On Friday, August 16, a new law came into force in Ukraine legalizing the medical use of marijuana.

The law, signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in February, removes cannabis, cannabis resin, extracts and tinctures from the list of “especially dangerous substances” (List 1) and moves them to the list of “strictly controlled” substances (List 2), lifting the existing ban on placing them on the market, but with certain restrictions.

The law also stipulates that the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in dried straw from medical hemp must be 0.3 percent or more, according to a press release from the Ministry of Health.

Recreational use of marijuana remains illegal in Ukraine.

Buying medical marijuana

Obtaining marijuana-based medications would require an electronic prescription indicating the dosage, form and names of the active ingredients contained.

“Medicines made from medical cannabis are manufactured in a pharmacy and prescribed to patients for whom conventional medications have no therapeutic effect or cause side effects that are poorly tolerated,” the press release states.

The ministry said the products are expected to be available as oral drops, hard capsules and toothpastes. There was no mention of plants or vape oil.

Imports and exports

The new law allows licensed importers with permits from the State Health Service to import the raw materials needed to manufacture the final products in a set quota. There was no mention of exports to other countries.

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Users with valid prescriptions can also take the drugs across the state border, provided the prescribed amount is not exceeded. However, it is not clear whether Ukraine recognizes prescriptions from other countries where medical marijuana has also been legalized.

In addition, it could pose a legal risk if the neighboring country does not recognize the use of medical marijuana when crossing the border.

Cultivation conditions and licensing

Ukraine has also developed licensing mechanisms for the cultivation of medical marijuana, which must be reviewed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

“In addition, the entire distribution chain of medical cannabis, from import or cultivation to dispensing to a patient in a pharmacy, will be subject to licensing controls.

“The requirements for the cultivation of plants of the genus hemp include cultivation in closed soil conditions, the provision of 24-hour video surveillance with free access to it for the National Police, and compliance with good cultivation and harvesting practices for plant sources (GACP),” the press release states.

Also, to purchase plant seeds, a quality certificate and registration in the State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Distribution in Ukraine are required. State laboratories conduct tests for THC content to ensure state control over the process.

The authorities are also developing an electronic inventory system, expected to be operational this fall, that will track the entire production and purchasing process.

“The system will contain information on the production of medicinal cannabis seeds, sowing, cloning, planting of plants and planting material, sending samples for laboratory testing, collecting plants, transportation, purchasing, manufacturing of medicines, waste disposal, dispensing at a pharmacy, etc.

“Seeds, planting material, plants, pharmacy preparations, medicines, waste, etc. are subject to accounting,” the ministry said.

As the Kyiv Post reported in December 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization estimated that up to seven million people in Ukraine may need cannabis-based medicines, including military personnel with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), civilians with pain, and patients with cancer and epilepsy.