Cannabis in Lithuania is criminalized for both recreational and medical use. Lithuania criminalized cannabis in 2017 and is the only country in the world that criminalized cannabis in the 21st century.[1][circular reference] Until 2013 Lithuania was the only country in the European Union where the cultivation of industrial hemp was banned.
Medical cannabis
editThe use of cannabis for medical purposes is criminalized in Lithuania.
Industrial hemp
editIn 2013 the Government of the Lithuania has decided to lift the ban on industrial hemp. Until 2013 Lithuania was the only country in the European Union which prohibited the cultivation of industrial hemp and until 2021 hemp products containing any amount of THC were considered illegal. Since November 2021 the production and sale of hemp products was allowed if the amount of THC in the products did not exceed 0.2 percent.[2] THC limit was increased to 0.3 percent in 2022.[3]
Synthetic cannabinoids
editA law allowing prescription drugs containing synthetic cannabinoids for medical use was approved by the Seimas on 11 October 2018, with an effective date of 1 May 2019.[4] As of the effective date no such drugs were available in pharmacies, however.[5]
420 protest
editIn 2016 protestors planning an April 20th event at Parliament were targeted by the Prosecutor General's Office, which believed that permitting the event might "violate the public interest".[6]
Politics
editLithuania's Freedom Party supports "the reduction of penalties for the possession of marijuana for personal use, and [has] a commitment to remove restrictions in general."[7]
References
edit- ^ "Timeline of Cannabis Law". Wikipedia.
- ^ BNS (10 June 2021). "More hemp produce to become legal in Lithuania". lrt.lt. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ Balčiūnaitė, Sniegė (22 December 2022). "Seimas leido auginti daugiau pluoštinių kanapių". Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ Andrius, Kulikauskas (11 January 2019). "Kas yra medicininės kanapės ir kodėl Lietuvoje jos nėra įteisintos" (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ Jackūnaitė, Kristina (20 April 2019). "Vaistų iš kanapių kol kas nebus: ministerija kaltinama abejingumu". lrt.lt. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ "Cannabis activists to gather in Vilnius". baltictimes.com. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ Kluonis, Mindaugas (30 October 2020). "Lithuania turns right: urban-rural cleavage, generational change, and left-wing perspectives". Foundation for Progressive European Studies (in Lithuanian).
Lithuania's young people turned against the ruling party and voted massively for the surprise start-up of these elections, the libertarian Freedom Party (LP), which has openly declared its support for same-sex unions, the reduction of penalties for the possession of marijuana for personal use, and a commitment to remove restrictions in general.