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Medical cannabis is only available with a prescription and only in pharmacies.”/>Medical cannabis is only available with a prescription and only in pharmacies. © ROLF OESER
The survey by a mail-order pharmacy shows that bureaucracy and gaps in knowledge slow down the willingness to prescribe cannabis therapy.
Therapy with medical cannabis does not enjoy a particularly high reputation among doctors in Frankfurt, even seven years after legalization. At least when you look at the results of a study by the mail order pharmacy mycare.de. Of the 20 practices that were asked about this in Frankfurt, eleven of them explicitly refused treatment with cannabis. Only one practice was willing to offer the therapy. The remaining practices did not respond.
Although the number of rejections is the highest in the entire survey, the overall picture nationwide is rather negative: of 400 general practitioners surveyed, only 23 indicated that they would offer cannabis therapy or corresponding advice.
A fictitious case was stated in the request for cannabis treatment, according to the mail-order pharmacy’s message. The practice was always approached by a 29-year-old patient who had been suffering from sleep disorders for years and was looking for alternative treatment methods. The doctors were also informed that the woman had been treated by several specialists over the past ten years and had been prescribed various medications. A specific question was asked whether doctors would be willing to recommend cannabis therapy or at least offer advice.
In many cases, even among the 23 positive results, the treatment of sleep disorders was excluded due to the applicable indication criteria, according to the statement. It was pointed out that cannabis therapy is currently primarily an option for chronic pain and serious neurological diseases. The mail order pharmacy contradicts this: “Medical cannabis can also be prescribed for sleep disorders.”
Martin Schulze, pharmacist and head of pharmaceutical customer service at mycare.de, suspects that the inconsistent study situation could be a key reason for the rejection. “While there is solid scientific evidence for treatment with medical cannabis for certain indications such as chronic pain, spasticity in multiple sclerosis, treatment-resistant epilepsy or nausea as a result of chemotherapy, there is still a lack of clear research results for other areas of application, such as anxiety or sleep disorders.” says Schulze.
The pharmacist also notes that despite legalization, the prescription of cannabis flowers is highly regulated and involves considerable documentation effort. Health insurance companies also still have the option of requesting justification for cannabis therapy from doctors and can refuse treatment.
Telemedicine providers represent an alternative for those affected. Cannabis can be prescribed there via private prescription. However, the patients bear the costs.
Cannabis in Germany can further complicate its use in clinical practice. Doctors must navigate a complex set of regulations, including patient eligibility criteria and the necessity for prior treatments to be attempted. This can be frustrating, especially when a patient might benefit from cannabis treatment right away.
Interview with guests about Medical Cannabis in Germany:
Guest 1: Dr. Anna Johnson, a family physician with 15 years of experience practicing in Germany.
Knowledge and Awareness of Medical Cannabis:
Guest 1: Hello, I’m Dr. Anna Johnson. As a family physician, I believe that knowledge and awareness about medical cannabis are crucial for providing quality care to my patients. I have been trained to prescribe medical cannabis and have done so in specific cases where my patients have demonstrated a clear need for it. However, I must emphasize that it is not a first-line therapy and should only be considered when all other traditional therapies have failed to provide relief.
Guest 2: Hello, I’m Dr. Markus Schmidt, a neurologist and cannabinoid therapy specialist with over 10 years of experience treating patients with medical cannabis in Germany. I completely agree with Dr. Johnson that knowledge about medical cannabis is critical for its correct use. However, I believe that the lack of awareness amongst doctors is rather concerning. Many haven’t had the opportunity to learn about cannabis treatments during their training, and it often requires further education and research to become comfortable with prescribing it.
Bureaucracy and Gaps in Knowledge:
Guest 1: Absolutely. Bureaucracy related to prescription and reimbursement has been an obstacle in the uptake of medical cannabis in Germany. The required paperwork and documentation can be time-consuming, which deters many doctors from venturing into this field. Moreover, some doctors aren’t aware of the latest developments in research or the applicable indications for cannabis therapy.
Guest 2: Yes, the bureaucracy can be overwhelming for doctors who are not familiar with medical cannabis. However, it’s also important to note that there are significant gaps in our understanding of its mechanism of action and potential side effects. This can lead to hesitation among physicians who aren’t confident in its safety and efficacy for certain conditions.
Prescribing Restrictions:
Guest 1: The restrictions on prescribing medical
