KIEV, June 7. /TASS/. Ukrainian government authorized use of Marijuana for medicinal and scientific purposes, Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko announced Tuesday.
"The cabinet supported the bill ‘On regulation of circulation of Cannabis genus plants for medical, industrial purposes and scientific purposes and creation of conditions for expansion of patients’ access to necessary treatment of oncologic conditions and combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder," he said on his page in Facebook (outlawed in Russia, since it is owned by Meta, deemed extremis in Russia).
According to the Minister, a large number of people will require treatment with this plant.
"We understand the negative effect of combat on mental health. We understand the number of people who will require medical treatment of this effect. And we understand that there is no time to wait. So we have already prepared legal basis to ensure full cycle of production of cannabis remedies in Ukraine: from growing and refining to full production," he underscored.
Lyashko added that cannabis-based medicines do not contain the substance that could make them "interesting for recreational use." The cabinet also proposed to introduce strict supervision over growing, production and sale of these medicines.
"[We must] make our own, Ukrainian, instead of importing," the Minister called.
The bill on legalization of medical marijuana was registered in Verkhovna Rada in June 2021. While running as a presidential candidate Vladimir Zelensky advocated its legalization. On July 12, 2021, Zelensky asked the Rada to prioritize reviewing this issue. The vote on the bill failed the next day.