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Ex-Ukrainian PM challenges parliament's move to legalize medical marijuana

The lawmaker pointed out that Ukraine had long approved of the use of cannabis for medical purposes, particularly in treatment of cancer and epilepsy patients, and there was no need for additional laws

MOSCOW, December 22. /TASS/. Yulia Timoshenko, former Ukrainian prime minister and leader of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party's faction in the Verkhovna Rada (parliament), has submitted a bill to parliament seeking to overturn its decision to pass a law legalizing medical cannabis, according to the Rada’s website.

Batkivshchyna’s press service said that Timoshenko planned to appeal the parliament-backed bill legalizing medical marijuana at Ukraine’s Constitutional Court.

The lawmaker pointed out that Ukraine had long approved of the use of cannabis for medical purposes, particularly in treatment of cancer and epilepsy patients, and there was no need for additional laws. According to Timoshenko, "this is not about medical treatment because trillion dollar narcotic drug businesses and drug cartels will bribe their way into the country and a major drug trafficking ring will be established throughout Ukraine."

On Thursday, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada passed the second reading of the bill to legalize medical marijuana. Only the parliamentary factions of the Batkivshchyna and European Solidarity parties, led by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former President Pyotr Poroshenko, respectively, did not support the bill. Nevertheless, it was passed with 248 Rada members voting yes.

The bill was initially registered in the Rada in June 2021. The legalization of marijuana was advocated by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. On July 13, the Rada passed the first reading of the bill. According to Rada member Olga Stefanyshina, who initiated the bill in 2021, at least six mln Ukrainians diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses and disorders were in need of cannabis-based drugs.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out that the situation with narcotic substances in Ukraine was rapidly deteriorating. Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that this was the result of thoughtless steps by the local authorities to liberalize control over drugs and large-scale deliveries of psychotropic drugs under the guise of Western humanitarian aid.

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