Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba launches European Medicinal Cannabis Alliance

Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba, together with other S&D MEPs, has launched the European Medicinal Cannabis Alliance to help introduce a set of harmonised standards for medicinal cannabis across all EU Member States.

“Today, being World Cancer Day, is a very important day to launch this alliance, as a lot of cancer patients are awaiting their medicinal cannabis treatment and are facing obstacles every day. Medical cannabis is increasingly being used more frequently to treat patients with various conditions, and science is showing that the results are very encouraging," he stated. 

Thie alliance will focus on patients' rights and harmonisation of EU legislation surrounding medical cannabis, together with research and innovation.

"While more people are opening up to the idea of using medical cannabis to treat and aid in various conditions, this progress is clearly being slowed down by the different regulations and conditions regarding medical cannabis found in each of the 27 Member States. These stark differences makes it much harder to cooperate and move forward together for the benefit of our citizens”, said Agius Saliba.

While the current EU legal framework on medicinal products doesn't prevent cannabis-based products from receiving authorision, an absence of such authorisation requests means Member States have had to grant access to medicinal cannabis on a prescription-basis, creating a variety of administrative hurdles.

“It's time for the EU to harmonise the standards of medicinal cannabis products across EU Member States. A harmonised approach to a legalised and regulated medicinal cannabis market will improve patients’ fair access to cannabis-based medicines. Unfortunately, we are currently in a situation where diverging standards lead to much higher prices and lack of availability of products in certain States. We have to make sure that medicinal cannabis is affordable to all our citizens!” he said.

“Moreover, we need a more open dialogue with medicinal cannabis patients in order to establish a sustainable and environmentally conscious medicinal cannabis sector in all EU Member States” he concluded.

Malta had officially legalised medical cannabis in 2018 after parliament enacted amendments to the Drug Dependence Act. The law allows family doctors to prescribe medical cannabis to patients, the latter of which are able to access non-smoking forms of medical cannabis at pharmacies after a control card has been approved by the Superintendent of Public Health.

So far, medicinal cannabis can only be used to help treat chronic pain, spasticity in multiple sclerosis and side effects of chemotherapy.