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Cannabis has a long tradition as a medicinal plant in Switzerland as well. With the 1951 ban, this application was also lost. No, it was not lost. It was criminalized and withdrawn from the attention of the general public – because medical hemp was and is still used. The MEDCAN association has set itself the goal of putting an end to this criminalization of patients.
We want to give you a detailed picture of the current situation regarding medical hemp. To this end, Franziska Quadri, honorary president of the MEDCAN association, has come to our aid with her expertise. Franziska herself is paraplegic since a paragliding accident in 2009 and found out very soon that cannabis is the best solution for her to improve her quality of life again.
Medical cannabis in Switzerland – where do we stand?
Last summer, a long-cherished dream of many patients came true: medical cannabis has been legal since August 2022 and no longer requires a license. Doctors can prescribe cannabis on their own. Or could – because so far, many doctors are shying away from addressing the issue of medicinal hemp. Franziska told me an exemplary episode from her own story: “I myself recently went to see my neurologist, who knows exactly how I treat myself with cannabis. Nevertheless, I was met with complete disinterest: I would now have to tell the neurologist what to write in my prescription. The responsibility is quite brazenly shifted to me instead of doctors finally addressing the issue.”
We have no choice but to train the doctors and pharmacists on our own.
Franziska Quadri, cannabis patient and president of the MEDCAN association
Stories like Franziska’s show that last year’s law change is far from solving the problems. “Almost a year after the law was changed, patients still have no access to medical cannabis. There are hardly any doctors who prescribe cannabis – and if they do, the health insurance companies still don’t pay for it, and the therapy becomes almost unaffordable,” Franziska tells us. This poor implementation of legalization threatens to create a two-class society: the rich patients buy prescriptions and legal medicine, while the less well-off are criminalized.
The political work of MEDCAN
This stocktaking shows that although a political milestone has been reached with the legalization of medicinal hemp, the problem is still far from being solved. Thus, for the MEDCAN association, it is clear that their commitment will be needed for a long time to come.
Currently, inspired by the Cancer League, we aim to become a high-profile organization that can educate both the general population and those directly affected about the issue. As a first step, this means bringing together as many as possible of the approximately 100,000 cannabis patients who are already self-medicating in our association.
Franziska Quadri
In order to advocate for an effective implementation of legalization, the people of MEDCAN are in regular exchange with politicians, doctors, pharmacists and, if possible, also with the health insurance companies. This commitment at all levels seems to be the only option at the moment. Politicians think they have already solved the problem with legalization, doctors lack the expertise and health insurers naturally do not want to pay for expensive cannabis medicinal products on their own. Responsibility is passed back and forth like a hot potato, and the ultimate sufferers are the patients who cannot legally obtain their medications.
Are the pilot tests helping?
With the pilot trials, thousands of people will get legal access to cannabis, and at prices deliberately aligned with those of the black market. This is much closer to the idea of legal access to cannabis flower than the completely inadequately implemented legalization of medical hemp. What does this trigger in patients* who must continue to fight for affordable access to cannabis flower? “That honestly makes me pissed off,” comes Franziska’s answer as if shot out of a pistol. Of course, legal access to cannabis is certainly to be welcomed by the study participants. The problem is not only that not all patients can get one of the places in the pilot tests: They are even explicitly excluded from participation!
MEDCAN patient meetings
As a patient organization, MEDCAN is not only concerned with political work. Regular “patient meetings” are held in the cities of Zurich and Bern. The idea of these meetings is for patients to exchange ideas with the MEDCAN association and with like-minded people. Experiences are shared, people stand by each other and together they try to find a way to legal medicine. In short, those affected are once again taking the reins into their own hands so that they are at least not alone with their problems.
During the pandemic, patient meetings took place online for the first time. In addition to the on-site meetings, there is since then also the possibility to participate in a meeting from home. “We certainly want to keep that up to reach as many people as possible,” Franziska says.
Now we need solidarity!
Infected by her commitment, I wanted to know from Franziska how we can best support the work of MEDCAN. “The most important thing is that you send patients* to us so we can inform them – and they can get involved in our association.” However, there are, of course, support options for people like me who do not rely on medical hemp. Let’s inform ourselves and talk about the topic, let’s give a platform to those directly affected like Franziska, Simòn, Roger, Sabi and all others who want to bring their story to the public. Their expertise and commitment have incredible power to drive change for the better.
What also helps to make the MEDCAN association more heard are donations. Up to now, the work in the association has rested on the shoulders of a few volunteers. In order to professionalize the work and unite as many patients as possible, a paid secretariat, for example, would be a huge asset. And to make the 10th anniversary in 2024 as big as possible with great events, financial resources are needed.
“The more resources we have, the faster we achieve our goals. And maybe even general legalization of cannabis, including home cultivation?”
Franziska Quadri
Also important: if outsiders show solidarity with the MEDCAN association and the cannabis patients, this will not only benefit those affected. Experience from abroad also shows that medical use is the perfect precursor to much-needed general legalization. The abuses in the medical sector are so obvious that many cannot simply close their eyes. At the same time, the current situation shows us that the legalization of medical hemp has reached a dead end. The easiest way out of this predicament? Legalization for all. “Only when home cultivation is legal will all affected people really get access to the cannabis flowers they need,” Franziska says.