Ministry of Health prepares to regulate the use of medicinal cannabis

By Leandro Maia

In Spain, the Ministry of Health, led by Mónica García, is about to move forward with the regulation of medicinal cannabis use, after a meeting with the management team of the State Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS). The draft Ministerial Order prepared by AEMPS, which is already in the hands of the Ministry, aims to establish clear guidelines for the medicinal use of cannabis, as confirmed by ministerial sources to Europa Press.

The approval of this measure has been a long journey since the establishment of a subcommittee in the Congress of Deputies on June 27, 2022, with the then Minister of Health, Carolina Darias. This subcommittee was tasked with studying the regularization of cannabis for therapeutic purposes, culminating in a mandate to AEMPS to prepare a report within a six-month period. However, this deadline was not met, and a year and a half later, the draft was sent to the Ministry.

The Ministerial Order project proposes robust regulation, designed to evolve based on scientific evidence and the treatment of cannabis as a medication. Before the issuance of the Ministerial Order, the Ministry plans to hold meetings with groups involved in the issue, mainly with the Medicinal Cannabis Observatory.

The exact date for the implementation of this regulation has not yet been confirmed, but the Ministry ensures it will be in the "coming months," after consultations with the necessary groups and a thorough evaluation of the AEMPS project.

If the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes is approved, it is expected to have strict requirements, including prescription by specialist doctors and use in relieving pain associated with certain diseases or pathologies.

Brazilian Medicinal Cannabis Congress

The main congress in Latin America of a scientific and professional nature, seeking to bring innovation and advances related to the medicinal use of cannabis.  

This initiative is in line with the Sumar program for the Government coalition, which supports the "comprehensive regulation" of cannabis, adopting a model of associations based on non-profit self-consumption. Regarding cannabis for medicinal purposes, Sumar endorses its legalization, which is in the process of approval in 2024.

In May, the PNV had accused the Government of not meeting the deadlines set for the production of the AEMPS draft. The former Minister of Health, José Miñones, apologized for the delay, attributing it to an "excess of zeal," and promised to present the document before the end of the month, which was finally fulfilled in December with the new minister.

Former Minister Miñones stated: "I continue to convey this commitment, we continue to study the best way to ensure the safety of patients, that cannabis-based treatment is effective, and soon I believe we will be able to bring this analysis carried out by AEMPS."