Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes is a matter for doctors and politicians - prosecutor general

RIGA - Legalization of marijuana for medical purposes is a matter for medical experts and politicians to decide, Prosecutor General Juris Stukans told the LETA through press representatives.

In early April, the board of the coalition party Progressives decided to push forward the idea of improving the regulation of medical marijuana, saying that medical marijuana also has a place in Latvia's healthcare system.

The Progressives are convinced that medical marijuana, for example in the form of tablets, capsules or extracts, can be the most effective or even the only solution for patients with chronic pain, nausea, muscle spasms and other symptoms associated with diseases such as multiple sclerosis or oncological diagnoses.

Currently, some patients are already using such products, but they are purchased or imported illegally and often cannot discuss their dosage and use with medical professionals. Information on which substances can be used in which cases is also not easily accessible to the medical profession, according to the political force.

The State Police has stated that it is generally not in favor of decriminalizing the use of cannabis because of the security risks it may pose, but if professionals in the field see the benefits of its use for medical purposes and the substance is prescribed by doctors, then this would be acceptable.

Psychotropic substances are already used in medicine, but their circulation is strictly controlled, the police have said.