FABIO DI FRANCESCO 
Compounding pharmacist, Rome, Italy

Abstract

Medical Cannabis market in Italy and Europe is constantly growing. Medical Cannabis is used in addition to other medicines, or as a single therapy where patients are resistant to conventional medicines. Indeed, it’s possible to get the prescription by any doctor (generic and specialist). The job of Italian compounding consists of collaborating with doctors providing information on the different forms and dosages that is possible to manufacture (different in every European country). Medical Cannabis is also in the German pharmacopoeia (a monograph of a European country):  this allows that the work of manufacturing magistral preparation in compounding pharmacies has validity in every European country.

MEDICAL CANNABIS IN ITALY, WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A PRESCRIPTION

Medicinal cannabis was introduced in Italy in 2013, being classified as a narcotic medicine, a medical prescription is always required. The prescription is possible by any medical doctor, it does not necessarily have to be a specialist doctor, even the generic doctor or the dentist can prescribe medicinal Cannabis. Furthermore, also veterinarian can prescribe medical Cannabis for veterinary use, only for pets and not for animals intended for food-production, where it’s not allowed.

The prescription has validity of 30 days excluding the day of issue. Once the patient has obtained the prescription, he must go to a specialized pharmacy. The pharmaceutical form is prescribed by the medical doctor (cannabis bags, capsules, eye drops etc.) and the compounding pharmacist is responsible for the manufacturing of the finished product.

CANNABIS STRAINS AVAILABLE IN ITALY AND HOW THEY HAVE VARIED OVER TIME

Since medicinal Cannabis was introduced to the Italian pharmacies the market has seen numerous innovations over the years. The availa ...