Liberalization of cultivation and production of medicinal cannabis in Croatia

On 25 April 2019 the Amendments to the Act on Combating Drugs Abuse entered into force which liberalizes the cultivation and production of low THC cannabis for medicinal purposes in Croatia.

With the new law going into effect, companies which have a manufacturing authorization for drugs or active substances from the Croatian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (HALMED) will be able to grow low THC cannabis for medicinal purposes subject to prior approval obtained from the Croatian Ministry of Health.

The same companies will also be able to produce/process low THC cannabis for medicinal purposes with the prior approval of HALMED.

In the next six months, an Ordinance will be passed that will elaborate in detail the requirements and procedure for granting the necessary licenses.

This legislative change is expected to increase the availability and reduce the costs of medicinal products made from cannabis which until now could only be imported to Croatia from abroad.