Lawmakers from Slovenia’s ruling coalition have introduced legislation to legalise cannabis for medical use and scientific purposes, following a successful public referendum last year where citizens voted in favour of reform.
The proposal, presented by the Freedom Movement and the Left Party which together hold 47 of the 90 seats in parliament, would require medical cannabis to be produced to pharmaceutical standards, the same as any other prescribed medicine. The bill also states that all parts of the cannabis plant would be removed from the banned substances list, although this would not apply to cannabis users who did not have a prescription. Lawmakers have said they would bring in a new proposal by the end of the political year, which would allow for “limited” adult-use cannabis.
“Our goal is to protect patients and cannabis users from unverified products on the black market, enable uninterrupted medical cannabis supply to patients and address current legal shortcomings in the field of cannabis use for medical and scientific purposes,” said a Freedom Movement spokesman.
The legislation would allow for controlled indoor production of medical cannabis, with the Public Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (JAZMP) overseeing the granting of permits based on an annual strategic plan. This plan will consider data from the National Institute of Public Health on cannabis use, prescribed quantities of cannabinoid medicines, and the prevalence of relevant medical conditions.
If enacted, the law would enable doctors to prescribe cannabis-based medicines without requiring special medical prescriptions, treating them like other non-narcotic medications.
The coalition also indicated they intend to introduce separate legislation for “limited” adult recreational use by the end of the political year, fulfilling the second part of last year’s referendum result.
The proposal’s introduction coincided with a major student protest in Ljubljana. The Marijuana March, organised by the Student Organisation of the University of Ljubljana, drew over 500 people advocating for an end to cannabis prohibition.
“The current prohibition is clearly not working – it only benefits the black market, while cannabis users and the state are worse off. Prohibition is proven to be the worst and most harmful form of ‘regulation’,” organisers said to Slovenian media.
Coalition MPs have emphasised that the legislation aims to expand treatment options for patients, ensure product safety through regulation, diminish criminal gangs’ power and income, and enable scientific research of cannabis.
