MEDCAN calls for increased medical support in cannabis prescriptions
MEDCAN, the Medical Cannabis Association Switzerland, is still pleased a year later with the legal amendment of August 1, 2022, which allows for the straightforward medical prescription of cannabis. This change opens up new possibilities for over 100,000 patients who already use it medically and desire safe access to it. Medical use can positively impact the lives of many chronically ill people. MEDCAN is committed to these patients and supports cannabis as an effective therapeutic option. Nevertheless, challenges remain for these patients.
MEDCAN therefore calls on medical professionals to support the prescription of cannabis and to take the experiences and needs of affected patients seriously. Cannabis can offer an effective alternative to conventional medications for a wide range of illnesses and conditions. Compared to conventional
It generally has fewer side effects than medications and does not negatively affect the body. It has been used as a herbal remedy for millennia and possesses anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, sleep-inducing, and mood-enhancing properties. Numerous studies confirm its medicinal efficacy. Therefore, it is surprising that it is not yet more widely used in medicine.
Unfortunately, many doctors lack sufficient experience. Often, the patients themselves are better informed than their medical professionals, leading to difficult situations. Furthermore, reimbursement by health insurance companies and other insurers frequently fails. It is therefore urgently necessary for doctors and medical facilities to increase their support in this area to finally enable patients to access these services.
MEDCAN also calls for the inclusion of its use as a medicine in medical training. Despite decades of illegality, numerous studies have demonstrated its medical benefits. It is now time for these findings to be put into practice and for medical professionals to receive comprehensive training. MEDCAN urges all relevant stakeholders to engage with this issue. The Association possesses extensive expertise and is happy to share it.
Franziska Quadri, president of MEDCAN, emphasizes: "The change in the law opens up the possibility for chronically ill people to improve their quality of life. We call for increased education and support from the medical community to finally facilitate access to cannabis in medicine."
Furthermore, MEDCAN emphasizes the need to review the classification of cannabis as a narcotic and reclassify it as an opiate. Equating it with opiates is counterproductive, as its effects and risks are significantly lower. Instead, the focus should be on Recreational Consumption , and regulation as a recreational drug should be considered, similar to what countries like Canada, Uruguay, and numerous US states have already done. In Germany, cannabis is also being removed from the Narcotics Act and re-regulated. Comprehensive regulation can bring both societal and economic benefits by ensuring the protection of young people and providing consumers with safe access to high-quality and safe products.
MEDCAN urgently calls for measures to regulate the home cultivation of cannabis in order to help patients who receive no support and cannot afford the medication. Such regulation would at least give them the opportunity to secure their own supply. No one should be criminalized for seeking pain relief.
It is time to pursue a balanced approach that considers the latest scientific findings on cannabis and prioritizes the needs of the population. MEDCAN calls for political action towards sensible cannabis regulation.
About MEDCAN:
MEDCAN is a patient organization that has been advocating for the medical use of cannabis for almost ten years. The Association is committed to improving patient care and information and promotes exchange among those affected. Cannabis is a blessing for people with chronic illnesses and can improve their quality of life. Compared to addictive opiates and benzodiazepines, it offers numerous advantages as a medication. Increased education and training can help ensure that people with chronic illnesses have an alternative to conventional medications.
