The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine may legalize medical cannabis as early as November. The relevant committee has already prepared the draft law for the second reading.
Mykhailo Radutskyi, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Care and Health Insurance, said this in a commentary to RBC-Ukraine.
According to him, the committee took into account all the amendments to the draft law and approved it at a meeting on November 4.
“All the comments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, public and patient organizations have been taken into account. In the opinion of the committee and experts, this draft law is the most balanced of the versions that have been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada,” said the MP.
He noted that the opponents of the legislative initiative are likely to try to prevent the adoption of the document.
“However, at the same time, I assume that this month it may already be adopted,” Radutsky said.
The MP reminded that according to the Ministry of Health and WHO, about 7 million people need medical cannabis. These include military personnel with PTSD, cancer patients, and epilepsy patients.
According to him, there are only two drugs in the world to relieve severe pain, and they cost about $380 and 220 euros.
“The state will not be able to provide everyone with such drugs. That is why medical cannabis is being legalized so that Ukraine can produce medicines based on medical cannabis on its own and so that cancer patients can, for example, receive painkillers like cannabis instead of morphine,” the MP explained.
What preceded it
In July 2021, the Verkhovna Rada did not support the draft law on medical cannabis No. 5596. The document was returned for revision. At the time, MP Mykola Kniazhytskyi emphasized that the draft law on cannabis should clearly spell out control over hemp cultivation.
In November 2021, the draft law on medical cannabis was submitted for public discussion.
On June 10, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada registered a government bill on medical cannabis under the number 7457. Before that, the government supported the legalization of medical cannabis in Ukraine.
A number of Ukrainian civil society organizations demanded that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the draft law. The draft law titled “On Regulation of the Turnover of Cannabis Plants for Medical, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Purposes to Create Conditions for Expanding Patients’ Access to the Necessary Treatment of Cancer and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Caused by War” does not provide for full legalization, but allows the use of the plant only for medical and scientific purposes.
The explanatory note to the draft law states that the expediency of therapeutic use of cannabis has been confirmed by scientists for such conditions. palliative care (mainly cannabis-based medicines are used to alleviate a range of symptoms in cancer patients in need of help, including pain relief, eating disorders, and sleep).
On July 7, the Ministry of Health announced its support for the bill on the legalization of medical cannabis, and on July 13, the Verkhovna Rada supported the document in the first reading.
