Despite the revision, a lot is still unclear
To date, over 100,000 sick people in Switzerland have had to illegally treat themselves with cannabis. The Federal Office of Public Health estimates this. Only a few thousand buy cannabis medicines from pharmacies - now without a permit. However, these products are still limited and expensive. A therapy aimed at your own symptoms with different forms of consumption and types of cannabis is not yet possible. But that should change now.
Prescription via extemporaneous prescription
The responsibility for treatment now lies with the medical specialist. The doctor can prescribe cannabis via an extemporaneous prescription. This off-license cannabis medicine is then manufactured in the pharmacy for the patient according to a doctor's prescription. Swiss Society for Cannabis in Medicine writes in the medical newspaper. Individually tailored cannabis extracts should be available in the future. And hopefully other forms of intake such as ointments or suppositories will also be possible. Like in Germany, those affected also want cannabis flowers to vaporize. The decision as to whether this form of intake will be made medically available in Switzerland currently rests with the cantonal pharmacists. As soon as we know more, we will let you know.
Lack of medical training
The problem now is that doctors have insufficient knowledge of the medical application. That is understandable. During their training they don't learn anything about cannabis in medicine. The new law now relies on their specialist knowledge. You have to provide precise information about the ingredients (e.g. THC/CBD ratio) on the extemporaneous prescription and do not know which cannabis medicines are suitable for which complaints. These are difficult prerequisites for prescribing and prevent many from dealing with the topic. They feel insecure and shy away from the effort of acquiring specialist knowledge. However, access is not possible without the commitment of the doctors. On the other side are the sick people who have been helping themselves for years and know exactly what they are doing. You have a lot of experience. These patients now rely on medical support. An understanding conversation must therefore be sought here. We would be happy to give you a few tips on how you might be able to get a cannabis medicine on your own initiative.
Insist on your right to use cannabis medicinally
Many tell us that they are not taken seriously despite the new drug law. That still takes time. But politely and firmly insist on your rights and refer to the new law. This clearly confirms the medical benefits. And ask your doctors to continue their training. There are good options today. 12th IACM Conference on Cannabinoids in Medicine will take place in Basel on October 21st and 22nd . There you can find out about the medical uses of cannabis and hear from the important experts on the topic. interprofessional training course on cannabis as a medication “From plant to patient” was once again carried out by the Eastern Swiss University of Applied Sciences. There is no new data yet, but if you are interested, please ask for a repeat of the interesting training.
Tell us your experiences
Have you found a way? Are you getting legal cannabis medicine? Which ones are they? How did you go about it? Can you tell us your doctor? MEDCAN collects information and passes it on to patients. In this way, we can help each other in the initial phase of the new law, support the doctors and close the gaps in knowledge. Cannabis is a blessing for many chronically ill people. It can be used a wide variety of illnesses and complaints For this reason, studies on effectiveness and dosage are not yet available for all indications. However, there are countless reports and follow-up studies worldwide that report successful treatments without long-term side effects. Cannabis is particularly helpful in substituting opiates and in pain therapy.
Access only possible when the price drops
The new narcotics law is here and as shown, there are still questions unanswered. We very much hope that these will be answered in the next few months. Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media or come to our patient meetings. We pass on the latest information there. One of the biggest concerns for those affected is still the price. If cannabis medicines are not affordable by health insurance companies, a two-tier society will emerge and only the rich can afford the products. It is difficult for sick people to pay for medication themselves. Cannabis medicines are currently not covered by the compulsory health insurance (OKP). That probably won't change any time soon. That's why MEDCAN calls for patients to grow their own food. A scientific recording of the experiences of self-cultivation and self-medication would also create evidence for the future.
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