Albania is taking concrete steps to legalize cannabis for the purposes of medical production, but the plant has "found" its way again before this formalization.

In the latest report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the figures of cannabis cultivation, production and disposal for the period 2013-2021 for many countries of the world have been published.

For Albania, it is reported for the first time, along with the information of destroyed plants, and the figure of cannabis production, which is 3,601 tons of cannabis grass and 2 tons of cannabis concentrate.

Based on the number of plants destroyed, which was about 166,000, this is the highest level of cannabis produced since 2016, when a record 2.5 million cannabis roots were destroyed, a period that marked a peak cultivation of this plant in Albania. The UN calculates production indirectly, through the number of roots destroyed.

At these levels, the reported production of cannabis surpasses even Mexico, which according to the data of the report for 2018, when the last information is reported, produced 2,726 tons of cannabis. Morocco has the highest level, with over 20,000 tons per year.

The market value of about 3.6 thousand tons of cannabis reported as produced in Albania is about 13 million euros (Monitor's calculations based on market prices per kg).

In the UN report from a year ago, Albania was ranked seventh in the world from the most mentioned countries for the origin, departure and transit of cannabis for the period 2016-2019, (out of 154 countries in total) after Morocco, Afghanistan , Spain, the Netherlands, Pakistan and Lebanon.

According to the annual drug report, Cannabis continues to be the most widely used drug in the world, with an estimated 219 million users (4.3 percent of the global adult population) in 2021.

Drug use is increasing, and although globally cannabis users are predominantly male (about 70 percent), the gender divide is narrowing in some subregions; women make up 42 percent of cannabis users in North America.

A few days ago, the Albanian government approved a bill for the Control of the Cultivation and Processing of the Cannabis Plant and its by-products for medical and industrial purposes through licensed entities and under the supervision of the National Agency that will be established for this purpose.

Albania enters the legal market, joining about 40 countries around the world that have already allowed it, with experience and a qualified workforce due to its dominance in the black market.

According to the draft law, the area available will be about 200 hectares.

License is granted for one or several activities for a period of 15 years, with the right of renewal upon request for each of the activities.

The license format for exercising activities related to the production of cannabis for medical purposes is approved by order of the Minister responsible for Health. The license is granted only in the name of the subject and is non-transferable and inalienable.

(Source: Monitor)