Cyprus government authorizes medical cannabis

It seems that the Republic of Cyprus has followed its Greek counterparts. The government of Cyprus has just approved the bill authorizing the sale and cultivation of medical cannabis in the Republic of Cyprus today, following an announcement by Giorgos Pamborides, the Minister of Health, according to the local newspaper Cyprus Mail.

Until now on the island of Cyprus, possession of medical cannabis in small quantities was decriminalized. The Cypriot Minister of Health had also announced last April that terminally ill cancer patients can try to relieve their pain with’cannabis oil, and for free.

Attracting international investors to the island of Cyprus

«The purpose and reason for this government approval is to attract international investors to be interested in the two licenses that will be granted for the cultivation of medical cannabis,» said the Minister of Health.

Thus, this measure aims to attract and stimulate cannabis research and development in both the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. Attracting start-ups specialized in this industry is a boon for Cypriot researchers to capitalize on a legal and active medical cannabis culture.

The Ministry of Health calls this bill «innovative.» It hopes it will be approved by Parliament so that Cyprus has the required legal framework for medicinal cannabis to attract what it describes as significant investment.

In addition, the Canadian company Tilray, specializing in the research and production of medical cannabis, had stated that its products had been authorized for distribution on the island of Cyprus, after receiving the necessary approval from both countries.

Mr. Pamborides thus hopes that Cyprus will become the European pioneer of medical cannabis. Even though several European countries They legalized medical cannabis, he believes that the island's climate will work in his favor.

The details of the law on the medical use of cannabis in Cyprus and the conditions for obtaining cultivation licenses are not yet known.

Mehdi Bautier