Medical cannabis law goes into effect in Ukraine
Source: Ukraine’s health ministry
Now it’s official, the new law regulating medical cannabis use officially took effect in Ukraine on August 16, said the country’s health ministry on Friday. This legislation allows the use of cannabis for “medical, industrial, and scientific purposes”, lifting previous restrictions on cannabis resin, extracts, and tinctures.
Removing cannabis from the list of highly dangerous substances, the policy aims to help patients with severe illnesses and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from the nation’s ongoing conflict with Russia. There are still some no-go things in place. For instance, dried medical cannabis must have a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of at least 0.3%.
Ukraine’s goverenment is planning to review licensing conditions for cultivating medical cannabis in Ukraine. The entire supply chain will be under tight control—from import to pharmacy sales. Businesses can expect round-the-clock video surveillance with access for the National Police, indoor cultivation requirements, and strict seed purchase protocols.
The government will also oversee medical cannabis distribution, including secure transport and transparency through a new electronic system set to be unveiled this fall. Every transaction will be filed the following day, and prescriptions can be issued electronically for patients who cannot use other treatments or experience severe side effects.
In a move to make things easier, Ukraine’s health ministry said it will allow people entering or exiting Ukraine, or traveling through, to carry medical cannabis medications for personal use, as long as the amount matches their doctor’s prescription.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.