Denmark's Medical Cannabis Pilot Programme Sees 90% Surge in Patient Numbers

Denmark’s Medical Cannabis Pilot Programme has experienced an extraordinary 90% surge in patient participation between Q2 2022 and Q2 2023, marking a remarkable growth in the scheme’s scope.

Unprecedented Growth and Key Drivers

The Danish Health Data Authority’s recent findings reveal a staggering increase in patient enrollment, solidifying the Pilot Programme’s position as the country’s largest access scheme for medical cannabis.

This surge aligns with the introduction of Stenocare’s cannabis oil formulations to the scheme, signifying a notable shift from cannabis flower to oils.

Overview of Denmark’s Access Schemes

Denmark offers several access schemes for medical cannabis, each with distinct regulations and prescriptions:

The Magistral Scheme: Initiated in 2016, this scheme served as the primary route for patients seeking legal treatment via cannabis, focusing on individualized formulations prepared in licensed pharmacies. Stenocare noted that only two pharmacies hold licenses under this scheme, handling the majority of prescriptions, predominantly formulated with CBD and THC isolates.
The Pilot Program: Launched in 2018 and scheduled until 2025, this program expanded patient access to medical cannabis. It permits any doctor to prescribe cannabis for any condition without specialized training, offering unlicensed medicines, including cannabis herbal teas and Stenocare’s oil formulations.
Pharmaceutical Scheme: This scheme enables access to GW Pharmaceuticals’ Sativex and Epidyolex products specifically for patients with multiple sclerosis and rare forms of epilepsy, authorized by the Danish Medicines Agency. Although it serves fewer patients, the scheme generates substantial revenue due to the high costs of Epidyolex.

Shifting Trends and Market Dynamics

Recent data indicate a significant shift in patient preferences, with the pilot program experiencing remarkable growth and surpassing the magistral and pharmaceutical schemes.

The surge in the Pilot Programme’s participation has been at the expense of declining numbers in the other two schemes, attributed partly to the full-spectrum cannabis products available within the Pilot Programme.

Emerging Preference for Medical Cannabis Oils

Stenocare highlighted a growing inclination towards medical cannabis oils, considering them a more medically acceptable alternative to smoking joints, aligning with patient and doctor preferences in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

The company plans to launch a third oil variant to cater to this rising demand for non-inhalable medical cannabis products.