BREAKING: Medical Marijuana Approved As Ukrainian Parliament Unblocks Legalization Bill

The Ukrainian Parliament has successfully unblocked the signing of a medical marijuana legalization bill, MP Yaroslav Zalizniak reported on Telegram, according to the New Voice of Ukraine.

The news comes nearly a month after Ukraine's unicameral parliament, the Verkhovna Rada' passed a bill on the legalization of medical marijuana. The very next day, the bill was approved in a 248-16 vote then hit a roadblock as the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) parliamentary faction obstructed the bill’s approval,

In June 2023 Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his support for legalizing medical marijuana. He said at the time that Ukraine should undertake an effort to create the best mental and physical rehabilitation sector in Europe by building centers and educating personnel.

The law is still not fully backed by the opposition parties Batkivshchyna and European Solidarity. Yulia Tymoshenko, Batkivshchyna leader who has opposed the reform, said that the party plans to appeal to the Constitutional Court to annul the vote, because "the amendments to the bill were considered in a half-empty chamber." Among the reasons Tymoshenko opposes the legislation is the belief that the measure "legalizes drug trafficking and the drug mafia in the country."

What does the bill do? 

Under bill 7457 the "circulation of varieties of plants of the hemp genus (Cannabis) for medical purposes, products of their processing and medicines produced (made) from them is allowed in scientific and scientific and technical activities, as well as in medical practice," previously reported Ukrainian News.

Recreational cannabis remains illegal and will be treated as a crime and investigated by the police in accordance with the law.

See Also: Ukraine Ministry Of Finance Working On Proposals For Hemp Taxation 

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