Slovenia moves towards legalization of medical cannabis

The Slovenian Parliament has introduced a bill to legalize the’medical and scientific use of cannabis, following two referendums on cannabis which were successful last year.

An important legislative milestone backed by public opinion

On the heels of strong support from voters, the members of the Gibanje Svoboda (Freedom Movement) and Levica (The Left) have introduced a bill in the Slovenian Parliament aimed at legalizing the use of extracts, plants, and cannabis resin for medical and research purposes.

According to local media N1, the bill proposes to remove these substances from the list of illegal drugs in Slovenia, while THC would remain a controlled substance, unless it is used in accordance with specific medical or scientific guidelines.

«Our goal is to protect patients and cannabis consumers from unverified products sold on the black market, and to enable a medical supplies »to ensure uninterrupted access for patients and to address current legal gaps regarding the use of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes," the Freedom Movement said in a statement reported by N1.

A Regulatory Framework for Medical Cannabis

If it is adopted, the legislation would establish a clear regulatory framework overseen by the’Public Agency for Drugs and Medical Devices, which would be responsible for managing licenses and overseeing the cannabis production and trade. The Ministry of Health would be responsible for the authorization process for the use of cannabis for research purposes.

Members of Parliament emphasized the dual goal of patient safety and economic development.

«We want to establish an effective system that takes into account the existing expertise of the relevant authorities, offers economic opportunities, and clearly sets out the criteria for granting permits to growers and researchers,» explained the Movement for Freedom.

The bill stipulates that medical cannabis must meet the same production and distribution standards than other pharmaceutical products. It would be prescribed by healthcare professionals and dispensed just like any other prescription medication, thereby ensuring quality control and traceability.

The proposed legislation prioritizes access for patients with serious and chronic illnesses. Nataša Sukić, a member of parliament from Levica, emphasized that people with multiple sclerosis, d’severe epilepsy and various forms of cancer would benefit from this program.

Beyond public health, the bill is seen as a gateway to new economic opportunities, particularly in the context of international trade. Sara Žibrat, of the Freedom Movement, emphasized that the reform «will bring new economic opportunities, particularly for exports to other countries,» as reported by the Slovenian newspaper Dnevnik.

Activists are pushing for broader reform

The announcement coincided with the Marijuana March annual conference in Ljubljana, organized by the’Student Organization at the University of Ljubljana. The protesters gathered to denounce the ineffectiveness of cannabis prohibition, arguing that it fuels the black market while harming both consumers and the government.

«The current ban is clearly not working: it only benefits the black market, while cannabis users and the government are the ones who lose out,» the organizers said, according to N1. «The ban has proven to be the worst and most harmful form of «regulation.»”.

Although the current bill focuses solely on medical and scientific use, the Freedom Movement has stated that the regulation of cannabis for limited personal use by adults could be addressed later in the legislative session.