The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading draft law No. 7457 on legalising medical cannabis.
Medical cannabis has been legalized in Ukraine
MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak published a photo of the screen in the Rada with the results of voting for the draft law in the second reading.
"Servant of the People" gave 178 votes, "Voice" — 19, "Platform for Life and Peace" — 10, "Restoration of Ukraine" — 12, "For the Future" — 7, and "Trust" — 12.
None of the "EU" and "Batkivschyna" fractions supported this draft law. A total of 238 people's deputies voted for it.
The law enters into force six months after its publication. Therefore, it is somewhere in the second half of 2024, Zheleznyak wrote.
What preceded it
Ukraine is on a long and gradual path to the legalization of medical cannabis, which is used in the production of medicines. After adopting the draft law, the government is given six months to develop all by-laws and orders to make this law work.
Before that, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine made 882 amendments to draft law No. 7457 on legalizing medical cannabis.
In July, the Verkhovna Rada adopted this bill in the first reading.
The Parliamentary Committee on the Health of the Nation recommended adopting the draft law on legalizing medical cannabis in the second reading with changes.
Please note that medical cannabis will be sold only by electronic prescription. It will not be available over the counter. And what is also essential: the bill directly prohibits recreational cannabis.
Cannabis-based drugs are used to reduce pain, muscle spasms and cramps and treat anorexia, PTSD, and anxiety disorders, as well as in the treatment of certain types of epilepsy, glaucoma, psoriasis, parkinsonism, and multiple sclerosis.
In addition, it is used to relieve pain and suffering in seriously ill and palliative patients, including cancer patients and HIV patients. Together, medical cannabis can be used to help patients with Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, severe chronic pain and nausea.
