Medicinal Cannabis Sativex and Bedrocan are now available in many European countries, and several have infrastructure in place to supply patients with medicinal cannabis. So which countries are moving with the times, and which are dragging their heels? Where are medicinal and recreational users most (and least) free to utilize their drug of choice? Let’s take a look at the facts.

So far 13 European Union nations have legalised marijuana-derived medicines including Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Italy.

Marijuana-derived medicines became legal today in Macedonia, which joined over a dozen European countries that have already authorised the products for certain patients.

Medicines containing less then 0.2 per cent of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the plant's main psychoactive ingredient, can now be prescribed by doctors and bought in pharmacies, the head of Macedonia's agency for medicines Marija Darkovska-Serafimovska told reporters.

"This will help a huge number of Macedonian citizens that are fighting serious illnesses and have a need for treatment with nature-based products," Darkovska-Serafimovska said.

Cannabis oil with a lower concentration of cannabinoids that have psychotropic effects should be available to patients without prescription from this week, Marija Darkovska, the head of Macedonia’s Agency for Medical Drugs, said on Tuesday.

Also this week, Macedonian medical specialists start training on how to prescribe the stronger cannabis products that should become available by the end of June.

“There will be two types of oils in the pharmacies. The one with less than 0.2 per cent cannabinoids will be available without prescription beginning this week,” said Darkovska.

Over the weekend, the Macedonian Health Minister announced plans to put medical cannabis in pharmacies across Macedonia. Both Macedonia’s ruling party and opposition party agreed on making medical cannabis available. Macedonia is the second Balkan nation and 13th nation in the European Union to legalize medical cannabis.

A Macedonian Parliament Health Committee gave its approval on Tuesday to amend the law on control of drugs and psychotropic substances, that would allow the use of cannabis products for medicinal purposes.

“The need to change this law comes from the requests of patients who want to have the option to use naturally derived cannabis products, under strict supervision. The amendments would allow patients to have access to strictly controlled products, improving on the current situation when some patients use unverified products without any supervision regarding the dosage,” said Stojanco Stojkovski, State Secretary in the Health Ministry, which proposed the changes to the law.

By Naser Pajaziti

Ministry of Health in FYR Macedonia has drafted a bill on the legalization of the use of cannabis for medical purposes. According to this ministry, this bill is expected to be enacted in February 2016.

Based on the bill, cannabis will be produced and used only in FYROM and will only be produced by legal persons.

Minister of Health, Nikola Todorov said that once this bill is approved by the government, public debates will take place to hear proposals or criticism by stakeholders.

So far 13 EU countries have allowed the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

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.

Macedonian's health ministry says it is seriously listening to expert opinion about the possible legalisation of marijuana for medical purposes after a poll indicated widespread public support.

The health ministry in Skopje told BIRN that it is carrying out wide-ranging consultations about making marijuana treatments available to people suffering from serious illnesses

"We are consulting experts, specialist doctors from various fields, pharmacologists, representatives of civil society... We believe that they will help us in finding the most optimal solution," the ministry told BIRN.

Even though Macedonia has decriminalised the possession of drugs for personal use, there remain many anomalies in the related regulations. Read our guest author's insights on what has to be done to make the country's laws serve the best interests of public health.