The debate over legalizing cannabis has been going on for years in a number of countries around the world. Cannabis in its natural form is officially accepted as a remedy for a list of conditions in the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Israel, Canada, and a few U.S. states. Last year, medical marijuana legally went on sale in pharmacies in the Czech Republic for patients suffering from cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis. Romania became the tenth country in the EU to legalize the use of cannabis products for medical purposes. In Bulgaria, however, the understanding that the use of marijuana for medical purposes and its free smoking are different things is still missing. This was one of the major reasons for organizing the first seminar in Bulgaria dedicated to liberalization of the regime for production and use of cannabis - "Can?nabis: Let’s start speaking about marijuana.”

One of the lecturers at the forum was biologist Doctor Julian Karadjov. His lecture was entitled “Problem with a fictional problem.” He told us more about it:
 
“I would say that the problem with marijuana is truly fictional. There is a widespread and not very correct opinion that the decades in which growing industrial hemp faced problems are a result of the marijuana prohibition. Actually it is the other way round. Marijuana was declared a terrible drug without any scientific evidence at the time in order for industrial hemp to be banned. But things change. For example, the news is that the U.S. anti-drug service has recently asked the FDA to reconsider the status of marijuana, which means that the ice has been melting.”

During most of human history, marijuana was completely legal, and its medical properties were described in ancient times before the birth of Christ. America's first marijuana law was enacted in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. It ordered farmers to grow hemp. During the 18th, 19th and early 20th century, cannabis was grown in commercial quantities everywhere - from USA to Bulgaria and plant tincture was sold in pharmacies. 
 
In early 2014, the topic caused strong public reactions because of the new Penal Code, which makes marijuana equal to all other illegal drugs. Anyone who owns a marijuana cigarette risks 1 to 6 years in jail. However, this comes at a time of European liberalisation of the sale of the soft drug with medical purpose. Earlier this year, the European Commission approved a European-wide citizens' initiative for the legalization of marijuana called "Weed like to talk". Such initiatives are a type of invitation to the European Commission to propose legislation on a particular matter. Initiatives must be supported by at least one million citizens of the European Union from at least 7 Member States. Lawyer Kalin Angelov told us more on the topic of legalisation.

 
"The answer is yes but it can happen legally only through a change in existing legislation. We need to figure out how to do it. Currently no legal way exists for using medical marijuana. We need to work in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Interior, which, however, should only have the right to give its opinion. Ideas for change must come mainly from the Ministry of Healthcare." 
 
After several decades of marijuana being part of the criminal list, a number of countries these days  make a distinction between fears of drug addiction on the one hand and medical benefits on the other. The seminar that was held in Sofia during the weekend has started a discussion on the topic in Bulgaria.

English: Alexander Markov