Patient advocates are welcoming a significant milestone in the evolution of medical cannabis access in Spain. Carola Pérez, a long-time advocate who has dedicated over a decade to this cause, referred to the recent decision as a “victory for all patients.” Speaking with Cannabis Health, she emphasized the importance of upcoming steps, noting that many healthcare professionals lack the necessary training for prescribing cannabis-based medicines.
“One of the reasons for this strict prescribing model is to avoid bad practice,” Pérez stated. “We hope that all regions will be coordinated and that this will be treated as a scientific issue rather than a political one. They will need to prepare because the influx of patients is expected to be substantial.”
Accessibility and Cost for Patients
Pérez highlighted a crucial aspect of the Spanish model: patients are not required to pay for prescriptions issued through hospital pharmacies. This structure significantly alleviates cost barriers, which have been a critical issue in other countries.
“We don’t have to pay for the oils or products, so this allows access for everyone, regardless of their financial situation,” she explained. “We can observe how patients in other countries struggle with affordability. Here, that will not be the case.”
Concerns Over Restrictions
Despite the positive developments, some researchers and clinicians have voiced concerns regarding the restrictive nature of the regulations. Manuel Guzmán, a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Pharmacy, expressed cautious optimism in his remarks to Cannabis Health.
“I’m happy that, at last, Spain has a medicinal cannabis dispensing program. However, I believe the royal decree is too restrictive,” Guzmán said. “It disallows herbal cannabis and limits prescribing authority to specialists only, requiring that prescriptions be prepared and dispensed through hospital pharmacies rather than commercial outlets.”
Guzmán acknowledged the strides made but indicated a preference for a broader scope of the royal decree. “So, while I commend the Spanish government, the Ministry of Health, and the supporting political parties for this achievement, I would have preferred a more expansive decree.”
