MEDICINAL CANNABIS AND THE GACP/GMP JUNGLE
Medicinal Cannabis can support various treatments in reducing side effects and symptoms, such as nausea and pain. Medicinal Cannabis, however, has to comply to GMP requirements as any medicinal substance or product has. Navigate the requirements together with Avanti Europe.
THE RESTRICTIONS AROUND CANNABIS
First, we need to distinguish between hemp and cannabis. Hemp is a fiber-rich plant usually listed in the catalogue of varieties of plants and primarily used for its fibers, whereas cannabis is not listed in the catalogue and primarily used for the chemical ingredients produced in the flowers, called buds.
Growing cannabis with a high level of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychotropic agent, is prohibited in most countries and levels of THC are non-harmonized. In Switzerland, the path to medicinal cannabis for a patient is the following:
- The patient needs to find a doctor in favor of prescribing medicinal cannabis
- The treating doctor needs to file an exemption certificate to source medicinal cannabis
- The supplier needs to file an exemption certificate to deliver the medicinal cannabis based on the doctor’s request
- The manufacturer needs to file an exemption certificate to plant, grow and harvest based on the doctor’s request.