Slovenian Parliament Passes Bill on Medical Marijuana
An image of the small seaside town Piran in Slovenia. Slovenian lawmakers approved a medical cannabis bill after two successful consecutive votes earlier this month.
Cannabis was legalized for medicinal and scientific purposes in Slovenia, after the bill was twice reviewed and voted by lawmakers. A first vote on the new cannabis law was delivered on July 15, after which Slovenia’s National Assembly re-passed the bill with a 49:11 vote on Thursday, July 24. What does this mean for the small Alpine country in Europe?
Slovenia’s National Assembly reviewed three sensitive bills in the recent period, among them being the Medical and Scientific Use of Cannabis Act, which was cleared by the top state body on Thursday, July 24. The other two bills that came in the same legislative package are on assisted dying and animal welfare.
How Will Slovenia Regulate the Medicinal Use of Cannabis?
The new cannabis bill in Slovenia legalizes farming, manufacture, distribution and use of marijuana for medicinal and scientific purposes within a controlled regulated setting. Both public and private providers are entitled to participate in the new marketplace. Cannabis patients will be able to obtain medical prescriptions following an in-person doctor’s consultation.
Ensuring the safety of cannabis products, farming and manufacture of cannabis must be in accordance with European quality assurance systems, such as GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practice) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), the bill outlines.
The Slovenian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices will be appointed to oversee the licensing of cannabis operators as well as imports and exports of therapeutic cannabis goods. Only companies that already have permission to manufacture drugs or active pharmaceutical ingredients will be allowed to operate in the domain of cannabis production.
Does Slovenia Also Plan to Legalize the Adult-Use of Cannabis?
In the near future, Slovenia may consider legalizing the recreational use of cannabis as well. A separate piece of legislation that aims to control adult-use of marijuana has already been presented in parliament.
Private individuals may be allowed to grow up to four cannabis plants at home, with a maximum of six plants per household, according to the draft proposal. A person can carry up to seven grams of weed on their person in public, and can keep up to 150 grams at home. The total amount per household or residential units would be limited to 300 grams.
The draft bill further provides guidelines on how to deal with individuals driving under the influence of THC. The plan foresees implementing a scale for THC tolerance similar to that of alcohol and punishments based on actual impairment. With the law, THC testing in the workplace would be prohibited, which is not the case currently.
In just a few months, Slovenia could have one of the most liberal cannabis laws in Europe. Judging by the results of the country’s non-binding cannabis referendum last year, the majority of the population would be in favor of it.
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Stephen Andrews
