The Parliament of Albania deliberated for three hours past midnight on Friday and approved the draft law “On the Control of Cultivation and Processing of Cannabis Plant and Production of its By-Products for Medical and Industrial Purposes”.

The law received 69 votes in favor, 23 against, and 3 abstentions. The three abstaining votes belonged to Socialist deputies Fatmir Xhafaj, Pandeli Majko, and Erjon Braçe.

The Government stated that this draft law aims to regulate and supervise the cultivation, processing, circulation, and export of cannabis plant, its by-products, and final products for medical and industrial purposes.

Authorities believe that through a licensed process, the country’s economy will grow, and there will be better control over the entities involved in the cultivation and processing of cannabis, creating a specialized institution.

Health Minister Ogerta Manastirliu emphasized that the draft law foresees the establishment of an agency for control, registration of production, granting licenses for export through a special commission, as well as supervision by a dedicated unit.

“The national registry of licensed entities will regulate the controlled production of cannabis for medical purposes. The medical license will cover the transportation of seeds, plants, and even the final products and by-products,” said Manastirliu.

According to the draft law, any legal entity with at least 3 years of experience in cannabis production, cultivation, and circulation for medical purposes can apply for a license.

Authorities state that the entity must have been engaged in the production of cannabis by-products in one of the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for at least 5 years.

The license, as per the draft law, can be granted for a 15-year period with the right to renewal, while compliance with license conditions will be verified every 3 years.

The rapporteur of the draft law, opposition deputy Tritan Shehu, argued that the law contradicts the Penal Code and aims to facilitate drug trafficking, as security structures lack the capacity to control the territory.

“With this draft law, criminal groups will be licensed. This law will turn Albania into a cannabis republic, while it is already affected by drugs in all levels of society, especially youth. Production continues in the black market, and now they are only waiting for licenses,” Shehu said.

During his speech, Socialist deputy Fatmir Xhafaj also expressed opposition to this draft law.

He recalled that when he was Minister of Interior, the police fought vigorously against drug cultivation, and he personally faced many challenges in tackling this issue.

“During those two years, Albania recorded the minimum statistics in cultivation and trafficking, confirmed by the Italian Guardia di Finanza,” Xhafaj said.

He pointed out that cannabis is present among Albanians despite its illegality, driven by political use, which was evident in Lazarat, as well as financial interests.

“Is Albanian society ready for this draft law with significant social risks? I think this is the wrong approach. This is a business that kills. It also kills people’s trust in work. I believe it is a premature step for Albania,” Xhafaj said.

The opposition expressed doubts as to why the draft law was swiftly approved in parliamentary commissions by the Socialists, and on the other hand, there is no study on the benefits the Albanian economy gains in relation to the social, health, and criminal risks and consequences that marijuana use brings.

Opposition deputies expressed skepticism that the Ministry of Health, responsible for implementing this draft law, lacks the necessary capacities, while the police have not yet achieved sufficient results in the fight against criminal groups that cultivate narcotic plants in various areas of Albania.

However, the Socialist majority approved the draft law with its votes, legalizing the cultivation and processing of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes, reiterating that the controls will be strict and the opportunities for financial gain and employment are substantial.