The Verkhovna Rada has passed a bill legalizing medical cannabis. Once the law comes into force, Ukraine will start using cannabis to treat cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other disorders. Find out more about how to get the medicine

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UPD: Ukrainian MPs from Yulia Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna faction have blocked the signing of a law on the use of cannabis for medical purposes. The parliament plans to reconvene in January 2024.

On Thursday, December 21, in the second reading, the Verkhovna Rada voted for the Law legalizing medical cannabis in Ukraine. After the document enters into force, Ukrainians who need special drugs made on the basis of cannabis will be able to get the necessary help. The drugs are used for the treatment of oncological diseases and post-traumatic and other disorders.

What exactly did the government allow? How to get treatment? We tell in detail in our material.

How did the Verkhovna Rada legalize medical cannabis?

Ukrainian legislation in matters of drug policy is based on the "List of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors". After the adoption of the new draft law, the substance cannabidiol was removed from the list of "particularly dangerous narcotics, the circulation of which is prohibited" and included in the list of "narcotics, the circulation of which is restricted."

Medical cannabis - what is allowed in Ukraine?

Law 7457, which legalizes medical cannabis in Ukraine, allows:

- to manufacture medicine based on medical cannabis on the territory of Ukraine;

- grow plants in Ukraine for the production of drugs;

- to import medicinal products based on cannabidiol into the state;

- to import into the state raw materials for the manufacture of medicines.

Importantly! It is illegal to distribute cannabis for recreational use.

What will happen after the Verkhovna Rada legalization of medical cannabis?

At the next stage, the law must be signed by the President, and within 6 months the government must prepare all the acts necessary for the law.

- The Ministry of Health will develop electronic treatment protocols, which will indicate the diseases that will be treated with drugs based on medical cannabis.

- The National Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs should amend the government decree and allow the cultivation of hemp, as well as the production of medical preparations.

- The Ministry of Agrarian Policy should create a register of producers of medical cannabis.

In general, medicinal products will begin to be imported into Ukraine after completing the preparation of all necessary documents.

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How will the use of medical cannabis be controlled?

The Verkhovna Rada says that the police and the State Medical Service will strictly control the use of medical cannabis.

In particular, the volume of drug consumption will be checked thanks to the system of electronic prescriptions, which was introduced several years ago.

The production of medicines will also be strictly controlled at all stages. Only legal entities that receive the appropriate license and certificates will be able to grow. Each bush will have individual coding to monitor plant movement.

How can you get cannabis-based medicine?

When the Ministry of Health approves the list of diseases for the treatment of which medical cannabis will be indicated, the doctor will be able to prescribe these drugs.

After completing all the procedures, the patient will receive medication strictly according to an electronic prescription, a paper one will not work.

Medicines will be dispensed only by those pharmacies that have the appropriate license and conditions for storage. Patients will be able to carry and store such drugs only in the quantity specified in a single prescription.

Who will be helped by medical cannabis?

In the world, medical cannabis is used to treat more than 50 different diseases. In particular, in the treatment of chronic pain, epilepsy, anorexia, post-traumatic syndrome, diseases of the immune system, arthritis and rheumatism, asthma, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and many other serious diseases.

According to experts' estimates, 2 million patients needed treatment with these drugs in Ukraine before a full-scale invasion. Currently, the number of people has increased to 6 million.

Why the legalization of medical cannabis is so important, read at the link.

Cannabis-based medicines are authorized in 56 countries, including the EU, Canada, Great Britain and the USA.

The Ministry of Health has repeatedly called on the parliament to adopt this decision, as it will bring the country closer to the European health care system. Therefore, this day is truly historic for many workers in the field of medicine, as well as millions of patients.

We remind you! Health is the most valuable thing a person has. That is why it is so important to protect yourself from unforeseen situations. Health insurance will always help you with this, as it will help you save both money and precious time in case of emergency. Find out what types of insurance exist and how they can help you.

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