Within the field of health there is strict legislation that must be complied with. The objective is to guarantee that the service offered to patients is of quality and to avoid unnecessary risks. In addition, it is necessary for doctors to pass a long academic training that extends beyond the hospital. In case of any failure they can receive fines such as that caused by prescribing cannabis without the corresponding permit.
All part of the fact that Every April 20, World Cannabis Day is commemorated. The goal is to talk about its benefits and get more and more countries to regulate its consumption for different purposes.
First consumption in the world
Based on the World Health Organization (WHO), there are old reports on the medical use of this plant in Asia, Southeast Asia and India. More recently, some documents can be found reporting possible indications for numerous cannabis preparations and in the United States, two cannabinoid medical uses have been accepted (for refractory nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy and for loss of appetite in anorexia (HIV/AIDS) patients.
Regarding Mexico, Since 2021 its use has been approved for medicinal purposes. As in any situation, it is necessary to carry out a prior review of the patient to identify the origin of their discomfort. Combined with a questionnaire that includes key questions, you will obtain enough elements to make a correct decision. This always implies prescribing only the appropriate options and doses to achieve a prompt solution.
If you do not do it in the precise way, there is a risk of possible relapses or partial and not total recoveries. Although there is also a legal framework that you must respect to avoid falling into offenses that can be sanctioned. If that happens, there are various accusations that can be made against you and that affects your credibility and medical prestige.
Procedure that you must carry out in order to prescribe medical cannabis
With regard to medical cannabis, after it was tested by the Chamber of Senators, the rules that must be followed were also established. The fundamental thing that is mentioned is that in order to prescribe this therapeutic option you need to obtain the barcode for the special prescriptions. For this, it is necessary to submit an application to the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris). Detailed requirements can be found at this link.
But now there is a very important part that must be mentioned and it is about the consequences that you as a doctor can receive for not following the established protocol. This refers to what happens when a health professional is detected prescribing medical cannabis to a patient who does not need it or simply when it is a doctor who does not have a special prescription.
How much are the fines for prescribing cannabis without permission?
Based on the provisions of Cofepris, each case will be reviewed to identify the seriousness of the fault incurred. While the regulation indicates a fine of up to 500 days of minimum wage, that is, just over 70 thousand pesos. Although if it is detected that the fault is serious, it can reach up to 25 years in prison.
For its part, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) called on Mexico. He recalled that he is a signatory to international treaties that contemplate cannabis only for medical reasons. Therefore, there must be strict surveillance to ensure that this condition is respected.
With the above in mind, it is necessary to abide by current legislation to avoid problems. In addition to the fines for prescribing cannabis without permission, your medical reputation is also affected.