The first medicines made from medical cannabis have been registered in Ukraine: what is known

In Ukraine, the first medicines based on medical cannabis – oral drops made in Spain – have been officially registered. They are expected to appear in pharmacies in early 2025.

MP Olha Stefanyshyna noted that a year has passed since the adoption of the law on the legalization of medical cannabis. During this time, the legislative framework for the introduction of relevant drugs was prepared. The first manufacturer has already registered the active pharmaceutical ingredient, which will allow these medicines to be available in pharmacies soon, reports the website of the CF "Patients of Ukraine."

In addition to oral drops, hard capsules, dental pastes, and gels will be available, the forms of which were approved by the Ministry of Health in 2024. The list of diseases for which doctors can prescribe medical cannabis treatment has been determined. These include chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, Tourette syndrome, drug-resistant epilepsy, seizures in children, and anorexia due to HIV.

Inna Ivanenko, Executive Director of the CF "Patients of Ukraine," emphasized that the patient community insists on adding PTSD to this list.

"So far, we have managed to achieve that medicines can be prescribed for other conditions based on the conclusion of the medical advisory committee in hospitals with a scientific base. This will provide access to treatment for more patients who need it," Ivanenko said.

Medical cannabis-based drugs will be dispensed in pharmacies based on an electronic prescription from a doctor in the patient's name. Pharmacies that will manufacture these drugs must have licenses for retail trade, manufacturing of drugs, and trafficking in narcotic substances.

Hanna Hlushchenko, Head of International Partnerships at the Ukrainian Medical Cannabis Association, said that attention is also focused on training our doctors to treat with medical cannabis. Together with the NHSU Academy, an online program is being prepared that will allow doctors to adopt modern methods from foreign colleagues.

According to the Ministry of Health, about 6 million patients in Ukraine need medicines based on medical cannabis.

As OBOZ.UA wrote, as of last summer, 43% of Ukrainians expressed a positive attitude toward the legalization of medical cannabis, while 16% had a negative attitude. Another 41% of respondents had a neutral or undecided attitude.

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