Ukraine Was on the Verge of Legalizing Medical Cannabis

We are all watching with shock and horror as images from the Russian invasion of Ukraine bombard our screens. Most Americans probably know very little about this independent nation, so it may come as a surprise to learn that, before life as Ukrainians knew it changed literally overnight, activists were making great strides toward broadening the acceptance of cannabis within their borders.

Although the plant is prohibited, cannabis is nonetheless the most popular recreational substance in Ukraine.

“Many people order cannabis seeds abroad… therefore they are well familiar with many strains that are currently sold in dispensaries in the US,” said Lana Braslavskaia, PR manager for AskGrowers, a Kyiv-based website focused on cannabis.

Cannabis culture has been growing rapidly; a cannabis expo, the Ukrainian Canna Fair, was set to host its third-annual event in October 2022. Surprisingly, cannabis is decriminalized in Ukraine. Cultivation of up to 10 plants, and possession of less than 5 grams, is treated as an administrative violation (like a traffic ticket).

Illegal production, acquisition, storage, or transport of narcotics in small amounts is an administrative offense, punishable by fines, community service, or up to 15 days in detention.

Much has been made of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s background as a comedian and actor, but he is also a staunch proponent of medical cannabis legalization. In October 2020, he initiated a poll where nearly 65% of participants supported medical cannabis for critically ill patients.

Currently, synthetic cannabis-based pharmaceuticals like nabilone, nabiximol, and dronabinol are allowed by prescription, but before the war, parliament was weighing broader legislation to regulate medical cannabis and expand clinical trials.