By Constantinos Psillides
CANNABIS oil is not a licensed medical treatment and using it constitutes a felony, the Health ministry said on Thursday, following an announcement by hemp farmers calling it “a gift from God.”
“Any medical treatment should be followed after examination and in accordance with a licensed physician. We encourage everyone to report anyone who tries to sell them an unlicensed medical product or if they are contacted for treatment by an unlicensed physician,” the ministry said.
Despite a number of reports suggesting that cannabis oil has beneficial effects – mainly due to its analgesic nature which reportedly alleviates side-effects of chemotherapy while also relieving pain in cases of chronic illnesses – the Health ministry has no plans to allow the use of medical marijuana.
Solon Gregoriou, one of the hemp farmers in question, had sought a permit to plant marijuana alongside hemp plants, but was denied by authorities.
Addressing the bureaucratic mix-up that resulted in hemp cultivation being stuck in legal limbo, the ministry had clarified that for hemp cultivation to be made legal the Health minister has to propose a bill to the Cabinet, along with a decree removing hemp from the controlled substances group.
“Subsequently, hemp will be added as a cultivation plant in the Agriculture ministry registry,” read the statement.
The hemp farmers are trying to raise awareness to the whole issue by inviting the public to join them in their celebratory harvest on Sunday. They did not say where the harvest would take place, but that free bus transport would be provided at 7am from the Makarios Stadium in Nicosia.
The invitation sent out by hemp farmers stressed that no politician is allowed to take part at the event “because no politician deserves this honour.”
Hemp, a harmless variety of the cannabis plant that is used mostly in the manufacture of textiles and clothing, has always been classified as illegal in Cyprus, due to the fact that the plant is indistinguishable from marijuana.
Hemp has extremely low levels of the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the mind-altering chemical in marijuana.
Hemp cultivation is not only legal in the EU, but farmers also receive subsidies. Cyprus is being forced to amend its legislation, since farmers have already planted hemp and have applied for subsidies.
