With Zelenskiy signaling a laissez faire attitude toward marijuana

With Zelenskiy signaling a laissez faire attitude toward marijuana, the Rada is expected to take a baby step this month: approving on first reading a bill that would allow each household to grow five plants of a variety of hemp that contains cannabis. “This will break the cannabis taboo,” predicts Aleksey Klempner, co-founder of WAYV, a Ukraine–based company he calls ‘the Amazon of cannabis.’ Klempner says full legalization of marijuana – for medical and recreational use – could create $1-2 billion industry in Ukraine. Zelenskiy will be able to see for himself on Monday when he arrives in Canada for a 3-day visit. Last October, Canada became the second country after Uruguay to legalize cannabis. This year, provinces are passing local laws on retail sales and taxes.