Draft bill #7457 of June 10, 2022
Status: adopted in the first reading
Who is affected: doctors, patients, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and courts
Summary of the bill:
- circulation of cannabis plant varieties for medical purposes, along with products of their processing and medicinal products derived from them for scientific, technical activities, and medical practices, will be permitted
- circulation of such medicinal products will be monitored:
- each batch and item will be labelled with a barcode
- an electronic registry of records will be maintained
- medicinal products will only be issued to an individual upon a doctor’s prescription for a specific diagnosed condition
- licensing of the cultivation of cannabis plants for medical purposes will be introduced. The license will specify the varieties allowed to be cultivated, characteristics, areas, and addresses of facilities and premises where such activity is permitted
- producers will be required to ensure accounting and control of the use of cannabis plants. The requirements and procedures will be regulated by the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drug Control
- storage of narcotic and medicinal cannabis products without the necessitation of special premises or equipment will be permitted, provided that the quantity does not exceed the volume specified for a single prescription issued by a doctor
- the purchase of medicinal cannabis products will be possible only with an electronic prescription issued by a licensed medical practitioner. The procedure will be regulated by the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drug Control
- it will be permitted to conduct retail sales of medicinal cannabis products in all pharmacies — communal, state, and private — provided they hold a license for such activity.
What is right:
- the bill challenges drug-related organized crime that is currently involved in the illicit sale of cannabis products
- the decriminalization of the distribution and circulation of medicinal cannabis products will help patients suffering from a wide range of medical conditions.