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Three years after legalizing medical cannabis, Albania continues to establish regulations for it

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3 hours ago

19 October 2026

Regulations on Medical Cannabis in Albania

Three years after legalizing medical cannabis, theAlbania continues to lay the groundwork for its future industry. Although Parliament authorized its cultivation and processing as of July 2023, the implementation of the program is progressing gradually, amid announcements of licenses, questions about authorized acreage, and the successive adoption of new requirements for operators.

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The most recent step: In October 2026, the Albanian government adopted a new set of measures designed to regulate the entire production chain of the medical and industrial cannabis. On the agenda: Traceability of Plants from Seed on exports, round-the-clock video surveillance, unannounced inspections, and strengthening the powers of the’National Cannabis Control Agency.

These provisions are intended to help establish a legal industry in a country historically associated with illicit cannabis production, while providing greater safeguards for investors and regulatory authorities.

Legalization That Is Taking Time to Materialize

In July 2023, the Albanian Parliament passed, by a vote of 69 to 23, a law authorizing the cultivation and processing of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes. The legislation provided, in particular, for the creation of an authority responsible for overseeing the activities of future operators.

But the transition from legalization to the actual establishment of a regulated industry is proving to be more complex. In June 2025, the government announced licenses for approximately 29,000 hectares, even though the legal cap on cultivation had been presented as limited to 200 hectares. This apparent contradiction had drawn sharp criticism from the opposition and raised questions about the procedures for granting licenses.

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Three years after the law was passed, Albania has therefore not yet completed the implementation of the regulatory framework for its medical cannabis industry.

Mandatory traceability from seed to export

The new regulations establish a cannabis traceability system, from seed to export, covering all stages of production, from cultivation to processing, including drying, storage, and transportation. Operators must record the movement of plants and raw materials in a centralized national registry, which will also list licenses, inspections, and any administrative penalties. Crops must be precisely identified, and the authorities must be notified at least 15 days before each harvest, the quantities of which must be reported immediately.

The measure also strengthens the powers of the’National Cannabis Control Agency, which will have continuous access to surveillance cameras at approved facilities and will be able to use remote monitoring technologies, including drones, environmental sensors, and satellite systems. In addition to scheduled inspections, the agency will be able to conduct unannounced inspections in the event of suspected irregularities, failure to report, or breach of security obligations. The information collected may be used as evidence in administrative, civil, or criminal proceedings.

With these new requirements, Albania aims to ensure ongoing oversight of its legal supply chain and limit the risk of diversion to the illicit market, in order to avoid a repeat of what happened in North Macedonia, while imposing significant technical and administrative requirements on future operators.

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A sector to be built against the backdrop of historic traffic

The tightening of regulations comes at a time when illicit cannabis production in the country has historically played an important role. According to the’European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Albania is one of the leading producers of outdoor-grown cannabis in the Balkans. While seizures have fallen sharply, from 78 metric tons in 2017 to approximately 3.6 metric tons in 2021, illegal cultivation remains a challenge for the authorities.

The prospect of a legal industry has also raised concerns about the risk of organized crime infiltrating the sector. The Albanian opposition has, in particular, criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the granting of cultivation permits, fearing that the new industry will benefit networks already established in the country.

In this context, the new traceability and monitoring requirements should enable authorities to better distinguish between legal activities and illicit channels. It remains to be seen whether this system—which appears particularly demanding on paper—can be effectively implemented as the industry continues to grow.