Lithuania: medical cannabis soon to be approved

The Lithuanian Parliament voted almost unanimously to make changes to current cannabis policy, opening up the possibility of medical use of cannabis.

92 deputies of the Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament, voted in favor of the change, with 1 abstention and no opposition. The text had been proposed on November 9 by MP Mykolas Majauskas, who said it was «the first time that a decision on such a sensitive issue has gathered public opinion and political support.»

Cannabis is currently classified in Annex 1 of the Lithuanian list of narcotics, the most restricted category which «prevents medical use due to harmful consequences on human health». The draft law will remove the automatic prohibition of substances placed on this list, thus allowing the use of cannabis for medical purposes.’medical use of cannabis, but also psilocybin, MDMA and heroin.

The text will now have to be debated and approved at a Seimas meeting on December 12. If validated, it will have to receive the agreement of the Minister of Health, Aurėlijus Veryga, who has already declared in favor of decriminalizing the use and possession of cannabis, opting for a health response rather than a judicial one.

«If we were to decide to legalize the medical use [of cannabis] in the future, a very strict and clear mechanism would have to be put in place to prevent any abuse.»

Lithuania still criminalizes cannabis possession, which carries a 2-year prison sentence. In practice, law enforcement agencies more often issue fines. Cannabis cultivation is punishable by 5 years' imprisonment.

If the Seimas and the Minister of Health approve the bill, it would go into action as early as 2019. Mykolas Majauskas however, proposed to bring this date forward in view of the success of the vote.