Medical cannabis is an increasingly relevant topic in our society, where legislative restrictions, medical control, and growing social sensitivity intersect. Its adoption as a therapeutic treatment, though recognized for its benefits in conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis, remains a subject of debate.
In Europe, the use of medical cannabis varies significantly between countries. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Germany and Italy are among the main users, with approximately 128,000 patients in Germany in 2020 and a growing number in Italy. Conversely, countries like France maintain stricter restrictions, with only limited pilot programs. Germany, for instance, is one of the most advanced countries in terms of access to medical cannabis. Since 2017, doctors can prescribe cannabis for therapeutic purposes, and in 2020, around 128,000 German patients were using it. In Italy, the situation is similar, with an increasing number of patients accessing medical cannabis to treat various conditions, including chronic pain and spasticity from multiple sclerosis. However, in other European countries like France, access to medical cannabis is much more limited, often confined to narrow pilot programs.