This report was first published in the New Voice of Ukraine on 24 May 2024.

The Cabinet of Ministers has excluded cannabis, its oils, and extracts from the official list of banned substances, Ukraine’s Healthcare Ministry announced on 24 May 2024.

Additionally, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been removed from the list of dangerous psychotropic substances whose circulation is prohibited. THC is now included in the list of restricted narcotic drugs. Its use is permitted for educational, scientific, and technical uses, including the production of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and pharmaceuticals for future medical applications.

According to the ministry, the corresponding decree is key to implementing the recently passed law that legalized medical cannabis.

The decree specifies that Ukraine will allow the cultivation of cannabis plants, particularly for medical purposes, although it will remain regulated.

Read also: Zelenskyy signs medical cannabis legalization into law

On 16 January 2024, the Ukrainian parliament passed medical cannabis legalization. The law comes into effect on 16 August 2024.

On 12 July 2023, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine urged the adoption of the law on legalizing medical cannabis-based medications, emphasizing that Ukraine should employ the best and most effective medical practices from around the world.

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