The legal possibility of using the therapeutic properties of technical hemp reduces the income of the drug business

The results can be interpolated to the concept proposed for implementation, according to which, in Ukraine it makes sense to regulate the use of the therapeutic properties of technical hemp of therapeutic orientation not only for legal entities, but also for individuals. Not only can the resulting products be used for industrial purposes, this mechanism will “remove from the illegal sphere of activity” the citizens of our country who need the use of the therapeutic properties of cannabis for medical reasons.

On the pages of the specialized electronic edition of Ukrainian cannabis growers, the attention of dear readers and listeners has already been focused on the research of our Italian colleagues who studied the feasibility of using cannabis from the point of view of the effectiveness of using the therapeutic properties of the plant in comparison with traditional pharmacological preparations .

With the findings of another study by a group of scientists led by Vincenzo Carrieri by specialists from the Italian Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, the German Research Institute for Future Labor (Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit), the Italian University of Padu and dell'Università di Padova) and the Dutch School of Economics Erasmus (Erasmus School of Economics) would like to acquaint our audience, since these results can be interpolated to the proposed concept for implementation, according to which, in Ukraine, it makes sense to regulate the use of the therapeutic properties of technical hemp therapeutic focus not only on legal entities, but also on individuals. Not only can the resulting products be used for industrial purposes, this mechanism will “remove from the illegal sphere of activity” the citizens of our country who need the use of the therapeutic properties of cannabis for medical reasons.

The results of a study published in the European Economic Review show that Italian criminal organizations lost tens of millions of euros after the leaves and inflorescences of industrial hemp appeared on the market, the content of which did not exceed 0.6% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (assumes an increased amount of other therapeutically active elements with significant healing properties). Those. the possibility of legal use of the therapeutic properties of industrial hemp, which has a significant therapeutic effect, reduced the demand for narcotic and psychotropic substances prohibited in the country.

In particular, since May 2017, in the regions where retailers have “launched” legal sales of technical hemp flowers containing up to 0.6% THC, the seizure of illegal marijuana has decreased by 14%.

The study also demonstrated how the leaves and flowers of therapeutic hemp have impacted the illegal marijuana market:

•  a 33% decrease in the number of illegally grown hemp plants;

•  8% decrease in the cultivation of illegal hashish.

In addition, the researchers argue that the legal use of the leaves and flowers of technical hemp for therapeutic purposes indirectly affects organized crime, including:

•  a 3% reduction in the number of people arrested for drug-related crimes;

•  a 3% decrease in the number of foreigners arrested for drug-related crimes;

•  15% decrease in the number of arrests of minors.

According to the researchers' calculations, the presence of therapeutic cannabis leaves and flowers on the market implies lost annual revenues of organized criminal groups in the amount of € 90 to € 170 million (the entire illegal marijuana market in Italy is estimated at about € 3.5 billion). Those. enabling the use of the therapeutic properties of technical hemp led to a 3-5% reduction in illicit market revenues).

In addition, the provision of a legal opportunity to use the therapeutic properties of technical hemp “takes away” from the market people who need the healing / healing properties of the leaves and inflorescences of the plant used for industrial purposes (food, food / feed / dietary / biologically active additives, cosmetic preparations etc.).

Commentary of experts of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"

One of the reasons for the increase in the amount of THC in industrial crops of industrial hemp in the EU is that in Europe it is not customary to monitor such an indicator of industrial varieties as stability. That is why the amount of THC in plants obtained from the same seed in the same field can range from 0.1% to 1%. Due to the fact that the seed material is legal and, according to the documents, the amount of THC does not exceed 0.2%, law enforcement agencies see no reason to subject the agricultural producer to a thorough check (hello to our cannabis growers who are trying to bring European varieties of technical hemp to Ukraine - considering the mentality of our law enforcement agencies, “servants in uniform” will not miss the chance to check the crops and further demand its destruction). 

In order to be eligible for agricultural subsidies, EU farmers can only grow approved varieties of technical hemp with less than 0.2% THC. At the same time, the regulatory framework in Italy sets an upper limit for THC at 0.6%, in order to exempt farmers from criminal liability in the event that factors beyond their control cause cannabis crops to become Hot Hemp. ... In practice, the vague wording of the current Italian legislation allows, since 2017, producers to grow and sell plant flowers containing up to 0.6% THC (with a high content of other therapeutically active plant elements) without any penalties. In Switzerland, the maximum THC limit is 1%. Previous studies conducted in several economically developed countries of the world at once indicate that if the amount of THC in a plant does not exceed 0.8-1%, it is not only not socially dangerous, but also does not interest the drug market.