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European Union Prepares for Medical Cannabis

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[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]W[/dropcap]hile progressive cannabis legislation has already begun in different parts of the world, the European Union (EU) has only recently made its first steps towards legalizing medical cannabis. The political and economic union of 28 member states has its eye on creating a set of cannabis legislation across the board. Despite the decriminalization of drug use in nations like Portugal and cannabis “coffeeshops” in the Netherlands, there is no country in Europe that has completely legalized cannabis.

A statement by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) explains, “There is no harmonized EU law on cannabis use. The criminal or administrative response to drug use offences is the responsibility of EU Member States.”

However, now that the European Union has begun a discourse on cannabis legislation, the arrival of harmonized law for cannabis could be around the corner. Towards the end of 2018, politicians in the union’s health committee voted in approval of a draft resolution that would allow cannabis consumption for medical purposes. Following the vote, the draft will wait for executive approval to become a concrete proposal. While fully legal cannabis would need to be done in phases and take years to roll out, there is a prediction that by 2028 Europe could have the largest cannabis market.

EMCDDA completed its first ever report on cannabis last December. “This report seeks to provide an objective look at current evidence, practice, and experience in this very fast-moving field and describe the complex patchwork of approaches adopted in the EU and beyond.” said EMCDDA director Alexis Goosdeel.

On Jan. 14th, EU officials began their own study on the plant’s clinical benefits, including the benefits of cannabis-derived medicines. European citizens may soon have easier access to cannabis as lawmakers realize its potential to improve health and wellness, increase tax revenue and advance our knowledge through research.

 

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