A decision by the Ministers of Heath and Justice opens the way for the import of medical cannabis products in Greece.The joint ministerial decision was published in the Official Gazette on Friday allows the import of pharmaceutical products containing medical cannabis.
These medical products can be used for cases where there is proven clinical benefit for a range of diseases, such as chronic pain, neuropathic pain, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, cachexia, anorexia and others.
The Health Ministry points out that implementation of the measure requires a number of additional administrative procedures, which will proceed immediately so that patients can access these medication as soon as possible.
It is noteworthy that the Joint Ministerial Council implements the findings of the Scientific Committee, set up by the Minister of Health, Andreas Xanthos, with the aim to evaluate the current experience and the existing legislation regarding the medical use of cannabis and to make proposals for the creation of a regulatory framework that will regulate the issue.
About time too. The medicinal properties of cannabis have been known for millennia, but global politics have put it out of reach of many who could benefit from it. Greece should go one step further, and start growing it on an industrial scale. The climate is perfect for growing cannabis, and it would go a long way to provide an additional revenue stream. If the Greek politicians are brave, they could see Greece become a world leader in cannabis based medicines.
It should never have been illegal in the first place, to be honest. We have the Americans and their internal politics in the 1930s to thank for that. After the disaster of Prohibition was reversed, they were left with a whole police department that was to become redundant, so they invented ‘Reefer Madness’ to give the department something to do. There’s actually more to it than that, but that was a major factor in why marijuana became illegal.
I have been saying for several years that Crete and Greece could become the world centre for the cultivation of organic, nonGMO cannabis, The cultivation framework should include the organic requirement and the nonGMO
prohibition and further it should ensure that cultivation does not become dominated by a small number of wealthy individuals or companies.
Derek, you are right. There is just one little detail. The German occupation forces will never allow cannabis to be cultivated here exactly because of what you say. When on a demolition course you cannot allow new sources of revenue for the locals…