Drugs policy in Germany is a mess
Despite legalisation, medicinal cannabis is often unavailable to German patients
The Economist (UK)
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Nationwide legalisation of medicinal cannabis in Germany came into force in March 2017. But almost a year on, patients struggle to obtain the weed they need. One problem is the conservatism of the medical industry. Many doctors are reluctant to prescribe cannabis rather than traditional opiates, like morphine. Even when they do, at around €24 ($30) per gram, more than double the street price, the over-the-counter cost is more than many people can afford privately. Health insurers decline a third of requests for reimbursement. Not all pharmacists stock cannabis, either because they disapprove or because they are unfamiliar with it.
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