Albanian Parliament Legalizes Medical Cannabis Cultivation

Albanian parliamentarians have approved a law last Friday that legalizes the cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes. In general, the proposal was met with overwhelming support, although it faces fierce opposition from some quarters.

For more of the latest in legalization, research, and lifestyle, download our free cannabis news app.

Albanian Support Is Overwhelming, But Road Forward Unclear

The Albanian parliament voted 69 in favor and 23 against, allowing for limited and controlled production of cannabis. However, this decision was met with strong opposition from the opposition.

It is unclear how Albania will regulate medical cannabis, but the government believes that allowing the production of cannabis could increase tax revenues.

AP Notes Decision Remarkable Given Albanian History

As noted by the Associated Press, the enactment of this law is remarkable, considering the Albanian history as a “European hub of cannabis trade.”

In the past, cannabis cultivation flourished in Albania due to drug traffickers taking advantage of the lack of strong authority in the post-communist country.

Realization of a Decade-old Goal for the Socialist Party

Since coming to power in 2013, the leftist government of the Socialist Party, under the leadership of Prime Minister Edi Rama, aimed to eliminate cannabis cultivation as its main goal.

According to the Associated Press, over the next two years, the Albanian government destroyed millions of cannabis plants with a market value estimated at 7 billion euros (8.5 billion dollars), accounting for over two-thirds of the country’s annual GDP.

Prohibition Caused More Harm Than Good

In 2014, during an anti-drug operation in a southern village using armored vehicles, a police officer was fatally shot. The police came under fire from automatic rifles and rocket launchers from drug producers.

Albania remains one of the main corridors for the trafficking of hard drugs. The police continue to suppress isolated cases of cannabis cultivation, but much less frequently than a decade ago.

Albanian Legalization of Medical Cannabis

Albanian lawmakers began work on the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes last year, creating a draft law. However, the initial draft was vague and did not precisely define how the new program related to the medical use of cannabis would be regulated.

“This law aims to define the rules for the cultivation, production, and controlled trade of cannabis plants and their derivatives for medical and industrial purposes through licensed entities and under the supervision of the National Agency for Control and Supervision of Cannabis Plant Cultivation and Processing for Medical and Industrial Purposes and Production of Its Derivatives,” the draft Albanian law stated.

After the law’s adoption this week, it appears that little has changed. The regulation of medical cannabis use is still unclear, but the Albanian government believes that permitting limited cannabis production could increase the country’s fiscal income.

—

(Featured image by Sadik Brika via Pexels)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third-party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff, or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in Fakty Konopne, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.