Back in February 2019, Turkey was already making headlines with its renewed interest in hemp. President Erdoğan, reportedly acting on a ‘personal impulse’, had called for the rediscovery of the plant as a valuable and versatile crop. The main aim was to support domestic agriculture, while a secondary goal was to reduce the use of plastic bags, by encouraging the use of reusable hemp-based alternatives.
Now, five years later, the Turkish government has taken a further step toward embracing the plant’s medical and industrial potential.
At the end of June, a new package of laws was submitted to parliament, proposing to expand the scope of cannabis cultivation to include its use in pharmaceuticals, health products, dietary supplements, and personal care items. A key objective is to meet rising demand for raw materials through regulated domestic production. Future sales are to be strictly limited to licensed pharmacies to ensure product safety and quality control.
As reported by Turkiye Today, the Turkish parliament has now passed the proposed legislative package, introducing significant reforms to the healthcare system, including the regulated sale of medical cannabis in pharmacies.
Officially titled the ‘Amendments to Certain Health-Related Laws and Decree Law No. 663,’ the new law permits the controlled production and distribution of low-THC cannabis-based medical products.
These products, designed to have no psychoactive effects, are distinct from cannabis used recreationally. Their regulation will be jointly overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which will supervise cultivation and harvesting, and the Ministry of Health, which will handle licensing, processing, compliance monitoring, and pharmacy sales. All medical cannabis will also be tracked using an electronic monitoring system to ensure full regulatory oversight.
Only licensed pharmacies will be authorised to sell these cannabis-based medications, and their use will be limited to prescribed medical treatments.
Taner Ercanlı, a board member of the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association, emphasised that medical cannabis has recognised analgesic and antidepressant effects and should not be equated with recreational marijuana. He also noted that similar regulatory models in Europe have already shown the potential for a promising new sector to emerge.
Due to its wide range of applications, hemp has already established itself as a valuable raw material across multiple sectors in Turkey. It is being used in the automotive industry for natural fibre components, and in construction, where its unique properties offer clear advantages. The textile and paper industries, as well as the biofuel sector, are also benefiting from this eco-friendly, renewable resource.
As reported by Hurriyet Daily News, industrial hemp is currently licensed for cultivation in 19 of Turkey’s 81 provinces. However, authorities have suggested that approval could soon be extended to more regions. Since the government’s 2019 push to revitalise the sector, hemp production has grown rapidly—from just 280 tonnes in 2020 to more than 1,700 tonnes by 2024.
Professor Selim Aytaç, a leading Turkish cannabis expert, has underlined the importance of aligning with global progress in cannabis research and development.
He told journalists that Turkey must develop a national strategy guiding the process from cultivation to the production of high-quality finished goods. “This way,” he said, “both producers and the country can benefit.”
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Now, five years later, the Turkish government has taken a further step toward embracing the plant’s medical and industrial potential.
At the end of June, a new package of laws was submitted to parliament, proposing to expand the scope of cannabis cultivation to include its use in pharmaceuticals, health products, dietary supplements, and personal care items. A key objective is to meet rising demand for raw materials through regulated domestic production. Future sales are to be strictly limited to licensed pharmacies to ensure product safety and quality control.
Law Passed by Parliament
As reported by Turkiye Today, the Turkish parliament has now passed the proposed legislative package, introducing significant reforms to the healthcare system, including the regulated sale of medical cannabis in pharmacies.
Officially titled the ‘Amendments to Certain Health-Related Laws and Decree Law No. 663,’ the new law permits the controlled production and distribution of low-THC cannabis-based medical products.
These products, designed to have no psychoactive effects, are distinct from cannabis used recreationally. Their regulation will be jointly overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which will supervise cultivation and harvesting, and the Ministry of Health, which will handle licensing, processing, compliance monitoring, and pharmacy sales. All medical cannabis will also be tracked using an electronic monitoring system to ensure full regulatory oversight.
Only licensed pharmacies will be authorised to sell these cannabis-based medications, and their use will be limited to prescribed medical treatments.
Taner Ercanlı, a board member of the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association, emphasised that medical cannabis has recognised analgesic and antidepressant effects and should not be equated with recreational marijuana. He also noted that similar regulatory models in Europe have already shown the potential for a promising new sector to emerge.
Hemp Already Proving Its Value
Due to its wide range of applications, hemp has already established itself as a valuable raw material across multiple sectors in Turkey. It is being used in the automotive industry for natural fibre components, and in construction, where its unique properties offer clear advantages. The textile and paper industries, as well as the biofuel sector, are also benefiting from this eco-friendly, renewable resource.
As reported by Hurriyet Daily News, industrial hemp is currently licensed for cultivation in 19 of Turkey’s 81 provinces. However, authorities have suggested that approval could soon be extended to more regions. Since the government’s 2019 push to revitalise the sector, hemp production has grown rapidly—from just 280 tonnes in 2020 to more than 1,700 tonnes by 2024.
Professor Selim Aytaç, a leading Turkish cannabis expert, has underlined the importance of aligning with global progress in cannabis research and development.
He told journalists that Turkey must develop a national strategy guiding the process from cultivation to the production of high-quality finished goods. “This way,” he said, “both producers and the country can benefit.”
The post Landmark Turkish Bill Legalises Medical Cannabis Sales in Pharmacies appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
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