Scientist with mask, glasses and gloves checking hemp plants in a greenhouse in Spain.
The Spanish government is poised to legalise medical marijuana – but is it enough?
Credit: Shutterstock, Kitreel
Spain is on the brink of a joint decision to legalise medical cannabis, with a Royal Decree expected to be signed, sealed, and delivered before summer 2025. While cannabis connoisseurs across the nation are whipping out their grinders and Cheetos in excitement, critics claim the government has rolled a half-baked plan that leaves plenty to be desired. So, it’s a historic move that promises relief for thousands of patients, but is it enough? Read on to find out what’s actually happening behind all the hype.
The long road to recognition of cannabis as a medical treatment in Spain
The journey to medical cannabis regulation in Spain has been anything but smooth. While other EU countries have raced ahead, Spain dragged its feet, hindered by political resistance – particularly from the Socialist Party (PSOE). There were concerns over safety and side effects, as well as its effect on society as a whole. Advocacy groups and patient campaigners were instrumental in sparking change, and in 2021 Parliament finally greenlit research into medical cannabis programmes.
Now, 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.
What’s in the plan?
The proposal focuses on tightly regulated access to cannabis-based products, including standardised oils and two existing medications. However, in a buzzkill for advocates, the regulation excludes cannabis flowers and prohibits home cultivation for medical use. So, no ganja trees in the living room just yet.
Instead, patients will be forced to rely on pharmacies for cannabis products – raising concerns over availability and affordability. Experts predict it will be big business, and regulators are setting up to protect it.
Spain’s cannabis cultivation rules remain in a legal haze. Growing for personal use is technically allowed under strict conditions – on private property, out of public view, and solely for personal consumption.
But here’s the catch: the new proposal explicitly bans home cultivation for medical purposes. So, there appears to be a contradiction. For patients, this means no DIY cannabis relief in theory; it’s the pharmacy or bust.
Who qualifies for medical cannabis?
The new regulation will make medical cannabis available strictly as a last resort when other treatments fail. Approved conditions include:
- Spasticity in multiple sclerosis
- Severe, therapy-resistant epilepsy
- Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
- Chronic therapy-resistant pain
- Other conditions supported by scientific evidence
The Spanish Ministry of Health has hinted the list could grow as more research emerges, but patient groups argue it’s already far too limited.
Criticism rolls in
Patient groups and medical experts have labelled the regulation ‘too little, too late.’ Only specialists can prescribe cannabis, and it will only be dispensed through hospital pharmacies – a move critics say creates unnecessary hurdles.
“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. They also argue the proposal ignores conditions like fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s, leaving many patients in the lurch.
High hopes, limited horizons
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.
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