The European Parliament,
– having regard to Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to the question to the Commission on use of cannabis for medicinal purposes (O-000122/2018 – B8‑0001/2019),
– having regard to Rules 128(5) and 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the cannabis plant is made up of more than 480 compounds, including over 100 cannabinoids composed of both psychoactive and non-psychoactive compounds whereas many of the compounds constituting the cannabis plant are unique to cannabis
B. whereas D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the best known cannabinoids identified in cannabis, with THC constituting the main psychoactive and addictive constituent of cannabis while CBD has no intoxicating or addictive properties
C. whereas the numerous other cannabinoids which make up the cannabis plant, such as cannabichromene, cannabinol, cannabidiolic acid, cannabigerol and tetrahydrocannabivarin, can have neuroprotective effects, can help reduce certain symptoms affecting patients – such as chronic pain, inflammation or bacterial infections – and can stimulate bone growth
L. whereas a review of the existing scientific literature on the subject of cannabis used in a medical setting provides conclusive or substantial evidence that cannabis and cannabinoids have therapeutic effects, such as in the treatment of chronic pain in adults (e.g. in cancer disease cases), as anti-emetics for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting or for improving patient-reported multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms, and are effective in the treatment of patients with anxiety disorders, PTSD and depression
M. whereas there is evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids may be effective in increasing appetite and decreasing weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS, in alleviating symptoms of mental disorders such as psychosis or Tourette syndrome, and in alleviating symptoms of epilepsy, as well as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, asthma, cancer, Crohn’s disease and glaucoma, and that they also help to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes and mitigate menstrual pain
N. whereas official data on research and research funding concerning medical cannabis remain scant; whereas research on medical cannabis has received no direct support under the current research programme in the EU and there has been little coordination regarding research projects on medical cannabis in Member States
O. whereas the evaluation of the implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020 recognised that the omission of a discussion on recent trends in cannabis policy had been noted by a wide range of stakeholders and was one of the items raised most frequently when looking into issues not covered by the strategy
P. whereas there is no uniform standardisation system for the marking and labelling of drugs that contain THC and CBD and other cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant
Q. whereas little or no reliable information is available in EU Member States for medical personnel – medical students, doctors and pharmacists, psychiatrists and so on – on the impact of medical products containing THC and CBD, and there is also a lack of information and alerts for young people and women considering motherhood
R. whereas there is no intra-EU regulation concerning the placing of cannabis-based drugs on the market
1. Calls on the Commission and national authorities to work together to provide a legal definition of medical cannabis, and to draw a clear distinction between cannabis-based medicines approved by the EMA or other regulatory agencies, medical cannabis not supported by clinical trials, and other applications of cannabis (e.g. recreational or industrial)
2. Considers that research on the potential benefits of medicines derived from cannabis and on cannabis in general has been underfunded and should be properly addressed under the forthcoming Ninth Framework Programme and under national research programmes, with a view to exploring, inter alia, the possible uses of THC, CBD and other cannabinoids for medical treatment, as well as their effects on the human body, including lessons drawn from the experience of off-label prescribing of cannabis
8. Calls on the Commission to establish a network which would bring together the EMA, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), responsible national authorities and patient organisations, civil society, social partners, consumer organisations, healthcare professionals and NGOs, along with other relevant stakeholders, in order to
ensure effective implementation of the strategy for cannabis-based medicines
9. Calls on Member States to provide medical professionals with proper medical training and to encourage increased knowledge on medical cannabis based on independent and wide-ranging research further calls on Member States to allow doctors to make free use of their professional judgement in prescribing regulatory-approved cannabis-based medicines to patients with relevant conditions, and to allow pharmacists to lawfully honour those prescriptions; highlights the need for training and access to literature for all medical personnel such as medical students, medical doctors and pharmacists on the results of independent scientific research
15. Urges the Commission to ensure that research into, and use of, medical cannabis in the Union does not in any way favour criminal drugs networks or lead to their expansion
16. Underlines how the comprehensive and evidence-based regulation of cannabis-based medicines would translate into additional resources for public authorities, would limit the black market and ensure quality and accurate labelling to help control points of sale, would limit the access of this substance to minors, and would ensure legal certainty and safe access for patients for its medicinal use, with particular precautions being in place for young people and pregnant women
17. Stresses that the strict prevention of addiction among minors and vulnerable groups must always form part of every regulatory framework
18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission.
Full Text : http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo
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