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Russian Bill on Narcotic Substances: Liberalization or a Response to U.S. Sanctions?

A draft law recently adopted by the Russian State Duma (lower house of the parliament), though not yet approved by the Federation Council (upper house of the parliament) or signed by the President would amend existing law to allow the cultivation of certain plants that contain narcotic and psychedelic substances. Significantly, the bill would not decriminalize recreational use, nor would it permit the development of private dispensaries. It also contains certain restrictions and limitations: First, cultivation would be permitted only for certain specified purposes: medical and veterinary use and /or industrial needs not related to the production of narcotic and psychedelic substances, such as, according to an explanatory note submitted to the Duma, production of various oils for the edibles industry. Second, cultivation for medical use will be permitted only for licensed state-owned enterprises. Cultivation of opium for industrial needs not related to the production of narcotic and psychedelic substances will also only be permitted for licensed state enterprises. Cultivation of…

UK Focus: London’s first medical cannabis clinic opens to a waiting list

New private clinics offering medical cannabis in the UK The Medical Cannabis Clinic has revealed that it will be opening its flagship clinic in London, in Harley Street, this summer. The opening of London’s first such clinic follows the opening of Britain’s first medical cannabis clinic in Greater Manchester earlier in the year. As reported in the Guardian, Analytical Cannabis emphasises the importance of this for those suffering from conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy and neurological and psychiatric disorders who have long been seeking access to what they hope is a transformative medicine. Access is clearly in demand from Londoners as there is already a waiting list of 150 patients at the London clinic ahead of its opening. Background to the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK The opening of private cannabis clinics in the UK is in response to the British Home Office making medicinal cannabis legal from 1 November 2018, reclassifying it from Schedule 1 to Schedule…

Legalization of Medical Cannabis in Ukraine?

On May 20, the Ukrainian parliament agreed to consider a bill which would legalize medical cannabis. If the bill is passed, Ukraine would become only the second post-Soviet country to significantly reform its cannabis laws. (In 2017-18, the Constitutional Court of Georgia eliminated both criminal and administrative liability for private marijuana use, but left in place prohibitions on selling and public use). The bill was the result of a campaign by Ukrainian NGOs and is supported by the Acting Minister of Health, Ulyana Suprun, a Ukrainian-American native of Detroit who received an MD from Michigan State. Upon introduction of the bill, Suprun tweeted that medical cannabis will help at least 2 million people suffering from chronic pain, and in particular, cancer patients. Even more significantly, though, the initiative appears to enjoy the support of Ukraine’s newly elected President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy. During the campaign, Zelenskiy said that he thinks that it would be “normal” to legalize medical marijuana “in droplets” but did…

Cannabis Law Update in Select European Countries

Throughout Europe, cannabis remains broadly illegal and, in most European countries, selling the plant is a criminal offense. However, many countries have adopted their own laws to permit cannabis purchases, sales, and use for medicinal purposes. The current state of European law is similar to the United States – each country (state) has taken its own path to legalize aspects of cannabis, resulting in a complex regional set of laws and rules that apply to the cannabis business. Fortunately for companies doing business in Europe, unlike in the United States, there is no overarching federal criminalization of cannabis that creates federal-local law conflicts. Throughout Europe, cannabis remains broadly illegal and, in most European countries, selling the plant is a criminal offense. However, many countries have adopted their own laws to permit cannabis purchases, sales, and use for medicinal purposes. The current state of European law is similar to the United States – each country (state) has taken its own path to…