Harmonizing health logistics: A digital framework for balancing medical cannabis demand and supply

Cannabis is well recognized in the medical field despite numerous controversies surrounding it. Its cultivation certainly has economic importance, but regulation is complex. Standardized practices are crucial across the value chain, with traceability vital for monitoring its use. This study introduces a digital medical cannabis framework aimed at balancing the demand and supply. The systematic review incorporates articles, policies and law documentations to identify the factors confirmed by the expert panel. A total of 12 experts from medical, agricultural and technological fields, each holding executive management positions, participated in the semi-structured interviews. The agreement and consensus were determined using the content validity index. The findings show that the medical cannabis supply chain visibility is needed to share data for quality assurance, monitoring and governance. Raw materials, resources, finished goods, expertise, logistics and eligible patient profiles should be transferred in real time from supplier to patient. Transparency, safety and good decision-making need to be promoted. The digital management solution delivers rigorous monitoring and tracing, improves pharmacovigilance, and adapts to national health policies and reimbursement standards. Sharing accurate information with stakeholders encourages centralized management as a farm-to-research-and-clinical service. Demand forecasting is essential for setting production quotas to avoid overproduction and abuse. This paper presents a comprehensive perspective and insights into the medical cannabis supply chain. It contributes to the interdisciplinary knowledge of logistics, health systems and technology management. The proposed framework encourages regulatory trust and fosters engagement among diverse stakeholders, with digital technology serving as the primary facilitator. It emphasizes the crucial role of central administration in enabling demand-supply balancing.