Cannabis Terapeutica reports..
Calabria , the Regional Council unanimously approved the regional law on the “Methods of dispensing cannabinoid medicines for therapeutic purposes”, which therefore governs the supply of medical cannabis to patients.
It is a fundamental step forward because the Region, together with Molise , was the only one in which a law in this direction had not been implemented. Trentino Alto Adige remains outside , however, where there are two provincial resolutions (in Trento and Bolzano) and Valle D’Aosta where there is no regional law but the green light for therapeutic cannabis arrived at the beginning of 2016 through a circular signed by the USL to inform doctors about the possibility of prescribing these preparations, as required by the decree of the Ministry of Health of 9 November 2015. To get a complete overview of the laws and how they have been implemented, you can read our article dedicated to the various regional laws on medical cannabis.
Calabria, the regional law on cannabis
The proposed law on therapeutic cannabis was put forward by the director and group leader in the Regional Council for De Magistris President, Ferdinando Laghi and was signed by all the members of the III Permanent Regional Commission, starting with the President Comito who actively worked to improve it. the formulation and speed up the process.
“The unanimous vote of the Regional Council – underlined Laghi after the approval – free from any political affiliation, brings even more value to a provision that aims to protect not only the right to health of the Calabrians, but also to eliminate odious disparities and inequalities between those who have so far been able to buy this type of drug and those who have had to do without it due to their economic conditions, perhaps resorting to illegal initiatives – albeit dictated by the state of necessity – thus running risks also of a judicial nature “.
There are two references: the first to the fact that, in the absence of a regional law, Calabrian patients had no way of obtaining medical cannabis from the health system, the second to patients who, without having access to treatment, had opted for self-production , often ending up on trial. This is the case, for example, of Cristian Filippo who was acquitted for having grown two cannabis plants to soothe the pains of fibromyalgia, after a trial in which he risked 6 years in prison .
Cannabis borne by the regional health system
According tothe law approved in Calabria, which enters into force the day after its publication in the Official Bulletin of the Calabria Region, cannabis-based drugs and galenic preparations can be prescribed by General Practitioners and Free Choice pediatricians. qualified and enrolled in the Provincial Orders of Surgeons and Dentists,on the basis of a therapeutic plan drawn up by medical specialists,in compliance with the therapeutic uses provided for by the Ministerial Decree of 9 November 2015. The pathologies are therefore those provided for by the same decree, and therefore:
- analgesia in conditions involving spasticity associated with pain (for example, multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury) resistant to conventional therapies;
- analgesia in chronic pain (with particular reference to neurogenic pain) in which treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or with cortisone or opioid drugs has proved ineffective;
- the anticinetotic and antiemetic effect in nausea and vomiting, caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, HIV therapies, which cannot be obtained with traditional treatments;
- the stimulating effect of appetite in cachexia, anorexia, loss of appetite in cancer or AIDS patients and in anorexia nervosa, which cannot be achieved with standard treatments;
- the hypotensive effect in glaucoma resistant to conventional therapies;
- the reduction of involuntary movements in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.
The prescription must always accompany the transport ofcannabinoid medicines, even in the case of transport by a delegated person.
Furthermore, the Region, in order to ensure the homogeneous application of the provisions contained therein throughout the region, plans to:
- promote the maximum reduction of waiting times and adequate information methods;
- disseminate scientific knowledge about the therapeutic use of cannabinoid medicines among health professionals.