Cannabis for medicinal purposes : legislative, regulatory and clinical implications

Abstract

Medicinal cannabis entails evolving dynamics, marked by considerations of therapeutic potential and safety concerns, ambivalent perceptions and scientific evidence, alongside accessibility issues tantamount to limited harmonisation across jurisdictions. Cannabis for medicinal purposes is largely regulated by provisions implemented on a State-by-State basis. The Laws of Malta were amended in 2018, enabling the prescribing of cannabis-based products manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). The national legislative amendments present an opportunity to assess the implications of regulatory requirements for controlled, quality medicinal cannabis products and to examine local predispositions in prescribing and clinical use.