Albania's prime minister asks for the country's opinion on the legalization of medical cannabis

As part of a nationwide consultation initiative, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama published a question at the end of January seeking Albanians' views on the legalization of medical marijuana.

A widely debated issue in the country, Edi Rama asserts that to make a decision, the opinion of citizens is necessary.

«Some believe that Albania should allow the cultivation, processing and export of cannabis for medical purposes, under state control, without legalizing it for personal use. Others say that cannabis should not be allowed for medical purposes either. What do you think?» reads.

The questionnaire also states that «medical cannabis, which is different from cannabis for personal use, has curative effects that have been widely proven by science. However, as the experience of various countries in the region and around the world shows, the controlled use of cannabis by the state has a very positive impact not only on health, but also on economic growth and the fight against the illegal use of this plant.»

Major cannabis producer

Since the fall of the former communist regime, Albania has been widely known as one of Europe's biggest cannabis-producing countries. The recent intensification of police raids, motivated in particular by the country's desire to join the European Union, has produced mixed results. Cannabis trafficking is severely punished, and there are exceptions for personal use or small quantities, although these are not clearly defined.

Medical cannabis is still not authorized in Albania, hence this question, and hemp has been listed as a narcotic since 2000, for fear of encouraging the illicit cannabis trade. In 2016, the Albanian government discussed the legalization of cannabis cultivation. industrial hemp, without this ever having been carried out or authorized.

His neighbors from However, the Balkans are less reluctant to move forward on medical cannabis.