Photo taken on Nov. 19, 2018 shows Deputy Minister of Economy and Development Stergios Pitsiorlas (L) and Minister of Health Andreas Xanthos announcing at a press conference to grant the first batch of licenses to two private firms for growing medical cannabis in Athens, Greece. The two licenses will involve an investment of 9.5 million euros (10.8 million U.S. dollars) and 12.5 million euros (14.2 million U.S. dollars) respectively, creating a total of 117 jobs. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
By Natasha Pavlopoulou
ATHENS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The news of the Greek government granting the first batch of licenses to two private firms for growing medical cannabis in the country has been greeted warmly by patients and businesses alike.
Giannis Gkotsis, sales manager at CBD Oil Shop in the busy neighborhood of Kypseli in downtown Athens which offers a full range of CBD (cannabidiol) products for the treatment of a wide range of illnesses, is one of them.
"The new legislation opens new windows for treating patients with prescribed medical cannabis. It will be a benefit for them because the pharmaceutical formulations are expensive and from now on they can get their treatment in a different way. I certainly think that many things will change," Gkotsis told Xinhua on Wednesday.
The company started its business in 2017 and now has 18 franchise stores all over Greece.
It all started from an idea of Giorgos Papakonstantantis, co-owner of the company. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 22, and started the classical treatment recommended at the time.
He battled but the illness reappeared later. He realized that all the treatments suggested by the doctors had no effect. So he decided to try cannabis oils.
Very soon the results showed that the illness had stopped progressing and his tumors were decreasing by as much as 60 percent. He then decided to open the CBD Oil Shop along with his childhood friend Harris Christoforatos, to help patients with similar problems to experience alternative treatment without side effects.
On Monday Greece formally issued licenses for the cultivation and processing of medical cannabis.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference by Minister of Health Andreas Xanthos, Deputy Minister of Economy and Development Stergios Pitsiorlas and Deputy Minister of Agricultural Development and Food, Vassilis Kokkalis.
"Today we have the first two licenses," Pitsiorlas said. Biomecann SA will start cannabis production in the region of Larissa in central Greece, while Bioprocann SA, will base its cultivation in Corinth in the south. The two licenses will involve an investment of 9.5 million euros (10.8 million U.S. dollars) and 12.5 million euros (14.2 million U.S. dollars) respectively, creating a total of 117 jobs.
Twelve more companies, both Greek and joint ventures, will be granted licenses by the end of this year, creating about 770 new jobs and representing a total investment of 185 million euros (210.8 million U.S. dollars), the minister added. The licenses are valid for five years and will be revised annually.
Explaining the government position on medical cannabis, Pitsiorlas said, one is for the right of patients who have scientifically proven evidence for receiving cannabis to improve their quality of life and the symptoms of their illness, another is for the economic benefits and the comparative advantages cultivation for its cultivation in Greece in terms of climate, soil, etc.
"The announcement of the first licenses for the establishment of pharmaceutical cannabis in our country proves that Greece is now friendlier to investments, as a strict but flexible law is being implemented in the short term," said Kokkalis.
Last year, the Greek government authorized the import of several products based on medical marijuana, as well as cannabis cultivation for industrial purposes.
The prescription of cannabis for medical purposes is now legal in many European countries, with companies joining the multi-billion-dollar global industry.
