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.
In 2025, the deadliest year yet for civilians, Ukraine’s three largest charitable foundations raised a record 105.9 billion hryvnias. It is more than the years 2022–2024 combined. According to the UN, humanitarian aid in Ukraine was delivered by more than 450 organisations, reaching five million people over the course of the year. Civic foundations hold licences to purchase lethal weapons, which is a function states have monopolised for centuries. These record sums were underwritten by international government grants, which means foreign states now channel billions directly through Ukrainian civic funds, bypassing inter-state channels. It is hard to imagine a stronger institutional trust in civil society.
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