Denmark extends trial for cannabis patients, makes production permanent

Denmark’s parliament ruled its pilot program would continue after it expires at the end of this year

Nick Laba

Published

May 25, 2021

Danish patients will be able to access medical cannabis for at least another four years, and companies in the country producing the plant for medical purposes can operate permanently.

Late Tuesday, a broad majority of parties voted in Danish parliament to continue a trial scheme for medical cannabis access, which expires at the end of the year.

The ruling Social Democrats, the Liberals, the Danish People’s Party, the Socialist People’s Party, the Unity List, the New Bourgeois, Liberal Alliance, the Alternative, the Christian Democrats and the Free Greens all voted in favour.

Denmark’s curious division of production and access will continue, as foreign firms will provide domestic supply via import, and companies within Danish borders ship medical weed to other European markets.

The current trial will expire at the end of 2021, but its continuation is mandated by law thereafter, according to the Danish Ministry of Health The government will submit bills this fall for adoption by the end of the year.

Only a select few Good Manufacturing Practices-certified producers are approved to supply Denmark’s medical patients, including Netherlands-based Bedrocan, as well as Canadian firms Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX and NYSE: ACB) and MediPharm Labs Corp. (TSX: LABS).

Denmark opened medical cannabis access for patients in 2018 as part of a four-year pilot program. Its purpose is to offer patients with legal, safe products and provide national health authorities with patient data.

That information was to be analyzed to understand usage and efficacy at the end of the trial period to consider establishing a permanent medical market, but a permanent domestic plan hasn’t been mentioned yet.

The program is only eligible for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, spinal cord damage, cancer and neuropathic pain.

🇩🇰:The Danish Parliament today made the decision to extend the Pilot Programme for prescription of medical #cannabis by another 4 years and also make Danish cultivation and production of medical cannabis permanent beyond the expiration of the current Pilot in December 2021.

— Materia (@Materia_Global) May 25, 2021