The government approved at Wednesday’s session the draft-law on the legalization of medical cannabis production. The law, aimed to control narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and prevent their misuse, will be discussed at a public debate.

According to the draft-law, medical cannabis can only be cultivated by legal entities that have the approval of the Ministry of Health, obtained with the prior consent of the Government. The Government will also approve any changes in the ownership structure of the legal entities.

According to the draft- law, as the government press service informed, companies that will obtain a license for medical cannabis production will be obliged to pay 10% of the total amount excluding VAT on the output invoice for the sale of products, on an appropriate account, which is revenue of the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia. For these funds, as an inflow to the State Budget, the Government will adopt a special program for their intended use and the manner of use where medications for rare diseases will be given priority and other health care priorities.

Some of these funds will also be used for the sustainable financing of the Agency for Control of Growth and Extraction of Cannabis and Cannabis Products for Medical and Scientific Purposes, as an independent public administration body with the capacity of a legal entity, which is envisaged to be established in accordance with this draft-law.