Rada passes bill on cannabis legalisation in the second reading

Commercial cannabis cultivation. Photo: "Gordon"

On 21 December 2023, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading bill 7457 on cannabis legalisation in Ukraine. The draft law was favoured by 248 deputies, reports Radio Liberty.

The initiator of the bill is Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The law envisages the legalisation of medical cannabis and is officially titled: “On regulating the circulation of cannabis plants for medical, industrial purposes, scientific and scientific-technical activities to create the conditions for expanding the access of patients to the necessary treatment of cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from war”.

The bill passed its first reading on 13 July, but in November, MPs introduced almost several hundred amendments to the bill, thus blocking it. Nevertheless, on 20 December, parliament considered more than 800 amendments and prepared the bill for adoption.

According to MP Maria Mezentseva, today more than 70% of Ukrainians support the legalisation of cannabis, and about six million patients need cannabis-based medicines.

The bill suggests that doctors will now be able to write prescriptions for medicines containing cannabis. Those with such a prescription and supporting diagnosis will be able to enter and leave the country with cannabis-based medicines in small quantities. Institutions and entrepreneurs who obtain a licence will be able to buy, transport, store, dispense, use and destroy narcotic drugs.

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