Telemedicine Improves Safe Access For Suffering Medical Cannabis Patients In Germany
Germany’s medical cannabis industry is the largest on the European continent, and thanks to recently adopted reforms via the nation’s new CanG law, safe access to medical cannabis therapies is more streamlined than ever before.
Lawmakers in Germany first approved the CanG law in February 2024, with the first provisions of the adult-use legalization measure taking effect on April 1st. Part of the CanG law involved the removal of cannabis from the nation’s Narcotics List, and that policy change ushered in a new era for Germany’s medical cannabis industry.
Suffering patients no longer have to jump through as many hoops to become official medical cannabis patients in Germany due to the policy change. Additionally, domestic medical cannabis production is no longer limited by arbitrary quota limits and the supply chain is more effective at getting medical cannabis products where they need to go.
Telemedicine, in which doctors assess patients over the web, is increasing in popularity worldwide. By harnessing technology, medical care is more accessible for suffering patients, especially patients who may be older and/or disabled. Telemedicine is being increasingly used by doctors evaluating patients for medical cannabis in Germany, and rightfully so.
Unfortunately, not everyone is happy about the new era of German cannabis policy. Lower Saxony’s Health Minister Andreas Philippi is reportedly aiming to end telemedicine for medical cannabis qualification purposes.
“It shouldn’t be so easy to facilitate recreational cannabis use with a ‘peace of mind’ package over just a few clicks on the internet,” the SPD politician stated according to local reporting by ASB Zeitung.
The Lower Saxony Medical Association has emphasized, according to reporting by ASB Zeitung, that lawmakers should “promptly examine whether this development aligns with legislative goals – such as improved health protection and controlled cannabis distribution.”
Leading up to the adoption of the CanG measure in Germany, lawmakers made it clear that the aim of the new approach to cannabis policy and regulation was to boost public health outcomes by getting more cannabis consumers, including patients, to source their cannabis by legal means rather than relying on the unregulated market.
With that in mind, the policy change appears to be working exactly as designed and in alignment with legislative goals. People are going to consume cannabis regardless of whether it is legal or not, and affording them legal avenues to acquire cannabis helps mitigate potential harm.
Adults in Germany can now cultivate, possess, and consume cannabis, as well as join one of the growing list of German cultivation associations from which to source their cannabis. Boosting medical cannabis access is part of the equation, but far from being the only component that people will rely on in Germany going forward. The eventual launch of pilot programs will add another legal avenue for consumers.
Whether or not cannabis is an effective therapy for a suffering patient is a decision that should be made by a patient and their medical care providers, which is exactly what happens when a suffering patient uses telemedicine to communicate with, and be evaluated by, their doctor. Fortunately, data is demonstrating that safe access is spreading in Germany.
“Since April 1, the medical cannabis market has almost doubled in Germany,” David Henn, CEO of the medical cannabis wholesaler Cannamedical, previously stated per original reporting by ntv.de.
The recent growth in Germany’s medical cannabis industry is also evident in new data published by Bloomwell Group. The brokerage service company ‘provides both doctors and pharmacies with a digital platform for medical cannabis.’ The company reported a “1,000 percent” increase in business since legalization started in Germany.
Prior to April 1st, researchers estimated that Germany had between 200k and 300k active medical cannabis patients. That number is projected to increase to as much as 5 million in the not-so-distant future.
A February 2024 market analysis by Zuanic & Associates determined that if 1% of Germany’s population (roughly 838,000 people) became cash-paying medical cannabis patients, the German medical market ‘could reach €1.7Bn in value by the end of 2025.’ If current trends persist, the 1% threshold could be surpassed far earlier.