
The term “severe” isn’t defined. Technically migraines could count, and patients with cancer can be excluded if there are other treatments. Pain patients are required to take opioids before they can hope for a cannabis script.Langwieder eventually found a doctor who would prescribe her cannabis. But in Germany, where most prescription drugs are covered by insurance, there are exceptional obstacles to getting coverage for medical weed. Even if the conditions warranting a prescription are met, about one-third of patients are rejected by insurers—a practice that doesn’t occur with other drugs.“Politicians decided that cannabis is an approved therapy but nobody told the doctors."
Julia Langwieder said her doctor and therapist both dropped her over cannabis. Photo by the author
Hendrik Knopp is managing director of Aphria Germany. Photo supplied
Stefan Konikowski is HIV positive but can't get insurance coverage for cannabis. Photo by author
Prior to joining Aphria as medical director in 2018, Jan Witte specialized in oncology, working in a hospital in Berlin.Witte had positive results with cancer patients and cannabis early in his career, but for a long time he didn’t follow up with it. He started working at Aphria in part because he wants to improve the medical cannabis system in Germany.By the time weed makes its way from Canada or the Netherlands to a German pharmacy, it costs up to seven times more than what Canadian patients pay.
Aphria's German growing facility is being constructed. Photo supplied
Lisa Hess regularly drives 200 km round trip for black market weed. Photo by the author
