Health Ministry proposes extending ban on cannabinoids indefinitely

The Health Ministry has proposed extending indefinitely the ban on HHC and other cannabinoids, which was introduced in February of this year, after over 170 children and young people ended up in hospital after overdosing on products containing them. The ban is due to expire at the end of the year and a new regulation which was to have extended the ban by 146 more substances will not come into force on January 1 as planned. The government's drug policy experts oppose an indefinite ban, stressing the need for a regulation that will not criminalize the possession of these substances while making them inaccessible to children. The government earlier agreed that the regulation of addictive substances will be proportionate to the degree of their harmfulness.