

The European Parliament members call on the Member States to allow doctors to make free use of their professional judgment in prescribing regulatory-approved cannabis-based medicines. Since cannabis-based medicines are effective, they should be prescribed and covered by the national health systems in the same way the rest of the medicines are regulated.

According to the decision of the Parliament Assembly, the legal regulation of cannabis-based medicines would translate into additional resources for public authorities, would limit the black market, and ensure quality and accurate labeling. It will limit the access of this substance to minors.

«Cannabis; Evidentially useful for several disorders»

The historical resolution refers that there is evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids may be effective in increasing appetite and decreasing weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS, in alleviating symptoms of mental disorders such as psychosis or Tourette syndrome, and in alleviating symptoms of epilepsy, as well as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, asthma, cancer, Crohn’s disease, and glaucoma. They also help to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes and mitigate menstrual pain;

Kouloglou; a breakthrough that will facilitate those who are in need

Stelios Kouloglou, a member of the European Parliament on behalf of Syriza, who has organized two medical cannabis events at the parliament and has taken several relevant legislative initiatives, referred accordingly;

“It is quite a positive progress that will open the way to legal regulations which will be translated into additional resources for public authorities, would limit the black market and protect the youth that are attracted by the illegal, while it will facilitate those who need a lot of this medicine”.

New Democracy and Golden Dawn disapproved…

Stelios Kouloglou highlights in his statement; “New Democracy aligns her position along with Golden Dawn disapproving of significant modifications”. To be more specific, they disapproved;

•   A call on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate for an explicit legal term of medical cannabis which will include approved cannabis-derived products ensuring that the clinical trials are the only way to approve such a medicine.
• A call on the national authorities to enhance the dialogue for legal regulations concerning other applications of cannabis, such as recreational and industrial.
• A call to provide a safe and equal choice for patients between different types of cannabis-based medicine, while ensuring a medical prescription of raw cannabis.

Source; cannabisnews.gr

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