This article first appeared in Forbes Magazine on 21 December 2023

Ukraine's Parliament has approved the draft law that legalizes the use of cannabis for medicinal, industrial, and research purposes.

In a historic move, the Ukrainian Parliament, also known as the Verkhovna Rada or simply the Rada, adopted draft law No. 7457 on the legalization of medical cannabis in its entirety today during its second reading.

The document received approval, with 248 MPs voting in favor of its adoption. The draft law had previously been approved during its first reading on July 13 of this year.

While the law will regulate the circulation of cannabis for medical, industrial, and scientific activities, recreational cannabis will still be illegal.

It has been over a year since Ukraine's Health Minister, Viktor Liashko, announced that the government supported the bill to legalize medical cannabis amid the war with Russia.

While the draft law to legalize medical cannabis in Ukraine was introduced before the Russian invasion of the country on February 24, 2022, the consequences of the war on the population and the army personnel prompted lawmakers to quickly advance the proposed legislation.

As explained in a speech before the Verkhovna Rada in June, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the impact of efforts to resist the Russian invasion. These efforts have led to numerous casualties, injuries, and significant damage to towns and infrastructure. Additionally, many in the Ukrainian population have experienced unseen emotional and psychological hardships.

#