Will Cannabis be the new Ibuprofen?
The New Frontier in Medicine: Navigating the Rapid Rise of Medical Cannabis in Germany.
Since April, the use of Cannabis products in medicine has become much simpler, David Henn, founder of pharmaceutical supplier Cannamedical, talks about the rapid demand, doctors' acceptance, and competition from the industry.
Recently in an interview, you mentioned: The grass is running out! Is there a gold rush since the Cannabis legalization?
David Henn: Access to medical Cannabis has become significantly easier since April 1st. Until then, it was the last resort in therapy and could only be prescribed by a handful of doctors in Germany. Since April 1st, Cannabis is regulated as the equivalent of Ibuprofen 600. Therefore, all 418,000 practicing doctors in Germany can prescribe it. The demand is accordingly high.
What does that mean in numbers?
The medical market consisted of approximately 100,000 patients beforehand. In the last two to three months, this number has doubled. We assume that this growth will continue.
In what cases is Cannabis actually medically meaningful?
There is a broad application spectrum. We see strong therapeutic success in the field of epilepsy or pain therapy. We have an aging population in Germany, and there is a large demand from patients who no longer want to rely on classical medicines.
The legal conditions are now clear. But the enthusiasm for Cannabis products among doctors and physicians is not always great. How do you convince them?
We receive many signals from doctors who are looking for alternative administration forms for their patients. We conduct training sessions, we have our own Medical Hotline, which is available to doctors. But it's true that there is a group of doctors who remain skeptical about the whole thing - because the substance has had little application in legal medicine so far. But that will change in the coming years.
Is it not important to make a clear distinction between the use in medicine and as a recreational substance, given that both have been legalized?
One must differentiate. There is a use of Cannabis in the medical sector, for which there is a legal framework. And there is the possibility and legal framework for cultivating Cannabis in Social Clubs. But that is not our business and not our expertise.
You import Cannabis products mainly from abroad and distribute them in Europe. Isn't that a business model that is easily targetable?
I don't think so. I've been doing this for eight years and was one of the first active founders in this field. We have always decided against cultivating medical Cannabis ourselves and use contract farmers for this. The value creation chain, however, does not only consist of import and distribution. We import raw material, but each flower is still trimmed in Germany. We fill it into collection containers and label the products. There's a lot more to it.
Couldn't larger pharmaceutical companies do this sooner or later and penetrate this market?
I'm sure the pharmaceutical industry has thrown an eye at the therapy with medical Cannabis in Germany. Just as the tobacco industry has. But ultimately, the Cannabis market is still too small for the large pharmaceutical industry.
Why there are no clinical approval studies for Cannabis products yet Why Cannabis is not suitable for painkillers for someWhen Cannamedical goes public
David Henn also mentioned in the interview that the high demand for medical Cannabis has led to a potential shortage, sparking comparisons to a gold rush. He further explained that while Ibuprofen and Cannabis are now both classified as equivalent medications, the acceptance of Cannabis in the medical field has not always been positive due to its lack of previous legal use in medicine. He stated that they're working to increase understanding and acceptance among doctors through training sessions and a medical hotline. Additionally, he pointed out that while they import their products mainly from abroad, their business model involves more than just import and distribution, including trimming, filling, and labeling of the products in Germany.
