Due in large part to the tireless efforts of cannabis activists in Europe, medical cannabis is now commonplace throughout the continent.
Medical cannabis models differ from nation to nation, with some countries having far superior medical cannabis laws and programs than others.
However, more patients now have access to medical cannabis in Europe than ever before. T that is good news for those that are suffering from qualifying conditions.
Adult-use cannabis legalization is on the horizon in multiple European countries, including Luxembourg and Germany. How will that affect current medical cannabis programs?
Medical Cannabis Still Needed
Some people may think that once adult-use cannabis is allowed in a country that medical cannabis laws and programs are no longer needed.
After all, if all adults have access to cannabis, why have separate laws and regulations for medical cannabis patients and products?
It is important for cannabis enthusiasts to understand that the needs of medical cannabis patients often differ from those of recreational consumers.
Patients often need stronger products, and/or medical cannabis products that are specifically designed to treat specific conditions rather than just inducing euphoria.
Also, it is not just adults that need access to medical cannabis. Younger patients also need access to medical cannabis in some instances, albeit in less numbers compared to adults.
Those are just some of the many reasons why medical cannabis programs are still needed even after a country legalizes cannabis for adult use.
A Comprehensive Approach
Now that cannabis reform is on the move across the globe many cannabis activists and enthusiasts are debating what constitutes “the best” cannabis policy.
That debate will no doubt continue well into the future when it comes to the granular details. However, at the macro level it is abundantly clear that a comprehensive approach is best.
Countries need to have adult-use laws that allow for legal sales, deliveries, home cultivation, and robust entrepreneurial opportunities.
They also need to have additional tailored medical cannabis laws and regulations to help all suffering patients that need more than what is offered in the adult-use industry. Anything less than that is unacceptable.
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