Spain’s Council of Ministers has officially approved long-awaited regulations on the use of medical cannabis, marking a historic milestone for patients and healthcare providers across the country. Although the new framework is considered highly restrictive, many view it as a crucial first step in integrating medical cannabis into Spain’s national healthcare system.
The move comes after years of debate and research led by the Health and Consumer Affairs Committee of the Congress of Deputies. The approved Royal Decree establishes how medical cannabis can be prescribed, dispensed, and monitored. Under the new law, only specialist physicians working in hospital settings can prescribe medical cannabis, and all medicines must be prepared within authorized hospital pharmacy services.
While the decree does not yet specify which conditions qualify for medical cannabis treatment, the Ministry of Health has stated that clinical guidelines, preparation standards, and approved dosages will be established within the next three months. Importantly, the law restricts the use of cannabis flower, allowing only standardized cannabis oils for treatment.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Health, this framework represents the government’s commitment to safe, evidence-based medicine. A public registry will also be created to document all standardized preparations used in medical cannabis treatments. Every product must meet rigorous manufacturing and traceability requirements, particularly those containing more than 0.2% THC.
While patient advocacy groups have welcomed the decision, some have criticized the government for creating an overly cautious approach. They argue that the restrictive nature of the regulations may limit access for patients who could benefit from medical cannabis but live far from specialized hospital facilities. Others, however, see this as a cautious but necessary foundation to build public confidence in medical cannabis and demonstrate that it can be safely integrated into Spain’s healthcare system.
Before this change, Spain had no formal laws governing medical cannabis use. Patients relied on cannabis social clubs or imported CBD products with low THC content to find relief for chronic conditions. With these new regulations, Spain joins a growing list of European nations moving toward legalization and standardization of medical cannabis, aligning its health policy with modern therapeutic trends.
Although the rollout may be slow, the approval of these regulations is a sign of progress. For thousands of Spanish patients, this marks the beginning of a new era where medical cannabis is finally recognized as a legitimate form of treatment.
