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Content:

• Legalization of marijuana in Ukraine
• Why legalization of cannabis in Ukraine is needed: main arguments
• Examples of successful marijuana legalization in the world
• Economic benefits of marijuana legalization in Ukraine
• Potential of marijuana in the medical field
• Possible problems and challenges
• Socio-cultural and moral aspects
• Possible negative consequences
• Need to regulate the marijuana market
• Ukrainian experience and international precedents
• Conclusion

Legalization of marijuana in Ukraine

Hemp (cannabis) is a versatile plant that has long been widely used. The possibility of obtaining a psychoactive marijuana drug from it has put cannabis in a number of crops prohibited for cultivation, including in Ukraine. However, marijuana can also be used for medicinal purposes, and in some cases there is simply nothing to replace it with. Medical and recreational use of cannabis is already legal in a number of countries. But the legalization of marijuana in Ukraine has been stalling for the seventh year. And this is considering that the war in the country has been going on since 2014, and the number of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which cannabis-derived drugs could help, is constantly growing. Only against the background of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, the Cabinet of Ministers supported the bill on the legalization of marijuana in Ukraine, and in June 2022 it was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, but is still awaiting consideration.

The legalization of cannabis is a growing global trend. In a number of countries, not only medical and industrial, but also recreational use of cannabis is already allowed. In our country, this issue is long overdue and requires prompt discussion and consideration by Ukrainian legislators.

Why legalization of cannabis in Ukraine is needed: main arguments

Hemp is a unique plant that, in addition to substances that have a psychoactive effect on the body, contains a lot of useful components:

• minerals - magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, potassium and manganese;
• vitamins of groups A, B, C and E;
• 8 fatty acids, including Omega-3 and Omega-6;
• polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants;
• amino acids.

Substances that affect the nervous system and psyche include:

• tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive substance that causes sensations similar to taking drugs;
• cannabidiol (CBD, in English CBD) - it is not a psychoactive substance, but it affects the nervous system.

The therapeutic effect on the human body in a number of serious diseases is provided not only by CBD, but also by THC. That is why today a growing number of countries are realizing the need to decriminalize the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

The issue of marijuana legalization in Ukraine has been raised since 2015. 30 petitions registered only on the President's website from 2015 to 2018 failed to gain the 25,000 votes required for consideration. The Verkhovna Rada registered bills on the legalization of marijuana in Ukraine four times (2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021), but the deputies did not support any of them.

Examples of successful marijuana legalization in the world

While Ukrainian parliamentarians cannot reach a consensus on the legal use of cannabis, in countries where this issue has already been resolved, drugs are being developed based on products derived from marijuana:

• in the UK, drugs containing cannabinoids have already replaced all traditional anticonvulsants from medical practice, previously used to treat epilepsy;
• US and Israeli scientists jointly develop CBD-based drugs for the treatment of childhood epilepsy;
• Thc products have been used in Israel since 2014 to treat PTSD. According to a rough estimate of experts, today from 600 thousand to 2 million Ukrainians who took part in hostilities, survived bombings, shelling, occupation or captivity need them. The mental health of people who experienced all the horrors of the war depends on whether marijuana is legalized in Ukraine.

At the end of 2020, the UN commission excluded marijuana from the list of especially dangerous drugs. The ban on its use for treatment and relaxation has been lifted in Uruguay, Canada, 11 US states, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Georgia and some other countries.

Today, the use of cannabis and cannabis products is legal in the United States (33 states out of 50), the United Kingdom and Germany, Israel, Italy, the Czech Republic, Australia and Croatia, Poland, Finland, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Mexico and Latin American countries.

Economic benefits from the legalization of marijuana in Ukraine

The legalization of cannabis in Ukraine for medical, industrial, scientific and scientific and technical purposes, as envisaged by draft law No. 7457, will not only ensure access to medicines for patients suffering from severe forms of various diseases, but will also provide a number of economic benefits, including :

• create new jobs related to growing, processing hemp, research and development of drugs and other products, for example, hemp CBD oil or cosmetics;
• providing high-quality raw materials for idle capacities of pharmaceutical enterprises;
• Increase in budget revenues from licensing of cannabis cultivation and processing and taxes.

