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Pese al poco tiempo que lleva al frente del Ministerio de Sanidad, María Luisa Carcedo ha descartado en varias ocasiones la posibilidad de regular el uso medicinal del cannabis.

En los once meses que lleva como ministra de Sanidad, tres de ellos en funciones tras la celebración de elecciones generales, María Luisa Carcedo ha recopilado escasas polémicas. Sin embargo, ha habido algunas cuestiones sanitarias sobre las que ha evitado pronunciarse en demasía debido a la negativa que manifiesta a su regulación. La legalización del uso terapéutico del cannabis es una de ellas.

Ha sido este lunes cuando Carcedo ha expresado de nuevo su opinión tras ser preguntada por los medios. En esta ocasión, ha afirmado que regular esta iniciativa "no está en la agenda del PSOE" pese a indicar al mismo tiempo que el consumo de esta sustancia ha repuntado en España junto al tabaco. Para la titular sanitaria, también hace falta una mayoría parlamentaria para que salga adelante.

A pesar de esta negativa, la discusión en torno a este asunto está presente en la formación socialista. Como muestra de ello es que incluyeron en el programa electoral que presentaron para los comicios de abril una medida al respecto. En concreto, proponían crear una comisión de estudio "para abrir un debate en profundidad sobre el conocimiento del cannabis y sus efectos sobre la salud".

Despite the short time María Luisa Carcedo has been leading the Ministry of Health, has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of regulating medical cannabis.

In the 11 months that she has been leading the Ministry, has compiled a few controversies. However there have been some issues on which she has avoided pronouncing herself too much due to the refusal the party manifests to Medical Cannabis regulation.

It was Monday when Carcedo has expressed her opinion after being asked by the media. On this occassion, she said that "regulating this initiative is not on PSOE´s agenda" despite indicating at the same time that consumption of this substance has rebounded in Spain along with tobacco. For the head of Health Ministry, a parliamentary majority is also needed to move forward.

Despite this refusal, the discussion around this issue is present in the socialist formation. As proof of this is that they included a meassure in this regard, in the electoral program that they presented last elections. Specifically, they proposed creating "a study commission to open an in-depth debate on cannabis knowledge and its effects on health"

Previously, María Luisa Carcedo had already emerged as the voice of PSOE in relation to this proposal. Last December, and without elections being called yet, the Minister gave a binder to the legalization of medical cannabis during the present term "We don´t have it on the agenda" she claimed, while calificating the medical use of cannabis as "fashionable" stating that "there is no scientific evidence in this regard".

This position is not shared by several opposition parties. Ciudadanos has defended medical cannabis during the past legislature on numerous occasions and has led to some disagreements with the Ministry of Health related to this matter. In addition, they also included in their electoral program their regulation, based on "the recommendations of scientific societies consistent with therapeutic evidence".

On the other hand, Unidas Podemos announced that they are working on the draft of a law that regulates "integral access to medical cannabis to patients and that represents an advance in the fight against black market". Meanwhile the Spanish Medical Cannabis Observatory accuse PSOE and PP of blocking advances in this matter.

Another petition has emerged from the European Parliament, where through a non-legislative resolution they have requested that the medical use of cannabis be considerated. It should be remembered, on the other hand, that 84% of Spanish citizens are in favor compared to 9.2% who are against it, according to a CIS survey.