The Danish Parliament recently officially passed legislation to make Denmark’s medical cannabis program permanent from the beginning of next year.
Denmark’s trial scheme launched in 2018, focusing patients with sclerosis, spinal cord injury, chronic pain or nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy where the use of conventional drugs haven’t had sufficient effect. However, the scheme’s guidelines don’t preclude doctors from prescribing medicinal cannabis to patients with other conditions
The trial scheme was initially for a four-year period; but was extended for another four years in 2021. Late last year, Denmark’s Minister of the Interior and Health met with agreement parties participating in the trial scheme with view to making it permanent.
In April this year, the Danish Parliament formally adopted “Bill L135”; establishing a permanent legislative framework for the medical use of cannabis that will take effect on January 1, 2026.
Danish medical cannabis company Stenocare, which actively engaged with health authorities and policymakers throughout the Pilot Programme, welcomed passing of the legislation.
“The political approval provides reassurance and predictability for patients who may have been concerned about the future of their treatment.”
Stenocare says improvements include updated guidance from the Danish Medicines Agency to support doctors, and the Danish Patient Safety Authority is to revise the health criteria used in its recommendations in relation to driving restrictions for patients undergoing cannabis treatment.
Stenocare is a licensed producer of prescription-based medical cannabis under the Pilot Programme
While the pilot programme offered a reimbursement scheme where up to 100% of medicine costs could be covered depending on the situation, under the new laws, the subsidy will be reduced to 50%.
Aside from the pilot programme, doctors have had several other pathways for prescribing medical cannabis. One is as an authorised medicine; of which there are only two – Sativex and Epidyolex.
Another is medicines prescribed by compassionate use permit. Again, there are only two – Marinol and Nabilone, which contain synthetically-produced cannabinoids. The other pathway is doctors can prescribe magistral preparations (produced by a chemist in the pharmacy – aka a compounding pharmacy) with active substances of cannabis in forms such as capsules and oils.
