What about cannabis in Turkey?

Turkey has been in the news lately – so what about the country and marijuana?

Turkey is in the news because they are the latest peace talks. The people at the table must be reflective and cold. This is what people think about, what about cannabis in Turkey? Marijuana is known locally as Kenevir and has a long and complex history in Turkey. While its cultivation and the use of thousands of years come, modern Turkish law keeps a strict attitude against leisure scannabis with limited exceptions for medical and industrial purposes.

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The recovery use of cannabis is illegal in Turkey, with serious punishments for possession, purchase or sales. People prisoners prisoner with cannabis can be exposed to prison terms for two to five years. First perpetrators can be offered as alternative treatment or probation. Repetition offenses lead to an mandatory detention. The sale, delivery or trade of cannabis leads to even harder sentences, which reflects the country's conservative approach and its role as a transit route in international drug trafficking.

However, medical cannabis has experienced carefully. Specific cannabinoid medications such as Sativex have been permitted for patients with a doctor recipe since 2016. Cannabis in the entire plants remains prohibited and access to medical cannabis is strictly regulated. The Turkish Ministry of Health monitors the import of approved pharmaceutical cannabis products, and only registered members of the health professions can be prescribed.

Cannabis has been cultivated in Anatolia for almost 4,000 years and serves the Ottoman Empire for rope, textiles and medical purposes. Turkey was once a leading global producer, but production was severely restricted in the 20th century due to international pressure and domestic laws.Today, industrial hemp cultivation in 19 provinces is legal within the framework of strict state supervision, whereby the extension to other regions is possible after approval. Licensed producers must destroy all plant remains after the harvest to prevent distraction to illegal markets.

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Despite strict laws, cannabis is the most frequently used illegal drug in Turkey. A national survey from 2011 showed a life prevalence of 0.7% of the use of cannabis compared to global average values, but still a problem of public health. Wastewater analysis in Istanbul, the largest city in Türkiye, shows a high degree of cannabis metabolites, which indicates significant urban consumption, especially in areas with low incomes. Istanbul is one of the top global cities for cannabis consumption, directly behind Barcelona.

The interest in cannabis products, especially for medical and wellness purposes, grows with Turkish consumers and reflects global trends. The pharmaceutical cannabis market is expected to reach almost 34 million US dollars in 2025, with a wider cannabi revenues are expected to exceed 230 million US dollars. This growth is driven by the sharpness of the potential health benefits of cannabis and a shift to natural remedies.

Turkey has a strict ban on leisure scannabis with limited, heavily regulated exceptions for medical and industrial hemp use. While historical relationships with cannabis are still strong and urban consumption remains, the legal framework of the country reflects the ongoing concerns regarding public health and international drug trade. However, the development of the settings of consumers and a growing medical cannabis market can gradually change in the coming years