CannaReporter
The North Macedonian Ministry of Health, led by Minister Azir Aliu, confirmed to CannaReporter® that “urgent controls” are underway on all companies licensed to cultivate medicinal cannabis in the country. This response follows the recent seizure of over 40 tons of cannabis, allegedly diverted from licensed producers, in a case that triggered several police operations. Of the approximately 60 licensed companies, 18 have already had their licenses revoked. The Ministry says that 43 entities now hold a valid license, but does not provide a list of authorized companies, nor of those that have lost their licenses.
The North Macedonian Ministry of Health says it is investigating all entities licensed to cultivate cannabis for medicinal purposes in the country, following recent investigations related to the diversion of large quantities of cannabis flower to illicit markets.
“Urgent checks are underway in all legal entities, carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (MALMED), the Agricultural Inspectorate, the State Institute for Health Protection and other competent institutions,” it confirmed by email, in response to a request for clarification sent by CannaReporter®.
“At this time, controls are still ongoing and, in the interest of the investigations being conducted by the competent authorities, we cannot provide further details,” said the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia.
According to internal records from the Ministry of Health’s Cannabis Commission, 43 companies currently hold a valid license to cultivate cannabis for medicinal purposes. “Of these, 14 legal entities have had their licenses revoked, and a license revocation process is underway for 4 legal entities due to irregularities found,” the Ministry states.
The response from the Ministry of Health comes after authorities announced the seizure of more than 40 tons of cannabis allegedly diverted from licensed companies, in a case that raised concerns about control failures in the country’s medicinal cannabis production system.
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