Less than a year after voters in Slovenia approved a pair of marijuana ballot measures, lawmakers in the country have introduced a bill that would regulate cannabis specifically for medical and scientific use.
The measure, from the Freedom Movement (Gibanje Svoboda) and The Left (Levica) parties, would legalize cannabis extracts, plants and resin by removing the substances from Slovenia’s list of illegal drugs, according to local reports. THC, however, would remain prohibited unless used for medical or scientific reasons.
“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,” the Freedom Movement said in a statement about the proposal, according to a report in N1.
Members of parliament “want to establish an efficient system that will take into account the existing competencies of the competent authorities, enable economic opportunities and clearly establish criteria for obtaining permits for growers, as well as researchers,” the party added.
Under the proposal, the Public Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices would be responsible for licensing and regulating the production and trade of medical marijuana. The Ministry of Health, meanwhile, would issue permits around marijuana used specifically for scientific purposes.
While the new proposal focuses only on medical marijuana, the Freedom Movement said it expects to take up regulation of cannabis for “limited personal use” by adults later this legislative session.
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