Minister of Health, Nina Warken, has expressed concerns over the misuse of medical cannabis, citing a significant increase in its consumption since April 2024. According to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, the consumption of medical cannabis has risen from 31 to 100 tons in the same period last year. Warken believes that this surge is a result of misusing the drug, particularly among young people.
The newly appointed minister aims to address this issue by restricting online prescriptions for medical cannabis, requiring a clear indication of a medical need for the prescription. She emphasized that medical cannabis is not intended for recreational use, but rather for individuals with severe health conditions.
Warken, a CDU politician, has announced her plans to address the issue at the German Medical Association’s annual conference, where she will meet with doctors to discuss reforms aimed at curbing the rising healthcare costs. The minister supports a primary care model, which would limit the free choice of doctors and is open to reforming the fee schedule for medical services, a long-standing demand of the medical profession.
Warken’s statements come as the coalition government, comprising the CDU and SPD, has agreed to evaluate the cannabis regulations by the end of 2025. The minister has yet to receive the results of this evaluation, but is determined to address the issue of medical cannabis misuse and its potential impact on the healthcare system and the economy.