Lower Saxony’s Health Minister Andreas Philippi (SPD) Criticised Over False Statements on Medical Cannabis
26-02-02 | The Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung published an interview with Lower Saxony’s Health Minister Andreas Philippi, who warned of misuse of medical cannabis prescriptions. Since the partial legalisation of cannabis, the volume of prescribed medical cannabis has increased sharply without a corresponding rise in the number of seriously ill patients. The cause, he argued, is new business models through which recreational users also obtain cannabis via medical prescriptions.
Philippi said it is problematic that these prescriptions are often covered by statutory health insurers. “That means we are financing recreational consumption through the solidarity system. That cannot be the point,” the minister is quoted as saying. He continued: “If someone wants to consume cannabis, then they should do so. But not at the expense of the solidarity community.”
In a letter to Minister Philippi, the Branchenverband Cannabiswirtschaft (BvCW) pointed out that the problem he criticised relates exclusively to private prescriptions. For reimbursement by statutory health insurance, the strict requirements of Section 31(6) SGB V apply: a serious illness must be present and the burdensome application procedures have a high rejection rate. Planned restrictions under the MedCanG could particularly disadvantage immobile patients in rural areas; as an alternative, the association proposes a licensing requirement for telemedicine platforms and digital doctor consultations.
The Deutscher Hanfverband (DHV) labelled Philippi a “fake-news minister” and emphasised that private prescriptions are paid entirely by patients and do not create additional costs for statutory health insurance..
German Cannabis Business Assoc
