Warning about the increase in medical cannabis consumption in Germany
The new German Health Minister, Nina Warken from the CDU party, described the sharp increase in the consumption of medical cannabis as a clear abuse, and announced her intention to impose strict restrictions on prescribing this type of medication, especially online.
In an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", Worken confirmed that "cannabis is a narcotic substance and can pose a significant danger to youth and adolescents," adding that access to medical cannabis prescriptions online has become very easy. She explained that a person can simply fill out a questionnaire indicating some symptoms to immediately obtain an electronic prescription.
The minister pointed out that the quality of medical cannabis is higher than that available on the black market, and that it comes at a fixed price and from a legal source. However, she emphasized that this medicine is not for general use but only for difficult and chronic health cases. She said, "For me, the numbers clearly indicate misuse."
And the department described the increase in consumption as "worrying," based on figures released by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), which showed that the consumption of medical cannabis has more than tripled, from 31 tons in April 2023 to 100 tons in April 2024.
She added that the evaluation of cannabis legalization legislation will take place next fall, as agreed between the Union and the SPD in the coalition agreement, noting that she will wait for the results of this evaluation before making final decisions.