Germany Set to Legalize Medical Marijuana in 2017

Germany will legalize medical marijuana next year, the country’s health minister said.

The German cabinet decided Monday to approve the measure for seriously ill patients who have consulted with a doctor and “have no therapeutic alternative,” according to a press release from the German Health Ministry.

“Our goal is that seriously ill people are looked after to the best of our ability,” Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe said.

Gröhe also said he wants health insurance companies to cover costs if patients can’t be helped in any other way.

Still, Marlene Mortler, the country’s federal drug commissioner cautioned that marijuana should not be considered completely safe.

“The use of cannabis as a medicine within narrow limits is useful and should be explored in more detail,” Mortler said. “At the same time, cannabis is not a harmless substance, a legalization for private pleasure is not the aim and purpose of this. It is intended for medical use only.” [Read more at CNN.com]