Cyprus Officially Legalizes Medical Marijuana Use

The government of Cyprus has formally passed a bill legalizing the use of medical marijuana, promising to grant commercial production licenses to three companies. Over the next 15 years, the island’s government will closely monitor the development of the market and its impact on society, issuing new production licenses for marijuana as needed.

Medical Applications and Regulations

Currently, medical marijuana is being offered as a treatment for chronic conditions such as migraines, epilepsy, and neuropathic pain, as well as for palliative care for patients with various forms of cancer and AIDS.

Economic Impact

It is estimated that in its first year, the new medical marijuana market will produce plants worth 180 million euros (approximately 200 million US dollars). A portion of this revenue will be collected through taxes on the sale of the medicine and directed toward funding various infrastructure and social projects.

Political and Social Support

The Cyprus Green Party has openly supported the parliament’s decision to legalize medical marijuana. “Although we would like to introduce several amendments to expand the scope of the market system, overall, we are pleased that the authorities have finally agreed to basic legalization of marijuana for therapeutic use,” the party leadership said in a press release.

Context in the European Union

As a reminder, about 10 countries in the European Union have already legalized the use of medical marijuana in some form. This group includes Greece, which formally legalized medical marijuana in early November of last year, likely encouraging Cyprus to adopt similar reforms.