Cannabis-in-brief: Zelenskyy’s bid for medical cannabis, Luxembourg legalises home grow and calls to end ‘war on drugs’

Each Friday we bring you the headlines you might have missed from the week just gone.

The top lines this week: Officials in Luxembourg have approved a bill to legalise personal cannabis use and home cultivation of up to four plants, while President Zelenskyy says he wants to see the legalisation of cannabis-based medicines in Ukraine to help the country cope with the ‘trauma of war’.

Meanwhile the UN has published its World Drug Report, finding that cannabis use had increased by more than 20% over the last decade, amid calls to end the global ‘war on drugs’. And at the third meeting of Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly, members heard stark statistics highlighting the impact of years of ‘failed drug policy’.

Read on for more…

UN experts join calls to end ‘war on drugs’

In a statement issued on Friday 23 June, a group of UN representatives and Human Rights experts called for an end to the ‘global war on drugs’, saying members should decriminalise personal drug use as a ‘matter of urgency’.

The experts, which include a number of representatives of the Human Rights Council, highlight how current policies disproportionately affect marginalised groups and ethnic minorities, particularly those of African heritage, Indigenous Peoples, women and those who identify as LGBTIQ+.

It comes amid calls for leaders to move away from policies based on fear and stigma, in favour of harm-reduction, prevention and public health.

Read the full story here 

President Zelenskyy calls for legalisation of medical cannabis in Ukraine

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is calling for the legalisation of medical cannabis to help his country deal with the ‘trauma of war’. 

The country has endured more than a year of conflict since Russia invaded in February 2022. During an address to the Ukrainian parliament on Constitution Day, Wednesday 28 June, the President called on members to legalise cannabis for medical purposes, to help those who have been impacted by the war.

“We must finally fairly legalise cannabis-based medicines for all those who need them, with appropriate scientific research and controlled Ukrainian production,” Zelenskyy said, local media reported.

“All the world’s best practices, all the most effective policies, all the solutions, no matter how difficult or unusual they may seem to us, must be applied to Ukraine so that Ukrainians, all our citizens, do not have to endure the pain, stress and trauma of war.”

Read more 

Luxembourg legalises home grow and personal use of cannabis

On Wednesday 28 June, the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg voted to legalise personal possession and home cultivation of up to four cannabis plants per household.

Residents can now grow up to four plants at home, providing they are not visible from any public roads. 

The bill also decriminalises the public possession of small quantities of cannabis. Personal consumption will be permitted in private, but not in the presence of minors or in public places.

The law is expected to be published in the Official Gazette by the end of this week or early next, and is part of a two-stage approach to cannabis reform in Luxembourg. 

Full story here 

UN World Drug Report finds cannabis use increases over last decade 

The latest UN World Drug Report, published on Monday 26 June, takes an in-depth look at the trends and challenges in international drug use.

The report, which comes just weeks after the publication of the EMCDDA’s European Drug Report, provides analysis of key developments and emerging trends in selected drug markets, as well as exploring other issues such as public health and implications for policy.

It also examines approaches to regulating the medical cannabis market and assesses recent developments surrounding the therapeutic use of psychedelics.

Among the findings, cannabis remains the most commonly consumed drug worldwide, with the number of people who use cannabis increasing by 21% over the last decade.

Read our 10 key takeaways from the report here 

Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly hears impact of ‘failed drug policy’ 

Members of Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use heard how over 400 people died from drug-related deaths in 2020, with chair Paul Reid describing the statistics as a ‘wake-up call’.

The third meeting of the Assembly, which took place in Malahide over the weekend of 24-5 June, focused on the role that health and community sectors play in drug policy. 

Members also heard calls for better coordination of drug recovery and treatment services and from health experts from Portugal and Austria on the national policy approaches that have been adopted in these countries. 

As the Assembly reaches its halfway point, some following its progress closely say it’s time to move on from discussions around Ireland’s ‘failed drug policy’ and start focusing on strategies and potential solutions.

Read the full story here 

Want more stories like this delivered direct to your inbox? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter here 

• Luxembourg legalises home grow and personal use of cannabis – what you need to know
• Luxembourg to spend €3 million on medical cannabis amid shortages
• Ireland Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs – time to shift focus from ‘failed policy’ to future solutions?
• Hundreds submit evidence to Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs – here’s how to make yours
• UN experts join calls for an end to ‘war on drugs’