Turkish Parliament Votes to Legalize Low-THC Medical Cannabis Product Sales

The Turkish Parliament recently passed a law allowing low-THC medical
cannabis products to be sold at pharmacies, Türkiye Today reports. Under
the law, the use of medical cannabis products will be strictly limited to
prescribed medical treatments.

The legislation puts the cultivation and harvesting of cannabis plants
under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, while the
Ministry of Health will be tasked with processing, licensing,
record-keeping, and pharmacy sales. Medical cannabis sales will be tracked
through an electronic monitoring system.

Taner Ercanli, a board member of the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association, told
Türkiye Today that medical cannabis would be available for its analgesic
and antidepressant effects.

“We’re referring to pharmaceutical-grade products, not illicit street
cannabis. These are approved and regulated by the Ministry of Health and
have no place on the black market.” — Ercanli to Türkiye Today

Leyla Sahin Usta, deputy group chairman for Turkey’s ruling Development and
Justice Party (AK Party), indicated during a press conference last month
that cannabis would also be cultivated for “health and support” and
“personal care” products.

Turkey joins 50 other countries in legalizing medical cannabis products or
pharmaceutical medications derived from cannabis. Prior to the new law,
only medical CBD products, such as Sativex, were available via
prescriptions.