Albania may join the list of European countries that legalized the cultivation of medical cannabis and industrial. However, cultivation, production, and trade will be destined to export only.
On Thursday, June 30, the plan to legalize the cultivation of medical cannabis and industrial hemp for companies that have such experience in European countries. The draft law establishes a national agency for the control and monitoring of the cultivation and processing of the cannabis plant for medical and industrial purposes and the production of its by-products.
The bill would allow medical cannabis and industrial hemp production for up to 150 hectares of land starting from 2023. The Council of Ministers would issue licenses for cannabis production for 15 years with the right of renewal.
Cannabis businesses that want to operate in Albania’s medical cannabis and industrial hemp sectors must show to have capital over $86,000, employ at least 15 people, and pay a fee of 1.5% of the annual company turnover. Furthermore, the cultivation, production and trade will only be for export only.
This means that patients won’t have access to medical cannabis treatment, and local companies wouldn’t benefit from the many uses of industrial hemp. The bill is currently available for public comment on the public consultation website, after which it will be forwarded to Parliament.
