A plea for greater openness towards cannabis for people with spinal cord injuries
Dear SPZ Team
For many years, as president of MEDCAN, I have supported people who use cannabis for medical purposes. At the same time, I myself am a quadriplegic and dependent on this treatment.
That's why I hope the Swiss Paraplegic Centre will finally take this issue seriously. Time and again, people with spinal cord injuries tell me that despite their condition, they are often not taken seriously or supported in their desire to use cannabis medicinally. As an internationally leading center of expertise, you could make a crucial difference for countless people affected.
I first got the idea of using cannabis medicinally while at the SPZ (Specialized Pediatric Center). There I met other people with spinal cord injuries who told me how much cannabis helped them. At that time, I had already exhausted almost all conventional medical options – without the desired success. The only thing that really helped me was cannabis. That's why I continue to fight for this plant to be used medicinally.
I am still one of the few people in Switzerland who can get a doctor's prescription and whose treatment is covered by accident insurance. This has fundamentally changed my life. I have a significantly better quality of life again, sleep better, need far fewer other painkillers, and my health has noticeably improved in recent years.
For mich cannabis is not a last resort and not a lifestyle drug. It's a medication that can inhibit inflammation, relieve pain, reduce spasticity, and improve sleep. In my experience, it's one of the most effective medications, especially for spinal cord injuries with neuropathic pain and spasticity – with comparatively moderate side effects.
Another point that unsettles many sufferers is driving. Here, too, I would like to see a more nuanced approach. With many other medications that can affect reaction time, fitness to drive is assessed individually by the treating physicians. Why should this be fundamentally different with a well-adjusted cannabis therapy? The SPZ (Social Pediatric Center) could make an important contribution here with its experience and expertise, supporting those affected and giving them peace of mind.
At MEDCAN, we regularly receive messages from wheelchair users desperately seeking help if they wish to use cannabis for medicinal purposes. I even receive messages from affected individuals in the USA who can hardly understand why Switzerland is still so hesitant in this area – and why the renowned Swiss Paraplegic Centre (SPZ) in particular is making so little use of this potential.
Since August 1, 2022, cannabis can be prescribed like other narcotics. Nevertheless, this option is still rarely used. Yet it could significantly improve the quality of life for many people with spinal cord injuries.
I recently published a personal retrospective on four years of prescribing cannabis. In it, I describe how my life has changed through this treatment and why I am convinced it could help many more people.
As an Association , we are always ready to contribute our experience and share our knowledge. Together, we could help alleviate the suffering of many people.
Kind regards
, Franziska Quadri
, President, Medical Cannabis Association Switzerland
and a cannabis patient herself
