EU's Health Sector Push for Cannabis Expansion Revealed by Commission
In Germany, cannabis has been classified as a narcotic and is only prescribed for patients with severe illnesses since 2017. This medicinal product has a rich history, with evidence of its use for medicinal purposes dating back to ancient China and Egypt.
However, integrating medical cannabis into online pharmacies in Germany faces several challenges. Recent draft amendments propose mandatory in-person doctor consultations, limiting telemedicine uses for medical cannabis prescriptions. Additionally, a ban on mail-order medical cannabis dispensing is part of these amendments, effectively prohibiting online pharmacies from delivering cannabis products to patients' homes.
Stricter rules on medical cannabis prescriptions also complicate access through remote channels. Furthermore, ongoing regulatory uncertainty and Germany's strict controls over medical cannabis distribution and quality, regulated by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), present additional hurdles.
Despite these challenges, there are significant opportunities for integrating medical cannabis into online pharmacies. Telemedicine has already contributed to a rapid increase in Germany’s legal medical cannabis patient base, improving safe access since 2017 and especially after recent legal reforms in 2024.
Online ordering with delivery from pharmacies supports more convenient, discreet, and equitable access for patients. The growing patient market, estimated around 200,000 – 300,000 medical patients plus additional self-paying consumers, represents a sizable commercial opportunity in the medical cannabis sector.
Industry groups advocate for differentiated regulations that would allow telemedicine and mail-order sales under strict standards rather than outright bans, indicating potential for regulatory evolution to support online pharmacy integration.
The medical cannabis community, industry advocates, and patient surveys stress the importance of maintaining and expanding telemedicine and online pharmacy services to avoid undermining safe patient access and pushing users back to illicit sources.
Online cannabis pharmacies are not limited to specific geographical areas and are gaining popularity. They contact patients to process orders after receiving prescriptions and often provide detailed information about products, their application, and potential health benefits.
Many online cannabis pharmacies offer consulting services with experts available for questions, recommendations, and individual consultations. Cannabis products are conveniently delivered to patients' homes through these pharmacies.
The renaissance of medical cannabis worldwide is due in part to this development. Increasing scientific research shows cannabis' potential benefits in treating various diseases such as chronic pain or certain neurological disorders.
However, ensuring uniform quality standards, regulation, and staff training are critical issues that need to be carefully addressed when integrating medical cannabis into pharmacies. Specialized cannabis pharmacies provide comprehensive consultation on medical cannabis.
Traditional pharmacies in rural areas may be cautious about offering medical cannabis, but they play a key role in providing these products to patients and informing them about the diverse applications of medical cannabis. Cannabis is only legally available with a prescription and after other treatment options have been exhausted in Germany.
In the 19th century, cannabis' healing properties were discovered in the Western world. However, cannabis fell into disrepute in the 1930s and was banned in many countries. Today, as we navigate the complexities of integrating medical cannabis into online pharmacies, we must remember its rich history and potential benefits for patients.
- The medical cannabis community, industry advocates, and patient surveys emphasize the importance of maintaining and expanding telemedicine and online pharmacy services to ensure safe patient access and prevent users from resorting to illicit sources.
- The growing market of medical cannabis patients, estimated to be around 200,000 – 300,000, and additional self-paying consumers, represents a significant commercial opportunity in the health-and-wellness sector, with online cannabis pharmacies offering convenient, discreet, and equitable access to medical-conditions treatments such as chronic pain and neurological disorders, backed by ongoing science and research in the field of science.