Potential of marijuana in the medical field

The legalization of medical cannabis in Ukraine will help in the treatment and alleviate the condition of people suffering from a number of diseases:

• oncology - here, cannabis-based drugs can be used not only to relieve pain in cancer patients, but also to relieve nausea that occurs after chemotherapy;
• post-traumatic stress disorder;
• appetite disturbance and associated weight loss in patients with HIV/AIDS;
• Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases;
• multiple sclerosis (to combat spastic symptoms);
• epilepsy, including such rare types as Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome;
• sleep disturbance due to fibromyalgia or sleep apnea;
• chronic pain;
• glaucoma;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• depression and others.

The potential of marijuana is quite large. This is confirmed by studies on the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of COVID-19, conducted in 2022 at the University of Oregon (USA). The legalization of marijuana in Ukraine will open up opportunities for scientific research and Ukrainian medical scientists.

Possible problems and challenges

Along with the positive aspects of the upcoming legalization of medical marijuana in Ukraine, the decriminalization of its cultivation may lead to some problems and challenges that must be taken into account in advance in order to eliminate or minimize their impact.

Socio-cultural and moral aspects

Years of prohibition have made marijuana one of the most dangerous drugs, as young people are more addicted to it. Its legalization in Ukraine may cause an ambiguous reaction from a part of our society, which considers drug use an immoral activity, contrary to Ukrainian cultural traditions.

Explaining to the general population the healing properties of cannabis and its importance for alleviating the condition of people suffering from severe forms of diseases, experiencing pain and experiencing mental disorders caused by the war, has already largely changed the attitude of Ukrainians to the legalization of the medical use of marijuana.

The opinion of the Ukrainian society today is in favor of a positive solution to this issue. The legalization of marijuana in Ukraine, as shown by news about the latest polls, is supported by 78-80% of respondents, of which more than 50% are in favor of the decriminalization of not only medical, but also recreational cannabis.

Possible negative consequences

Regular use of marijuana in case of legalization of its use in medical, and using it for recreational purposes may lead to some undesirable consequences:

• development of dependence on the psychoactive component of cannabis - THC;
• increased drug use;
• development of side effects - long-term cognitive impairment (mild to moderate) or psychosis.

Need to regulate the marijuana market

Naturally, the legalization of marijuana in Ukraine should be regulated by law. The relevant departments will be required to control the quality of cannabis products and preparations, the content of CBD and THC in them.

This should apply to products made from cannabis parts whose distribution and use is regulated by law - the tops of the plant with flowers and fruits, if the resin has not been isolated from them, as well as the cannabis resin itself. Use of leaves, seeds and their products, as well as hemp clothes, and today it is considered legal.

Ukraine experience and international precedents

Today, the use of cannabis in Ukraine is prohibited. In the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 770 dated 05/06/2000 "On approval of the list of narcotic drugs ..." this plant is included in Table 1, which contains psychotropic substances that are completely prohibited for circulation. At the same time, morphine and codeine are in Table 2, substances from which can be used to a limited extent.

Government bill No. 7457 on the legalization of cannabis in Ukraine, filed on 11.06.2022, does not provide for the transfer of cannabis to at least Table 2, but leaves it in the same Table 1, but adds to it a subcategory for narcotic drugs permitted for turnover for medical purposes, which creates a certain legal incident.

Consideration of the bill on the legalization of marijuana in Ukraine is scheduled for the summer of 2023. Perhaps parliamentarians should study and analyze the experience of other countries that have already liberalized their legislation regarding the legal use of cannabis. For example, in the United States, medical cannabis can only be purchased at specialized pharmacies, and for recreational use it is banned at the federal level, but allowed in 11 states. There, its storage is limited to 1 ounce (28.4 g), and interstate movement is prohibited by federal law.

Conclusion

Discussion and consideration in the Verkhovna Rada of the issue of marijuana legalization in Ukraine is an extremely important and necessary event, especially considering the increase in the number of people with PTSD due to the ongoing war. Of course, bill No. 7457 requires significant improvement. This will require more research and consultation with experts, the medical community, law enforcement and the public.

The final decision on the legalization of marijuana in Ukraine should be based on a balance of economic, social and health aspects.

FAQ

References

1. - Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Draft Law on the regulation of circulation of plants of the genus Cannabis (Cannabis) for medical, industrial purposes, scientific and scientific and technical activities to create conditions for increasing patients' access to the necessary treatment for oncological diseases and post-traumatic stress disorders resulting from the war. No. 7457 dated 06/10/2022.
2. Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine 770 dated 06.05.2000 "On Approval of the List of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors".
3. Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.
4. Anastasia Soroka. Long way to the law. Will Ukraine legalize medical cannabis during the war?. BBC News, 31.01.2023.

Author: Sergey Esipov

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