Netherlands makes cannabis a prescription drug

The Netherlands will this week become the world's first country to make cannabis available as a prescription drug in pharmacies to treat chronically ill patients.

The country's 1650 pharmacies can sell cannabis to sufferers of cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Tourette's Syndrome in a ground-breaking acceptance of the drug's medicinal use.

As well as pharmacies, 80 hospitals and 400 doctors will be allowed to dispense 5 gram doses of SIMM18 medical marijuana for 44 euros ($84.69) a tub and more potent Bedrocan at 50 euros.