Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has proposed the legalization of cannabis-derived medications during an address to the Ukrainian Parliament, reports Ukrainska Pravda.
Zelensky stressed Ukraine’s aspiration to become a leader in Europe’s mental and physical rehabilitation sector, emphasizing the establishment of rehabilitation centers and adequate training for personnel in the industry.
“All world practices, regardless of complexity or novelty, should be implemented in Ukraine to spare our citizens from the pain, stress, and trauma of war,” Zelensky noted.
“In particular, we must finally honestly legalize cannabis-based medicine for everyone who needs it, [with] the relevant scientific research and controlled Ukrainian manufacturing,” Zelensky added.
Efforts to legalize medical cannabis faced a setback in July 2021 when parliament rejected a bill then. However, a similar bill was reintroduced in June 2022 and is currently under consideration.
The war with Russia could could see the legalization push picking up speed, Global Cannabis Times reported in early June. Minister of Healthcare Viktor Liashko said then that Ukraine’s cabinet had approved a bill “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.”