A roundup of various movement in cannabis legalization in Europe.

While in the Americas in the last few years we have seen several waves of liberal reforms in countries like the USA, Canada, Chile, and Uruguay, we rarely hear similar news concerning European countries. But cannabis legalization is also winning support slowly in European countries other than the Netherlands Spain and Portugal.

In the UK last month, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb raised a bill for decriminalization of cannabis – a second hearing will take place on May.

Members of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), KOPAC and Dioscorides Global Holdings (DGH) were joined by the Minister of Health for the Czech Republic recently to announce the establishment of a new research center, the International Cannabis and Cannabinoid Institute (ICCI) – intended to foster evidence-based exploration with a modern scientific approach to refine the therapeutic applicability of cannabis-based medicines in the Czech Republic. ICCI will identify, coordinate and support global research priorities for the advancement of cannabis and cannabinoid treatments through a multidisciplinary evidence based approach that incorporates innovative tools and approaches.

Throughout the past year we have no doubt seen groundbreaking strides in the cannabis universe.

Our continued efforts to dismantle the failed experiment of prohibition are full of excitement but also frustration.

But even though we still have a lot of work to do, it is simply awe-inspiring to look back on this year in cannabis.

To celebrate and share our gratitude, here is a month-by-month snapshot of cannabis in 2015. The resulting story arc is a powerful indication that momentum is stronger than ever – cannabis legalization will not be stopped!

The Balkan country of Macedonia may end up being the most recent nation to legislate medical marijuana.

The country’s health ministry is in substantial consultations with medical professionals, pharmacologists, legalization advocates, cancer clients and others about making cannabis treatments offered to individuals struggling with significant illnesses, and held the first public dispute about the subject on Sunday, according to Balkan Insight.

Croatia has said yes to therapeutic marijuana. Patients with diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, epilepsy and Aids will benefit in particular. They will be able to get prescriptions for drug-based delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly known as THC, the active ingredient in cannabis), dronabinol and nabilone.

Wherever there are people suffering, and medical marijuana can help those suffering people, medical marijuana should be legal. I think you would be hard pressed to find any country on the planet that doesn’t have people that would benefit from medical marijuana. Croatia is no exception. The nation of Croatia legalized medical marijuana the last week, sort of. Per ABC:

The legalization formally went into effect on Thursday, but Croatian media reported that no medicines containing THC — the active element in cannabis — have been registered in the country.

Marijuana became legally available in Croatia for medical purposes Thursday. The decision to legalize followed a high-profile case in which a multiple sclerosis patient was jailed last year for growing the plant to ease his pain.

Huanito Luksetic, 37, was detained for growing cannabis plants in his garden in a village near Rijeka. Police seized around 44 pounds of marijuana from the multiple sclerosis patient, who said he used the plants to make cannabis oil.

Croatia allowed the sale of marijuana-derived products for medical purposes today, following a campaign sparked by the detention of a multiple sclerosis sufferer who grew the plant to ease his pain.

Medicines containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the plant's main psychoactive ingredient, can now be prescribed by doctors to ease health problems associated with cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and AIDS, the regulation says.

The drugs can be prescribed only for up to 30 days while the overall quantity for the period cannot exceed 7.5 grams. Other marijuana use remains illegal under Croatian law.

The purchase and use of marijuana for medical purposes became legal in Croatia on Thursday as the country became the first Balkan state to join the global trend towards softening legislation on the drug.

A medical committee set up by the health ministry decided in January this year that the state should proceed with its legalisation because it can be useful for treating some illnesses, according to what it said was “the latest scientific and medical knowledge”.

Doctors will be able to prescribe medicine, teas and ointment containing THC, the active element in cannabis, to their patients. Regulations permit each patient to receive up to 0.75 grammes of THC per month.

A medical expert commission has advised the Croatian government to change the law in order to enable marijuana to be used for medical purposes.

An expert commission formed in the Croatian health ministry in December has decided that usage of marijuana for medical purposes should be legalised.

Consisting of doctors and medical experts, the panel concluded that use of marijuana in some medical treatments can be useful, according to new scientific and medical research.