Medical cannabis is being embraced on the European continent now more than ever before, with Germany leading the way from an industry standpoint.
Europe recently witnessed its first country legalizing cannabis for adult use when lawmakers in Malta passed a legalization measure last month.
Unfortunately, not every medical cannabis program in Europe is operating at the same level, with the United Kingdom being particularly terrible for medical cannabis.
As of this last summer, only three patients had received medical cannabis products in the United Kingdom, which is obviously a far cry compared to most other European countries.
No Program Expansion on the Horizon
Last year Jeff Smith, the Labour MP for Manchester Wythenshawe in the UK’s Parliament, introduced the Medical Cannabis Access Bill in the House of Commons.
The measure would have expanded the United Kingdom’s medical cannabis program and resulted in many more patients receiving safe access to medical cannabis.
More reforms would have been needed in order for the United Kingdom to get on similar medical cannabis policy footing compared to Germany. However, it would have been a major improvement over the current situation.
Unfortunately, as acknowledged recently by the measure’s main sponsor, the medical expansion bill is basically dead at this point.
An Urgent Situation
The United Kingdom is home to a population of over 67 million people. Many are suffering patients that would benefit from medical cannabis.
Until lawmakers in the United Kingdom pass sensible medical cannabis policy reforms, patients will continue to needlessly suffer.
It is not as if there are no examples of successful medical cannabis programs to learn from. Dozens of countries now have thriving, effective medical cannabis programs in place.
With adult use legalization on the move in Europe, the UK’s medical cannabis program will only look more and more ridiculous and inhumane as time goes by. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be any change on the horizon.
