On Friday, July 21, 2023, the Albanian Parliament legalized medical cannabis, despite fierce opposition from some members of parliament. This new law allows the cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of medicinal cannabis and its use for therapeutic purposes. It also provides for the creation of a government agency responsible for regulating the medicinal cannabis industry. According to the UN, in 2022, Albania was ranked 7th in the world among the largest producers of illegal cannabis. The government of Europe’s largest illegal cannabis producer has finally legalized medical cannabis. As announced last October, the government of Europe’s largest illegal cannabis producer has finally legalized medical cannabis. The law was passed with 64 votes in favor and 30 votes against. Opposition parties voted against the law, claiming it would pave the way for recreational cannabis use. They also expressed concern about the potential effects of cannabis on public health.The government stated that this law would allow Albanians to access effective treatment for a range of medical conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, nausea, and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.
The government further stated that this regulation would create new jobs and generate revenue for the Albanian economy. The legalization of medicinal cannabis in Albania is an important step toward the decriminalization of cannabis. It demonstrates that more and more countries are recognizing the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and are willing to use it to support human well-being. A few additional details of this new law are as follows:
The law permits the cultivation,production, distribution, and sale of medical cannabis for therapeutic purposes only; This regulation provides for the creation of a government agency responsible for regulating the medical cannabis industry; Sanctions are planned for those who break the law, including imprisonment and fines;
The list of conditions to be treated and the products to be approved by this agency are not yet known. However, it is clear that the legalization of medicinal cannabis in Albania is a historic decision.
It is tangible proof that Central European countries have an important role to play between the two major prohibitionist states, Russia and France, and also in the face of an increasingly conservative Italy.
It is quite possible that other countries, such as North Macedonia and Kosovo, will follow Albania’s example in the coming years. In short, France, a model student of social responsibility in medicine and association law, has been overtaken by Albania in the area of cannabis and medicine. In other words, a country where organized crime, corruption, and counterfeiting are rampant can legally cultivate, process, import, and even export medical cannabis to companies worldwide.
Source:https://lecannabiste.com/lalbanie-vient-de-legaliser-le-cannabis-medical/.
