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The BfArM Headquarters[/caption]
In a ground-breaking result for the country's marijuana activists, German courts have permitted the cultivation of cannabis in the homes of people with serious illnesses.
Passed on the 22nd July, the law came into light after 5 people suffering from chronic illnesses approached the courts looking to overturn a ruling put in place by Germany's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). The ruling forbid anyone to cultivate their own marijuana and ordered users to continue to purchase the plant from pharmacies.
The sufferers approached the court because they could no longer afford the expensive marijuana from pharmacies and their Health Insurance did not cover the purchase.
The Administrative Court of Cologne has now ordered an overturn of the ruling with a spokeswomen for the Court stating;
The BfArM Headquarters[/caption]
In a ground-breaking result for the country's marijuana activists, German courts have permitted the cultivation of cannabis in the homes of people with serious illnesses.
Passed on the 22nd July, the law came into light after 5 people suffering from chronic illnesses approached the courts looking to overturn a ruling put in place by Germany's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). The ruling forbid anyone to cultivate their own marijuana and ordered users to continue to purchase the plant from pharmacies.
The sufferers approached the court because they could no longer afford the expensive marijuana from pharmacies and their Health Insurance did not cover the purchase.
The Administrative Court of Cologne has now ordered an overturn of the ruling with a spokeswomen for the Court stating;
"Until now, it has not been legal for anyone to grow cannabis in Germany but these seriously ill people will now be allowed to."Around 300 people with serious illnesses are currently allowed to purchase cannabis in Germany with permission from the BfArM. However, the new law allowing for cannabis cultivation will not require permission and will allow people freedom of quantity. However, a stipulation of the new rule means that everyone would have to go through the court individually to determine whether they meet the requirements to grow their own marijuana plants. This case-by-case review method has been met with some criticism, with many activists believing that it is an unnecessary, time-wasting and unfair exercise. Nevertheless, this news indicates an astronomical step toward medical marijuana legalization in Germany and could kick-start a drastic change in legalization rules for a country whose tough stance on marijuana still remains. *It is thought that the German Federal Government will appeal the ruling and look to overturn any cultivation legality rule, for medicinal purposes or otherwise.
