Berlin, 2021-03-08: As of 03/10/2021, the Cannabis Law has been in effect for four years. Since then, medical cannabis can be prescribed by doctors. This progressive regulation opened up a new economic sector and eliminated the previously burdensome process of obtaining special permits. Each year, more and more patients – some of them seriously ill benefit from the potential of this natural medicine.

However, over the past four years, several areas in need of improvement have been identified: Although statutory health insurers are only allowed to reject reimbursement in justified exceptional cases, the rejection rate remains around 40%. Even some former holders of special permits now no longer receive reimbursement for their medicine. And even when approval is granted, some physicians fear being held financially liable (regress) by the health insurers. To this day, a large proportion of physicians have never prescribed cannabis in part because they have not received any training on the subject.

Dr. Armin Prasch, Vice President and Head of the Medical Cannabis Division of the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW), emphasizes: 

“In practice, recourse cases are rare. If a positive report from the Medical Service is available, it would be a relief for everyone involved if liability for recourse could be excluded in the future.”

The BvCW also wants to see improvements in the education and training of doctors and pharmacists regarding cannabis, increased support for research and development, and a reduction in the high rejection rate by health insurers. Additionally, regional differences in regulations should be harmonized nationwide. Overall, more research is needed.

Jürgen Neumeyer, Managing Director of the German Cannabis Business Association(BvCW), states:

“More research and evidence on medical cannabis is being demanded from almost all sides, yet since 2013 the federal government has only funded a single clinical study. As representatives of the cannabis economy, we are calling for a research program in order to better unlock the medical potential of the plant.”

Today, the new Volume 9 of our ELEMENTE publication series was released, featuring current statements by Members of the Bundestag on the topic of medical cannabis. Read it here: ELEMENTE Volume 9. We also recently compiled data and statistics on the topic in several overviews, published in our ELEMENTE Volume 8.