Turkey legalizes cannabis production

Turkey has legalized cannabis production in 19 provinces (out of 81) to crack down on illegal production, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock.

Published in the Official Gazette In late September, the section titled «Hemp Cultivation and Regulatory Oversight» will allow for highly regulated cannabis production in certain selected provinces for scientific and medical purposes.

According to the new law, farmers will have to obtain government permission to secure a cultivation license that will be valid for three years, reports the Turkish daily The Hurriyet.

Prospective farmers must provide a certificate proving that they have never been involved in any illegal cannabis production or narcotics use in the past.

Ministry officials will also inspect the cannabis fields every month leading up to the start of the harvest and monitor for any signs of illegal activity.

The law stipulates that licensed growers must dispose of all cannabis plant debris after harvest to prevent any attempts at illegal sale.

The provinces selected for this project are: Amasya, Antalya, Bartın, Burdur, Çorum, İzmir, Karabük, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kütahya, Malatya, Ordu, Rize, Samsun, Sinop, Tokat, Uşak, Yozgat, and Zonguldak.

In certain exceptional cases, the ministry may also grant cannabis cultivation permits to other provinces if the production is for scientific purposes only.

Cannabis use is currently illegal in Turkey. Possession, purchase, or receipt of any illegal drug, including cannabis, is punishable by two years in prison.

The sale or distribution of illegal drugs is punishable by 10 years in prison, while production or smuggling carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. If you’ve never seen *Midnight Express*, now’s the time to watch it and see what that must be like!