Certain patients will be able to get medicine with cannabis extracts or cannabinoids during a two-year test programme.

Health minister Lydia Mutsch announced this on Tuesday 7 November, adding that “the medical use of cannabis can reduce pain and suffering in patients, who don’t respond to the usual treatments anymore.”

She explained that research into cannabis, cannabis-extracts and certain cannabinoids had made advanced and shown that marihuana’s THC and CBD have a positive effect on treating certain illnesses.

According to RTL, the government estimated that around 80-100 patients could benefit from this. They would receive around 1 gram per day as part of their therapy.

The cannabis flowers will be heated through a vaporiser and then inhaled. There will also be cannabis oils, sprays and tinctures.