Luxembourg is latest EU country to legalise medical cannabis

Luxembourg lawmakers have unanimously supported a bill to legalise medical cannabis.

The law, passed on June 28, allows cannabis to be prescribed and used for patients who suffer from chronic pain, nausea relating to chemotherapy, or muscle spasm resulting from multiple sclerosis. The original draft of the bill stated that only specialists could prescribe the drug, but the final version passed allows any general practitioner to prescribe cannabis if they have undertaken relevant training.

Health Minister Lydia Mutsch praised the legislative support for the bill. "I am pleased that the House has agreed with the bill to legalise access to cannabis for medical purposes”, she said. “The medical use of cannabis is an important step in our efforts to reduce the pain and suffering of some patients, where usual treatments do not allow it."

Medical cannabis will be imported from Canada as oils or capsules, and only available on prescription from hospital pharmacies, according to the Luxembourg Times.