Ukraine issues first import license for medical cannabis

Ukraine has granted its first-ever import authorization for cannabis-based substances, officially launching the next phase of its post-legalization program.

The Ukrainian National Drug and Narcotics Control Service announced on June 2, 2025 that it had issued an import authorization for a cannabis-based substance already registered in the national medicines register.

From legislation to implementation

The country has embarked on the path to legalization of medical cannabis last February, when the president Volodymyr Zelensky has enacted a law aimed at providing relief to patients suffering from diseases such as cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly among veterans and civilians affected by the ongoing armed conflict.

While the legislation officially came into force in the summer of 2024, its practical implementation required several months of regulatory preparation. The Ministry of Health confirmed in August that the cannabis, its resin, extracts and tinctures were no longer classified as particularly dangerous substances, allowing them to be distributed within a strictly regulated medical framework.

The first products approved included cannabis oils developed in Spain. Ukrainian authorities have since expanded the list to include other forms such as capsules.

War-motivated public health reform

The legalization of medical cannabis in Ukraine is seen by many as a direct response to the physical and psychological consequences of war.

Zelensky has always supported this initiative. In a speech to Parliament in mid-2023, he stressed the importance of introducing global best practice to Ukraine: «We must finally legalize cannabis-based medicines fairly for all who need them, with proper scientific research and controlled Ukrainian production.»

As he already declared during his 2019 campaign, Access to cannabis «drops», probably in reference to tinctures, should be considered a normal part of compassionate care.