Germany: Acquittal of medical cannabis user

"Why don’t we allow a man with such a heavy burden some good days", the judge said.

On 19 January the court of Mannheim acquitted a multiple sclerosis patient who was accused of illegal possession of cannabis. 600 grams of cannabis had been found at the home of the 41 year old defendant, who used it against symptoms of his disease since 15 years. Judge Ulrich Krehbiel used strong words against criminal prosecution of severely ill persons who use cannabis medicinaly.

"Why don’t we allow a man with such a heavy burden some good days," he said.

Before, Dr. Hans-Michael Meinck, professor of neurology at the University of Heidelberg, had confirmed the efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of the patient’s ataxia. Ataxia is a movement disorder that may be found in MS.