The bill that would legalize medical marijuana for Ukraine was to be put to a vote in the final week, but is now effectively blocked by members of one political party who have filed hundreds of “spam” amendements to delay its passage.
The Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s unicameral parliament) was to examine the reform measure Wednesday. The measure was approved by the committee with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s support last month and was expected to pass easily in its final reading. However, MP Olga Stefanyshina claims that opponents are using a lengthy legislative tactic to prevent it from being enacted.
According to a translated post, she wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that “the bill on medical marijuana is blocked in Council”.
She wrote that despite “hours” of negotiations to pass and implement reforms so that “patients can get pain relief and medication as soon as next year,” Motherland Party members are forcing the consideration of 226 amendments. These are intended to “exhaust the process” and “deprive law of votes,” according to her.
Stefanyshina stated that the Rada had spent over 400 minutes in a senseless show. “Amendments were put to a vote only to prolong the proceedings and stop the law being passed,” she said.
She called the revisions “spam” because they would “mainly make technical changes”, and “have little substance. They just waste time.”
Stefanyshina , a supporter, said that supporters were exploring ways to get around the procedural obstacle by limiting consideration of certain amendments.
Before the bill was approved last month, the National Health, Medical Care and Health Insurance Committee analyzed over 800 amendments submitted by various parties.
The bill would establish a national medical cannabis program that would provide access to patients suffering from conditions like cancer or post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) resulting in war. This proposed reform comes at a time when Ukraine is still experiencing violent conflict following the Russian invasion of the country last summer.
The legislation, as it was introduced, only lists war-borne PTSD and cancer as conditions that medical cannabis can be prescribed to patients. However the chairperson of the health panel said in July the lawmakers hear from patients daily with other illnesses like Alzheimer’s and epilepsy.
Zelensky expressed support for the legalization of medical marijuana in June. He stated in an address before the parliament that, “all the best practices in the world, all effective policies, and all solutions, regardless of how difficult or uncommon they may appear to us, should be applied to Ukraine so that Ukrainians and all our citizens do not suffer the pain, stress, trauma, and war.”
He said: “We must, in particular, legalize cannabis-based medicine for all who need it, with scientific research that is appropriate and controlled Ukrainian production.”
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Zelensky, during his presidential campaign, also expressed support for the legalization of medical cannabis. He said that it would be “normal,” in 2019, to allow people access to cannabis “droplets,” a possible reference to marijuana tinctures.
This policy change will put Ukraine in stark contrast with its longtime aggressor Russia. Russia has taken an especially strong position against the reformation of cannabis policy on the international level via the United Nations. The country has condemned Canada’s decision to legalize marijuana across the board.
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Photo by Philip Steffan.
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