Passion for medical cannabis, or how we want to achieve its legalization
[ad_1]
For the first time, Ukrainian society began to talk about medical cannabis in the legislative field in 2017, when a petition was made public for an immediate legislative settlement of this issue. She very quickly collected 25,000 signatures, which are necessary for consideration by the relevant Committee of the Verkhovna Rada and the development of the Draft Law. But now it is 2023, and medical cannabis in Ukraine still remains outside the law, inaccessible to patients; its research by scientists is also not allowed. In order to understand why this topic has been around for so long and still has not found its logical solution (namely, the unregulated use of medical cannabis), it is necessary to explain some processes. Every time this issue goes through the Verkhovna Rada as the only body with the power to make and approve such decisions. Therefore, the issue of medical cannabis quickly became political, each party has its own position on this issue. In 2021, the bill called “Law for Sofiyka” reached the session hall and was already put to a vote. But the fact that it was not developed by a monomajority played, in my opinion, a negative role in the vote and did not get the necessary number of votes. Did that version of the Law suit us? – Yes. Are there any chances to pass it through a vote in the Council again? – yes, but it is a very complicated and long process. Today we have a different situation. The leading party has a political commitment to the electorate regarding the legalization of medical cannabis and must bring this issue to its logical conclusion (after all, according to the President’s survey, the majority of Ukrainians support the legalization of medical cannabis). That is why the Cabinet of Ministers developed draft law No. 7457, which, in addition to the legalization of medical cannabis, included a lot of things, even the possibility of “filling the budget”. But they did not separate technical cannabis from medical, which made the activity of growing technical cannabis more difficult, and also did not prioritize the interests of patients, doctors and scientists. Therefore, in the form in which this draft law is now, it suits initiative groups only under the condition of future amendments. And now work is being done to finalize it and find compromise solutions – a formula that will satisfy all stakeholders. Read also: Shulerism instead of access to cannabis medicines: what’s wrong with the draft law No. 7457 I see some critical remarks about this draft law (part of which I also support). But I want to answer them. Some public activists are actively trying to convince society that the existing draft law cannot be amended after its adoption in the first reading. And this is nonsense. Experts, who disperse “treason” in the information space, did not publish specific proposals on how to regulate access to medical cannabis. We consider it unconstructive, but we have a clear plan, which we will stick to. My vision of the process, which can be acceptable to everyone, is that the draft law should go to the parliamentary hall and be voted on in the first reading. In this way, the deputies answer the fundamental question – does Ukraine need medical cannabis? If the draft law passes the first reading, the answer is obviously “yes”. And then, between the first and second reading, the resolution of fundamental issues will begin – licensing, THC content, circulation control, quotas, etc. It is at this time that all interested parties will seek a compromise on the outlined parameters. And actually they are already looking for him. Probably, this position sounds a little strange: they say, let’s accept it as it is in the first reading, and then we’ll figure it out. But if we do not move the draft law from a standstill and vote it in the first reading, then we will never reach the second stage and will remain so in 2017, when this topic first appeared in Ukraine. We are forced to go this way – if the issue of medical cannabis has already become political, we have no other way out. And I hope that the deputies will vote for the Law on Regulation of Medical Cannabis, because its official circulation has long been a sign of civilized countries. Gennadiy Shabas, head of the Ukrainian Association of Medical Cannabis, specially for UP. Life Publications in the “View” section are not editorial articles and reflect exclusively the author’s point of view. Read also: What does medical cannabis help and whether it will be legalized in Ukraine in the near future
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
