Albania to Legalize the Cultivation of Medical Cannabis
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania has voted in favor of approving a bill to legalize the production of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes.
This news has been reported by Cannabis Health News.
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania has voted in favor of approving a bill to legalize the production of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes. The Ministry of Health in the Balkan country stated that the aim of the initiative is to regulate control and supervision over the cultivation, production, processing, and export of medical and industrial marijuana, including by-products and final products.
According to the proposed regulations, an applicant will be allocated a maximum of 10 hectares and a minimum of 1 hectare for cultivating this crop for medical and industrial purposes. A new specialized agency will be established to oversee regulation.
The legalization of medical cannabis has been a subject of debate in Albania for some time. In early 2022, at the request of Prime Minister Edi Rama, a nationwide survey was conducted to gauge public opinion on cannabis. The survey showed that 61% expressed support for the legalization of medical and industrial cannabis. However, the survey faced criticism from some skeptics who doubted the independence of its authors.
As previously reported by The Gaze, the planned introduction of a legal regulated cannabis market in the Czech Republic may end up in the European Court, according to Jindřich Vobořil, the coordinator of national drug policy, speaking at the Cannabis Summit conference in Prague. However, he stated that he considers it the best option, as it has been proven that prohibition does not work and only brings costs and risks.
The project prepared by Vobořil includes permission for domestic and commercial cultivation of hemp, the creation of special clubs for recreational use, and licensing sales in stores to individuals aged 18 and above.
It is worth noting that in June 2022, a bill to legalize medical cannabis was re-registered in the Ukrainian Parliament. The bill had previously been supported by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Ministry of Health emphasized that medical cannabis is capable of alleviating patients' suffering and improving their treatment, as it eases the symptoms of over 50 pathological conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from armed conflicts.