The Albanian government has processed its draft law for legalizing the production of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes which will now be subject to public consultation, days after the country was ranked seventh globally for illegal cannabis and narcotic activity and amid opposition outrage.

The law, entitled, ‘control of the cultivation and processing of the cannabis plant and the production of its by-products for medical and industrial purposes’, is now available online.

“The purpose of this law is to regulate and guarantee the process of control, monitoring of the cultivation, processing of the cannabis plant and the production of its by-products, intended for medical and industrial purposes and their export according to the conditions and rules of this law and in implementation of the classification of the by-products of the cannabis plant,” the preamble reads.

Licenses for producing cannabis will be granted for 15 years with the right of renewal. Grow areas can be in greenhouses or other covered areas over five to 10 hectares, not exceeding 150 hectares.

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It also foresees the creation of the Cannabis Plant Processing Agency which will monitor the process, while the Council of Ministers will issue permits.

Any company wishing to apply for a permit must have experience that is relevant to the sector, a capital of 10 million lek (€84,000), 15 employees, and must pay a fee of 1.5% of the annual company turnover.

Advertising production is illegal and punishable with a fine of up to €42,000. Other punishable offences include delays in delivering production, making incorrect statements or declarations, or exceeding the allotted growing area.

Read more: Euractiv