Congress votes "yes" to medical marijuana

The opinion of the medical marijuana subcommittee, which gives the green light for the use of the substance for therapeutic purposes, was approved by the Health and Consumption Commission of the Congress of Deputies. The text was supported by the PSOE, United We Can Citizens, Citizens, PNV, PDeCAT and the abstention from ERC and Bildu who demanded greater ambition and the vote against PP and Vox. So the opinion will not need to be submitted to plenary. Instead, it will now be the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products, dependent on the Ministry of Health. They will then develop the conclusions of this document within the next six months.

The commission allows cancer patients to receive this treatment. This is a claim that has been supported by associations who have supported this initiative. Patients with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and patients who have experienced nausea and vomiting from cancer, chemotherapy, endometriosis and chronic pain (including neuropathic) can use cannabis oils or standardized preparations. These products may also be available for therapeutic purposes if medical studies support them.

Doctors cannot prescribe magisterial cannabis formulas. They must be prescribed only by physicians in private and public health. However, "community" pharmacies (those on the streets) may be able to do so if they are ready. One of the major concerns expressed by the speakers is that cannabis must only be used for medical purposes and not for recreational purposes.

Although the document does not address all of the demands of the associations, the document includes the use cannabis flowering tops ("cannabis flower") in order to develop medical experimental projects. This allows for the inhalation of cannabis ("rescue"), which has faster effects than the oral route.