Ukraine might depend on cannabis imports for years
Added on 19 January 2024
That might open the door to import-export opportunities for local and international businesses looking to match supply with demand, at least in the early years of the Ukraine market.
Even though the bill was approved in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s Parliament, a substantial amount of work would need to be done before any medical cannabis could be sold legally in the country.
That’s because the law defines the general scope of activities that will be possible – including for businesses – but it does not spell out the exact rules.
“The law provides citizens with access to the necessary treatment for serious illnesses, including cancer and post-traumatic stress disorders caused by war,” Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of Ukraine’s Parliament, said in a statement.
“The list of conditions and methods of using cannabis medicines will be determined by the Ministry of Health.”
The product types and qualifications to prescribe cannabis also are among the details that must be defined.
What is known is that medical cannabis will be distributed in pharmacies to patients with certain conditions and a prescription from a physician, meaning Ukraine’s medical marijuana market will more closely resemble pharma-focused European regulatory models than North American ones, which generally prioritize access and private enterprise.
Ukraine’s law sets an aggressive timeline for implementation.
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