How many companies have cannabis cultivation licenses in Macedonia and how were they granted?

How many companies have cannabis cultivation licenses in Macedonia and how were they granted?

Following the major action by the Ministry of Interior and the record seizure of around 27 tons of marijuana, debates have been sparked in public opinion about how many licenses and how they were granted to companies that cultivate cannabis for medical use.

Companies engaged in the cultivation and processing of medicinal plants must have obtained a license from the Ministry of Health, with prior approval from the Government. Since the 2017 law, about 60 companies in North Macedonia have received permits to cultivate cannabis for medical purposes.

According to the latest data, so far 14 of these companies have had their licenses revoked, highlighting a lack of strict control and concerns about the way permits were granted.

The opposition at the time had accused that licenses were often given to selected individuals and suggested that between 300.000 and 500.000 euros were paid for them. Some media outlets had even reported that some licenses were also given to Serbian citizens with connections to the criminal world. (INA)