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 The proposal, separate from a Swiss government push to allow some
cities to experiment with recreational marijuana, would replace the
current system, in which those seeking medical cannabis must apply
for an exception from the Federal Health Office to get what is
otherwise an illegal drug.
Marijuana is sometimes used to help cancer patients manage chronic
pain, to help boost their appetites, and to reduce spasticity
associated with multiple sclerosis.
"The proposal makes it possible for doctors to directly prescribe
cannabis as part of their treatment," the Swiss cabinet said in a
statement.
"Growing and processing medical cannabis as well as its sale would
then be possible under a system regulated" by Swissmedic, the
country's drug regulatory agency.
A formal comment period runs until mid-October.
Just how insurers will handle reimbursement for medical marijuana
will be dealt with separately, the government said.
"The biggest obstacle to automatic reimbursement is that the
scientific evidence of efficacy is not yet sufficient and the
conclusions of existing studies are sometimes contradictory," the
government said.
The Federal Health Office will launch an evaluation project to help
answer questions about whether the drug is an effective remedy and,
if so, for what conditions, it said.
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POT PUSH
Switzerland cited increased use of medical marijuana in the
treatment of a variety of conditions as driving its initiative.
Federal authorities granted around 3,000 exceptions for people
seeking to get medical marijuana in 2018.
Elsewhere, medical marijuana is also booming.
Portugal's parliament has approved a bill to legalise
marijuana-based medicines, following in the footsteps of Italy,
Germany, Canada and parts of the United States. Britain made a
similar move in July 2018.
Companies are moving, too.
Swiss drugmaker Novartis last year struck a deal with Canadian
medical cannabis maker Tilray to support commercialisation of some
of its products.
Separately, Switzerland is tinkering with laws that now forbid
recreational marijuana, a potential precursor to joining other
countries and an increasing number of U.S. states -- Illinois became
the latest this week -- in legalising the drug.
A plan released in February could let up to 5,000 people smoke
marijuana in pilot studies.
(Reporting by John Miller; Editing by Gareth Jones)
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