The Dutch Office of Medicinal Cannabis (DOMC) is a government organization responsible for the availability of medicinal cannabis in pharmacies. This medicinal cannabis is used for medicinal and scientific purposes. Through the DOMC, Dutch pharmacies provide their customers, whom have a doctor’s prescription, with medicinal cannabis (MC). The agency is led by Dr. Marco Van de Velde, medical biologist, and is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Sport.
Patrick Dewals: Doctor van de Velde how long has the DOMC existed?
Dr. Marco Van de Velde: In 1998, the former minister decided to set up the bureau. But because of the regulatory and legislative work associated with the drafting of a new government agency, it took until 2001 before the office was actually installed and only in September 2003 came the first MC on the market.
PD: What are the different functions of the DOMC?