Seriously ill patients in Germany can buy cannabis by prescription. The permission is granted for a maximum of three days, and the medical insurance covers the costs. This was announced by the State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health Lutz Stroppe, reports Deutsche Welle.

In the near future, it will also be allowed to grow cannabis for medical purposes in Germany. The management and coordination of this process will be implemented by a special agency subject to the Federal Institute of Drugs.

The bill has already been approved by the Bundestag and is up to the president to signs it. Until recently, it was allowed to prescribe cannabis to patients in Germany in exceptional cases. Currently, about 1,000 patients receive prescriptions to purchase the drug.