Ukraine Advances Medical Cannabis Access with Support from Soros-Affiliated NGOs

LOS ANGELES- Ukraine’s State Service for Medicines and Drug Control issued its first license for importing medical cannabis on June 2, 2025, following the enactment of a law in August 2024 that authorized the use of hemp-based medications for medical, scientific, and industrial purposes.

The policy shift has been supported by domestic advocacy groups such as Patients of Ukraine and 100% Life, alongside high-profile figures including Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna and journalist Yanina Sokolova. These efforts have received backing from the International Renaissance Foundation, a Ukrainian nonprofit linked to the Open Society Foundations, established by financier George Soros.

Proponents argue that war-related health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer, underscore the urgency of making cannabis-based therapies available to patients. Health Minister Viktor Liashko stated that the ongoing conflict has intensified the need for new approaches to mental health and pain management.

In 2019, the International Renaissance Foundation allocated nearly ₴80 million of its ₴335 million budget—over €2 million—toward public-health programs aligned with harm reduction and drug-policy reform.

Globally, Soros has funded initiatives aiming to revise drug laws through organizations such as the Drug Policy Alliance and the Open Society Foundations. His efforts have played a role in legislative changes in countries including the United States and Uruguay.

Analysts estimate that the global cannabis industry, valued at approximately US $6.9 billion in 2017, could surpass $50 billion by 2026, suggesting possible long-term economic benefits for Ukraine if the country expands into domestic cultivation and distribution.

While the immediate aim is medical relief, the policy could open pathways for broader regulatory and economic developments in Ukraine’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.