Research into the medicinal effects of cannabis should be continued for a further five years, health minister Ab Klink said on Wednesday.

The extension means there is a serious chance a medicine with cannabis as a raw material can be developed, a ministry spokesman said.
People have been able to buy cannabis on prescription since 2003. The marijuana is grown under government supervision.
According to the government’s official medicinal cannabis website, it is used to help patients with problems with spasticity, chronic pain, who are undergoing chemo- or radiotheraphy and with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.