Ukrainian Health Ministry Supports Medical Cannabis Bill
In a significant move towards modernizing its medical cannabis policy, the Ukrainian Health Ministry has recently expressed its support for a medical cannabis bill. This bill was originally proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has been a subject of discussion for some time now. The endorsement from the Health Ministry provides a much-needed boost for the policy modernization efforts, which have been stagnant in recent years.
Details of the Bill
According to international reporting, Deputy Health Minister Ihor Kuzin announced support for President Zelenskyy’s plan to legalize cannabis-based medicines in some instances. Kuzin stated that drugs in healthcare are used to treat chronic pain and a large number of countries have already made changes in their legislation to recognize and use cannabis for treatment purposes. This statement was reported by the UrduPoint Network.
President Zelenskyy's Pledge
President Zelenskyy pledged to reform Ukraine’s medical cannabis policies during his 2019 presidential campaign. However, a measure failed to gain enough votes in 2021. The Ukrainian cabinet later endorsed President Zelenskyy’s effort to permit cannabis cultivation for medical use and scientific research purposes in June 2022.
What the Ukrainian cabinet approved was a draft law, and in order for the measure to be officially adopted, it will still require approval by Ukraine’s Parliament. President Zelenskyy made an additional call to action, emphasizing the need to legalize cannabis-based medicines for all those who need them, with appropriate scientific research and controlled Ukrainian production. This was first reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
Global Trend Towards Cannabis Policy Modernization
A growing number of countries around the world are modernizing their cannabis policies, with medical cannabis reform being particularly widespread now. Compared to other nations with medical cannabis programs in operation, what is being proposed in Ukraine is fairly limited. However, this move is a significant step towards recognizing the potential benefits of medical cannabis.
