As of today, Medical cannabis in Malta is finally on sale! Patients in Malta can get their hands on the drug which was legalized for medical purposes in March of this year.
Starting this week Verdala Pharmacies in Cospicua have begun to stock two cannabis strains which are produced by Pedanios – a german cannabis cultivator - and imported by local pharmaceutical distributor Cherubino; the brand closely linked to Aurora Cannabis (TSE:ACB) (OTCQX:ACBFF) who will be the first company allowed to legally cultivate medical cannabis in Malta.
Medical Cannabis in Malta
This will mean thatVerdala Pharmacy will be the first retailer in Maltese history to stock cannabis medicine. It is also selling vaporizers for the cannabis, so patients can avoid smoking it and can inhale in a healthier manner.
The new products are two strains of cannabis flowers that are both high in THC and low in CBD - the Sativa is 22% THC and 1% CBD and the Indica is 20% THC and 1% CBD.
How Do the Maltese Feel?
The news has been welcomed by Maltese patients who have been long waiting for this day:
"You can't compare the quality of the legal, tested and controlled cannabis with the stuff on the black market"
However, not everyone is happy as the cost is causing concern for many locals who find it too expensive and unfair at €17 a gram:
“I went down to the pharmacy today, asked how much it was, and they said it's €17 a gram. I'm not going to entertain that - I buy it for 12 euros a gram, from the black market, and it's higher quality," said one disgruntled patient.
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Marijuana Haven
However, Malta is fast becoming a marijuana haven as one licensed medical marijuana doctor has put it; "Over the next month, more and more products will be entering the market. The cannabis flowers' price should go down, there will be more choice of strains and more products overall."
As with time, more patients will be approved for the medicine which could lead to tax relief on the medicine along with subsidies for patients.
So far, at least 10 Maltese patients are approved or almost approved for medical cannabis, but many more are currently in the process.
Malta's medical cannabis system seems to be finally making its first real movements much to many people's delight.
Featured Image: Deposit Photos/VictoriaBee
