This question was posed to our president by a journalist from western Switzerland during an interview, and it still haunts her. She can hardly imagine the despair one must feel: finally gaining access to a therapy that noticeably improves one's life, only to have that opportunity taken away again. It's simply inhumane.
Her answer was clear and unambiguous.
“If I were a French patient, I would seriously question whether I wanted to continue living like this. After more than ten years of fighting for the medical use of cannabis, it would deeply shake me if this legal option were taken away again. It would break my faith in humanity and my will to live.
” You can find the full article in the French-language Swiss conference newspaper “La Liberté.”
Cannabis is not a luxury but a medical necessity
For our members – and many other sick people – cannabis is not just any medication. It is a daily, essential resource without which we could not get through the day. It alleviates pain, relaxes muscles, and helps our minds cope with our difficult chronic pain conditions. Without cannabis, every moment of daily life becomes torture. The mere thought of no longer having legal access to our medication triggers panic. The black market is not an alternative for sick people – the risks of uncontrolled quality and potential adulterants are simply too great.
Growing your own could theoretically be a solution, but it remains illegal in Switzerland. It's also very labor-intensive, exhausting for sick people, and not affordable for everyone. Furthermore, you live in constant fear of being caught. This uncertainty is very stressful and becomes unbearable over time.
The idea that legal access to cannabis for medicinal purposes could be revoked in France is shocking to our president. Should a similar discussion arise in Switzerland, she would have to seriously reconsider whether she can continue living as she is.
"I remember all too well the sleepless nights full of worry about where I would get my medication. I never want to experience those times of fear and despair again."
Progress in Switzerland
Here in Switzerland, we amended the Narcotics Act on August 1, 2022: Doctors can now prescribe cannabis directly, without needing special authorization from the Federal Office of Public Health. However, the path is still fraught with challenges. Many of us struggle with social stigma; it's difficult to find a doctor who will prescribe cannabis, and the costs are rarely covered by health insurance. But we have taken an important step: Cannabis is officially recognized as a medicine. This gives us not only legal but also moral support.
The crisis in France
For France, the current situation is a catastrophe. The Ministry of Health has extended the trial period for therapeutic cannabis by six months – not to secure long-term access, but so that patients can "wean themselves off conventional medication and find an alternative." But what options are left for them if there are no alternatives? Many are forced back to conventional medications, which often have severe side effects, or they are driven into illegality – a situation that endangers their health and dignity.
MEDCAN's appeal to politicians worldwide
It is high time to grant sick people access to cannabis as medicine. It is not a luxury, but a medical necessity. Science is increasingly confirming what we patients have long known: cannabis is an effective and natural therapy that can improve quality of life. Our experiences deserve to be heard and recognized.
Here in Switzerland, we have shown that changes in the medical use of cannabis are possible. The fight is not over, but we have taken an important step. The MEDCAN Association sincerely hopes that progress will also be made in other countries – for the benefit of all those who struggle daily for their quality of life.
