CBD News
Germany: Over 70% of doctors can now prescribe reimbursed medical cannabis
What if Germany were leading the way in Europe on medical cannabis?
Since April 2024, a major reform has drastically facilitated access to medical cannabis for German patients. The result? Over 70% of the country's doctors can now prescribe medical cannabis without prior authorization from the health insurance system. A historic breakthrough with far-reaching implications for tomorrow's medicine.
✅ A revolution for patients... and doctors.
Until recently, obtaining a prescription for medical cannabis in Germany was a real obstacle course. Even when treatment was justified, approval from the health insurance companies - covering 90% of the population - was required. This often lengthy administrative process led to delays and frustration.
👉 Now, thanks to a decision by the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA), this barrier is falling for a large majority of practitioners.
16 medical specialties and 5 complementary qualifications can freely prescribe reimbursed cannabis, without prior validation. A breakthrough that could inspire many European countries, including France.
🧠 The specialties concerned: a very broad spectrum
This reform applies to many medical disciplines, including :
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General medicine
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Psychiatry and psychotherapy
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Internal medicine (and its sub-specialties: hematology, cardiology, pneumology, gastroenterology, etc.)
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Palliative medicine
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Pain relief therapies
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Sleep medicine
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Rehabilitation and post-trauma care
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Gynecological oncology, etc.
👉 The aim? To make medical cannabis more readily available to those who really need it, particularly in the context of chronic pain, sleep disorders, degenerative diseases, or oncological treatments.
📈 A fast-growing market... that's getting fairer
Since April 1, 2024, medical cannabis has been removed from the list of narcotics in Germany. This move marked a key step towards the normalization of its therapeutic use. As a result, the private market has exploded, with growth estimated at between 80% and 100% in one year.
But this explosion mainly benefited patients able to pay for their treatments without reimbursement.
With the new reform, prescriptions covered by social security should become more widespread, restoring a form of equity in access to care.
💬 "Less bureaucracy, more trust".
G-BA President Josef Hecken sums up the spirit of this reform perfectly:
"Bureaucratic effort is significantly reduced, without compromising patient safety."
This is also the opinion of a large part of the medical profession, which has been campaigning for years for a simplified but rigorous framework for therapeutic cannabis.
🌿 And what about France?
At SMC Laboratories, we are following these European developments very closely.
They show the extent to which medical cannabis can (and must) be integrated into modern healthcare practices, with an approach based on clinical efficacy, safety and transparency.
While trials in France are making slow progress, the German example proves that responsible, reimbursed integration is not only possible, but beneficial for patients and caregivers alike.
