Germamy plans to legalize medical marijuana by 2017 according to an announcement by the country’s Minister of Health. 

Hermann Gröhe stated that full legalization of medicinal cannabis is around the corner for Germany.

“Our goal is that seriously ill patients are treated in the best possible way,” he said.

“Without wishing to pre-judge the work of the Bundestag [a lower house of the German government], it is likely that the law will come into force in the spring of 2017.”

The changes would also allow people to use their health insurance cover to purchase cannabis to treat their illnesses.

Until government grow sites are created, the country would likely import its medical cannabis. Grohe didn’t state where they would import from or mention any finer legal details about the importation of cannabis.

 

Currently, cannabis is illegal to possess in Germany but charges are rarely pursued by the authorities and laws aren’t strictly enforced.

Under current laws, people living in Germany can also get special permission from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices to grow, possess, and use cannabis for medical purposes.

 

According to Gröhe, the proposed changes would give patients an easier and more direct way to get medical marijuana.

Gröhe’s comments come at a time when countries around the world are rethinking cannabis laws.