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Cannabis Association wants to grow hemp in Germany for the first time
The cannabis association Bayern wants to cultivate medicinal hemp for the approximately 100 cannabis patients in the Free State of Bavaria on an area of 600 square meters. The cultivation takes place according to the ideas of the initiators as part of a research project, which is to be built up as a cannabis therapy center Bavaria in Forstinning (Lkr. Ebersberg). The chairman of the association, Wenzel Cerveny (54), has justified an emergency application to the Bavarian State Chancellery in accordance with §3 of the Narcotics Act (BtMG) with a supra-legal emergency for patients in the Free State: "No patient is then forced to grow or hemp themselves dubious sources on the black market, "says Cerveny.
According to Cerveny, the investment costs for the Cannabis Therapy Center Bavaria (CTCB) amounting to 1.7 million euros will be raised via crowdfunding and donations. The approximately 2,000 sqm property will promote both the cultivation of medicinal hemp and the research on cannabis for pharmaceutical purposes. In collaboration with a medical team, flawless medicinal cannabis flowers are grown, dried, tested and processed.
Bandage plans cannabis plantation. Image: stokkete - fotolia Six kilograms monthly amount
The hemp cultivation is to take place in an approximately 600 square meter secured part of the upper floor in the Cannabis Therapy Center. According to Cerveny, the medicinal hemp is to be cultivated in cooperation and under the supervision of the Bavarian state government in compliance with the highest safety standards. According to Cerveny, the amount of cultivation should be calculated from the quantity of patients to be treated and their maximum monthly amount. At the beginning of 100 patients Cerveny counts monthly with an average requirement of 60 grams per patient. This results in a required monthly amount of about six kilograms of pure, dried cannabis flowers.
Legislative emergency fulfilled
All previous lawsuits and efforts to reimburse cannabis patients have had no effect on the health insurance companies to avert this state of emergency. According to Cerveny, every cannabis patient has a claim to medicinal cannabis blossoms according to §34 of the Criminal Code (StGB), because he does not harm anybody else with his consumption. The supernatural emergency is fulfilled for Cerveny if patients have no access to medical cannabis. This state of emergency is already fulfilled if the patients could not afford to acquire the necessary medical amount. Most cannabis patients have fallen victim to their disease for years and can not afford it. Thus, they have to make do with only a fraction of their cannabis medicine and suffer unreasonable pain. This equates to a failure to provide assistance and assault.
"We want to make an important contribution to unlocking the full therapeutic potential of cannabis by driving scientific research and growing cannabis for pharmaceutical use," said Wenzel Cerveny. According to the Cannabis Association, on 22 July 2014, the Cologne Administrative Court ruled that self-cultivation of cannabis must be permitted for its own medical purposes. The General Court found in its judgment that the Bundesopiumstelle had exercised its discretionary powers in its decisions on the applications (reference 7K4020 / 12).
Advice for patients
A team of doctors should accompany the self-treatment of the previously helpless patients with an already granted exemption. A proper medical prescription is still not possible according to current legislation. So far, patients with a license to order cannabis directly from a pharmacy. "In addition, a team of consultants will take care of the patients and accompany them when applying for a license for cannabis according to § 3 (2) BtmG (narcotics Act). The concept of the therapy center also includes nutritional counseling. In a "hemp cooking studio" should be presented to the patient as hemp as a healthy food. In the course of the protection of minors, young people and parents should be informed about the various therapies.
Cannabis medicine for free
Until the Bundestag decides to pay by the health insurance funds, the patients should receive the cannabis medicine for free. After a change in the law, cannabis could be prescripted by doctors and the costs covered by health insurance. The medicinal cannabis flowers could then be distributed through the pharmacies. "Unfortunately, it takes too long in Berlin to decide on these changes. Patients can not wait any longer, "says Cerveny.
A long-term study should be developed through regular collaboration with the caregivers to gain experience and guidelines for the future. The choice of hemp varieties for cultivation should take into account the special medical needs of the patients. It is intended to use varieties that have excellently performed in Israeli research with respect to tetrahydrocannabinol THC and cannabiddiol (CBD). (Pm)