If medical cannabis is treated as a psychotropic medicinal, why is it treated differently to other psychotropic medicinals?
Maltese cannabis patients are faced a tough time thanks to one law. One patient had completed a ten day trial and was surprised by the results
“My doctor put me on a ten day trial run – a few puffs of sativa in the morning to wake me up, a few puffs of indica at night to put me to sleep and CBD oil throughout the day when I needed a boost,” Clint told Lovin Malta. “It worked wonders for me. I used to have trouble sleeping and used to wake up late everyday but I’m now sleeping regular hours and running in the morning. I never used to run before but the sativa is giving me the energy to workout and exercise. The Valium used to make me feel like a zombie and I used to miss work regularly but I feel completely normal now.”
After deciding to continue to take the medical cannabis his doctor Andrew Agius requested to renew his patients permit, a requirement by law that isn’t in place for other drugs.
When the superintendence requested further information of the patient along with his driving license status, once this was confirmed Agius received a template to complete to send to the police commissioner to medically advise him to rescind the patients driving licence. Until the licence is revoked the prescription would not be renewed.
“The reality is that this law is never enforced with other psychotropic drugs like valium or morphine whose sedative side effects are much stronger than cannabis,” Agius said. “While doctors advise their patients not to drive when under the effects of a psychotropic drug, they don’t refer the cases to the police. Some psychotropic drugs, such as combinations of paracetamol and codeine, can cause more drowsiness than THC but can be purchased over the counter with the pharmacist sometimes not even advising the patient against driving.”
PL MEP Cyrus Engerer has now called for a change in the law.
“The law should be amended. We have had two anomalous cases in the past weeks. Secondly, if medical cannabis is treated as a psychotropic medicinal, why is it treated differently to other psychotropic medicinals on the market when it comes to enforcement?”
Source – Lovin Malta
Image Pixabay
