Spain on Brink of Historic Cannabis Legalization
2 min read
Spain aims to make a historic cannabis legalization for the first time after sending a request to the European Union (EU) as the Spanish Ministry of Health has submitted its draft Royal Decree to Brussels for review. The European Commission has three months to give its stamp of approval before the Council of State weighs in. If all goes to plan, the final decree could be rolled out in just five months.
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The law focuses on tightly regulated access to cannabis-based products, in particular, standardized oils and two different medicines all being tightly controlled. However the regulation excludes cannabis flowers and prohibits home cultivation for medical use. So, no ganja trees in the living room just yet. Furthermore with the new regulation has approved conditions including Spasticity in multiple sclerosis, Severe therapy-resistant epilepsy, Nausea, vomiting caused by chemotherapy, Chronic therapy-resistant pain and other conditions supported by scientific evidence
Despite being a step forward, Spanish stoners strongly condemned the regulation as ‘too little, too late.’ for restricting the production of cannabis for medical purposes. This implies that people cannot grow it themselves and must get it from pharmacies,
Only specialists can prescribe cannabis is not fair enough – meaning smoking a spliff remains firmly illegal.
“The programme is too limited and lacks ambition,” said the Spanish Observatory of Medicinal Cannabis, slamming the exclusion of cannabis flowers – a common option in other countries.
If approved, Spain will join the growing club of nations embracing medical cannabis. For patients, it’s a long-awaited recognition of cannabis as a legitimate treatment option. But for many, the restrictive framework leaves them stuck in limbo. Patient groups continue to push for more inclusive regulations, expanded access, and fewer barriers.
While the decree marks a historic milestone, Spain’s medical cannabis programme is far from a pot of gold. It’s a step forward – but one that’s left plenty of room for improvement. Will this be a turning point for Spain, or just another half-hearted attempt to address the needs of patients? For now, the answer remains up in smoke.
