Malta [29,30] specific specialists registered under the Health Care Professions Act from the – following areas of expertise: neurology, oncology and radiotherapy, anesthetics and intensive care medicine, psychiatry or of any other specialists register under the said Act, can prescribe medicinal preparations of the plant cannabis. Nabiximols is technically approved, but is currently not sold anywhere in the country. Nabiximols can only be prescribed by one of the above-mentioned specialists and only after this prescription is approved by the Superintendent of Public Health. Herbal cannabis is not allowed. No other cannabinoid-based medicines are allowed. Netherlands [31,32] The Office of Medicinal Cannabis (OMC) is a governmental agency under – the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports that was founded on January 1, 2001. It is responsible for all cultivation of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes, and has a monopoly on all transactions regarding these products, including import and export. The only company authorized to grow and distribute medical grade cannabis in the Netherlands is "Bedrocan". All physicians can prescribe herbal cannabis for any indication. The cannabis is mainly prescribed as inflorescence, while the patient decides on the ways of the consumption: smoking, vaporizing or making extract. The cannabis can be purchased in many pharmacies throughout the country. In addition to that, there is one pharmacy that makes medicinal oil from the same flowers ("Transvaal Apotheek"). Cannabis is usually given when other therapies are ineffective or causing adverse effects. The OMC offers varieties of medical cannabis, with levels of THC ranging from less than 1% to approximately 22% and CBD ranging from less than 1% to approximately 9%. Nabiximols and Dronabinol are also approved for use. Norway [33] Cannabis is not authorized for medical use. On November 2016, Norway – introduced new instructions by which cannabis can be prescribed for patients via a special permit. Only doctors working in hospitals can apply with a request for medical cannabis and there is no limit to specific indications. Each request is sent to the Norwegian Medicines Agency for approval and it must state why the patient cannot be treated with other approved drugs, including approved cannabinoid-based medicines. After approval, cannabis is sent from the Dutch company "Bedrocan" to a Norwegian pharmacist, which supplies the cannabis to the patient.
Malta [29,30] – specific specialists registered under the Health Care Professions Act from the following areas of expertise: neurology, oncology and radiotherapy, anesthetics and intensive care medicine, psychiatry or of any other specialists register under the said Act, can prescribe medicinal preparations of the plant cannabis. Nabiximols is technically approved, but is currently not sold anywhere in the country. Nabiximols can only be prescribed by one of the above-mentioned specialists and only after this prescription is approved by the Superintendent of Public Health. Herbal cannabis is not allowed. No other cannabinoid-based medicines are allowed. Netherlands [31,32] – The Office of Medicinal Cannabis (OMC) is a governmental agency under the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports that was founded on January 1, 2001. It is responsible for all cultivation of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes, and has a monopoly on all transactions regarding these products, including import and export. The only company authorized to grow and distribute medical grade cannabis in the Netherlands is "Bedrocan". All physicians can prescribe herbal cannabis for any indication. The cannabis is mainly prescribed as inflorescence, while the patient decides on the ways of the consumption: smoking, vaporizing or making extract. The cannabis can be purchased in many pharmacies throughout the country. In addition to that, there is one pharmacy that makes medicinal oil from the same flowers ("Transvaal Apotheek"). Cannabis is usually given when other therapies are ineffective or causing adverse effects. The OMC offers varieties of medical cannabis, with levels of THC ranging from less than 1% to approximately 22% and CBD ranging from less than 1% to approximately 9%. Nabiximols and Dronabinol are also approved for use. Norway [33] – Cannabis is not authorized for medical use. On November 2016, Norway introduced new instructions by which cannabis can be prescribed for patients via a special permit. Only doctors working in hospitals can apply with a request for medical cannabis and there is no limit to specific indications. Each request is sent to the Norwegian Medicines Agency for approval and it must state why the patient cannot be treated with other approved drugs, including approved cannabinoid-based medicines. After approval, cannabis is sent from the Dutch company "Bedrocan" to a Norwegian pharmacist, which supplies the cannabis to the patient.
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