Legalization of the use of cannabis for medical purposes in Portugal

The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs provides for the possibility of using technical hemp for horticulture. In spite of the fact that the normative legal acts of our country do not provide for novels describing such situations in which hemp can be grown "at the dacha", but the general provisions of the legislation give an opportunity to those who need it to issue appropriate permits and cultivate therapeutic varieties technical hemp in the amount that they need for treatment.

Fact

Adopted by the Portuguese Parliament in the first reading, the draft law provides for the possibility of legal use of pharmacological preparations, products and substances based on cannabis for medical purposes. As a matter of fact, the normative legal document makes it clear that various derivatives of psychoactive hemp, rather than the plants themselves, will be allowed for use in the country. Portugal has joined the Netherlands, Italy, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Germany, which today legally use pharmacological drugs based on therapeutic hemp for medical purposes.

Pros

Since 2001, the Portuguese have tried to realize the possibility of using cannabis for medical purposes on the territory of their country. While the bill has been approved in the first reading, however, considering the overwhelming majority of votes of parliamentarians who voted for its adoption, it can be predicted that this regulatory act will take effect for a not very long time.

Minuses

The regulation that is planned for approval provides that patients can use cannabinoid medicine only when traditional methods of treatment do not help. Those. the patient or his attending physician can know for sure that hemp is effective in treating a particular disease that a person suffers, but he "needs to experiment with his own health." Only after a documented negative result of treatment with pharmacological drugs or other methods of healing, the law will allow a person in need of this person to receive quality medical care.

Despite recent documents adopted by the World Health Organization on the harmlessness of cannabidiol, there are no provisions in the text of the bill explaining how the country will regulate activities with non-narcotic cannabinoids. In particular, the profile association of Portuguese carpet-growers has already appealed to the relevant state structures for an explanation of the legal status of cannabidiol, which undoubtedly possesses significant therapeutic properties.

Recipes for the use of derivatives of therapeutic hemp will for the time being be issued strictly limited list of doctors. The lack of skilled health workers makes it difficult for Portuguese citizens who need it to access the possibility of treatment with cannabis. It is in connection with this that the first International Conference on therapeutic cannabis is organized in Lisbon from 9 to 10 November. During the event, the staff of medical and veterinary institutions (doctors, medical workers, pharmacists, veterinarians) will be familiarized with the possibilities of using the biological properties of cannabis for the treatment of humans and domestic animals.

Preparations made on the basis of cannabis can be realized only through pharmacy networks.

Comments of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"

The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs provides for the possibility of using technical hemp for horticulture. In spite of the fact that the normative legal acts of our country do not provide for novels describing such situations in which hemp can be grown "at the dacha", but the general provisions of the legislation give an opportunity to those who need it to issue appropriate permits and cultivate therapeutic varieties technical hemp in the amount that they need for treatment. Portugal's legislation prohibits such actions, giving the opportunity to purchase even non-vegetable raw materials, but only the final products with high added value, sold through pharmacy chains. It can be stated that in this issue Ukrainian legislation is more progressive than normative legal acts of a number of European countries that protect the interests of not patients, but first of all pharmacological companies.