Medicinal Cannabis Matters - Friday Roundup 8th August 2025

Welcome to your weekly look at what’s new and important in the world of medical cannabis. Whether you’re a patient, carer, or someone exploring your treatment options, this week’s news brings real reasons to feel hopeful — especially for anyone relying on medical cannabis to help ease symptoms, improve quality of life, and support long-term condition management.

France to Make Medical Cannabis Part of Public Healthcare

Big news from France: the government has announced plans to fully integrate medical cannabis into its national healthcare system.

What does that mean for patients?

If you qualify for cannabis-based treatment, you could soon access it through the public system, with support from your doctor and potentially covered by insurance.

This follows a successful pilot scheme and years of patient advocacy calling for better access, consistency, and affordability.

The move positions France among a growing number of countries recognising medical cannabis as standard, evidence-based care.

While we’re still waiting for full rollout details, the decision marks a powerful shift: cannabis-based medicines are no longer being treated as fringe or experimental — they’re becoming part of everyday healthcare.

As more European countries take similar steps, this could help open doors for broader access, more research, and less stigma across the continent.

Read the full story at Cannabis Health News

Study: Legal Cannabis Linked to Safer Use in Switzerland

Meanwhile in Switzerland, a new study has confirmed what many patients have long said: having access to safe, legal cannabis reduces harm.

The six-month trial involved over 370 participants in Basel. Some were allowed to legally purchase cannabis through pharmacies as part of the “Weedcare” pilot programme. Others continued using the black market.

The findings?

Those using legal cannabis showed no increase in anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.

Even better — they actually saw a drop in risky or problematic cannabis use.

The biggest improvements were seen among people who also used other substances — suggesting that legal access can help people reduce overall harm, especially in more vulnerable groups.

For patients, it’s more confirmation that when cannabis is treated like real medicine — with quality control and proper support — it can be used more safely and effectively.

More on the study at swissinfo.ch

What This Means for You

These two stories — one from the policy world, the other from real-world research — point to the same message:

• Medical cannabis is gaining ground as trusted healthcare, not just alternative therapy.
• Regulated access leads to better, safer outcomes for people who rely on cannabis to manage their health.
• More governments are finally listening to patients and acting on evidence, creating systems that work better for everyone.

Whether you're already using medical cannabis or just starting to explore it, these changes are shaping a more supportive, science-led future.

That’s all for this week’s roundup. Thanks for reading, and we’ll be back next Friday with more updates that matter to you.

Thinking about trying medical cannabis?

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