Ukraine President Says Cannabis Legalization Can Help Ease War Trauma

President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his address to the parliament of Ukraine on Wednesday, stated that “all the best practices in the world, the most effective policies, and all solutions, no matter how difficult or extraordinary they may seem, should be applied in Ukraine so that our citizens do not have to suffer the pain, stress, and trauma of war.”

“In particular, we must finally legalize cannabis-based medicines in a manner that is fair for all those in need, with proper scientific research and controlled production in Ukraine,” he said, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.

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Medical Cannabis for Ukraine Citizens Affected by Trauma

The President emphasized that access to medical cannabis in Ukraine could be a therapeutic option for citizens who have experienced over a year of intense conflict following Russia’s invasion of the country in February 2022.

During his presidential campaign, Zelensky expressed support for legalizing medical cannabis. In 2019, he stated that he would consider it “normal” to allow people in Ukraine access to cannabis drops, which may refer to cannabis tinctures.

Steps Taken to Legalize Medical Cannabis in Ukraine

Zelensky’s government has previously taken steps toward legalizing medical cannabis in Ukraine, approving a reform bill last year, which still needs to be passed by the parliament.

Health Minister Viktor Liashko stated that the law would enable “the circulation of cannabis plants for medical, industrial, scientific, and scientific-technical purposes to create conditions for expanding patients’ access to necessary treatment for cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the war in Ukraine.”

“We understand the negative effects of war on mental health,” he said. “We understand how many people will need medical treatment due to this impact. We understand that there is no time to waste.”

Contrasting With Russia

A change in cannabis policy would put Ukraine in sharp contrast with its longstanding aggressor, Russia. Russia has taken a particularly firm stance on drug policy reform at the international level. Russia has criticized Canada for legalizing cannabis nationwide.

Last year, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the legalization actions in the United States and Canada were a “serious concern for us,” according to a social media post from the country’s official account. “It is alarming that several EU member states are considering violating their drug control commitments.”

Americans Convicted for Medical Cannabis in Russia

In the United States, congressional lawmakers are also increasing pressure on the Biden administration to take steps to free American citizen Marc Fogel, who is serving a 14-year sentence in a Russian prison for possessing medical marijuana that he obtained as a registered patient in Pennsylvania.

Fogel “is serving a 14-year sentence of hard labor for possessing medical cannabis used to treat a serious back injury, a charge very similar to the one brought against WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner,” said U.S. Representative Guy Reschenthaler in a press statement on Tuesday.

Unlike Fogel, Griner was deemed improperly detained by the State Department before her release as part of a prisoner exchange negotiated by the Biden administration.

Ukraine Statement Coincides With Luxembourg Legalization Vote

Zelensky’s statement on the legalization of medical cannabis in Ukraine comes on the same day that the Luxembourg parliament voted to legalize the possession and cultivation of marijuana for adults, becoming the second country in the European Union to end the prohibition of cannabis.

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(Featured image courtesy of President of Ukraine (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) via president.gov.ua)

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