Germany to legalise medicinal marijuana

Germany is to legalise cannabis for medical purposes early next year, according to health minister Hermann Gröhe.

German government to grow marijuana for medical use https://t.co/hiq63DqVEYpic.twitter.com/6f4nIDdTPh

— dwnews (@dwnews) May 4, 2016

The minister said the German state wants to treat seriously ill patients in the “best possible way.”

He added that he wants health insurance companies to cover the cost.

The bill, due to go before the German cabinet, comes as medicinal marijuana is gaining popularity in the treatment of a number of conditions such as cancer, HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C, glaucoma and Parkinson’s disease.

The move has led to a slight dispute between Gröhe and the federal drug commissioner Marlene Mortler who cautioned that ‘weed’ should not be considered completely safe.

Walgreens wants to talk to you about medical marijuana https://t.co/1IgoWXoUbJpic.twitter.com/Dzth8ZvDOP

— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) April 30, 2016

The legal attitude towards ‘wacky baccy,’ both recreationally and medically, is becoming ever more tolerant.

Germany will legalize medicinal marijuana by 2017: https://t.co/Y15Qy4xC5Vpic.twitter.com/2UOHOojHZN

— CNN International (@cnni) May 4, 2016

The Netherlands has long been famous for its liberal dope laws.

Canada’s health minister says his country will be legislating on marijuana in spring of next year.

In the United States, Colorado, the District of Colombia, Oregon, Alaska and Washington all allow recreational marijuana use.

President John F Kennedy used Medical Marijuana for Pain https://t.co/noTQVt473Apic.twitter.com/SbXwX3UTjG

— Carver Johns (@CarverJohns) May 4, 2016

In all Guam and 24 American states allow the use of medical marijuana in some form or other.

Europe looks more kindly on users than in the past with the plant decriminalised in a number of countries.

David Bowie’s mugshot for marijuana possession pic.twitter.com/lHPeiamD4F

— Best Music Lyric (@BestMusicLyric) May 2, 2016

Uruguay became the first country to fully legalise ‘Mary Jane,’ Chile and Ecuador also allow use.