A medical cannabis approval in Ukraine, although lacking details, represents a major step forward.
In 2020, a poll conducted by the Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that nearly 65% (but still controversial) of Ukrainians supported legalizing medical marijuana for patients with severe illnesses.
The Ukrainian parliament passed the bill that legalised medical marijuana in February 2024. It came into effect on August 1st last year.
In September of last year the first list was published, outlining medical conditions that qualify for Ukraine’s program. Then in January 2025 was revealed that cannabis medicine would soon be available in Ukrainian pharmacies.
This week, an announcement was made on the website of the State Medical Service. said (translated):
On June 2, the State Medical Service granted the first license for medical cannabis substances to be imported into Ukraine. This permit was for a substance registered in Ukraine, and listed in the State Register of Medicinal Products of Ukraine.
There was no more information provided.
The industrial hemp industry is also making progress in Ukraine.
The largest hemp-processing facility in Ukraine has just started operations. It is located in Zhytomyr. This facility will be housed within a renovated abandoned flaxmill and have a processing capacity of 14 000 tons per annum. It will process hemp fibre for both the European textile and local markets.
The Ukrainian government announced that dozens hemp business have been registered since the eCannabis System began operation in March.
While things may not be moving as fast as some would like, given the impacts from the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and internal bickering over legislation – something by no means confined to Ukraine of course – it’s a wonder there’s been any progress at all and a credit to all those involved in pushing things along.
We can only hope that, when the fog finally lifts and the war is over, cannabis will play an important role in helping to rebuild Ukraine’s economic system and heal its population.