Marijuana plant (Photo: Jurica Galoic/PIXSELL)

In parliament today, Ivan Vilibor Sinčić, the president of the Živi zid activist party, believes Croatia's agriculture industry should be producing marijuana for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Economy Nikola Badovinac

The minority party has put into procedure changes to legislation that they hope will be debated by the end of this year.

They say the ancient crop has enormous potential for developing the country's slumping agricultural industry, as well as giving tourism a boost. Sinčić said the country should be producing marijuana by selling licenses for commercial purposes, while individuals would be allowed to grow a fixed number of plants for personal use.

"We suggest that Croatia stop importing medical marijuana and allow registered local companies the right to produce it. I can also see the Immunological Institute having a role in producing marijuana in the future. Those in medical need of the plant would be allowed to grow marijuana on their own without limit; while private recreational use would be limited to six plants per person. In this way we would be in line with existing trends in more developed countries, such as Germany, the UK, Spain, the Czech Republic and Austria," said Sinčić.

Ivan Vilibor Sinčić (Photo: Kristina Stedul Fabac/PIXSELL)

The Živi zid party believes the suggested registration system would eliminate the black market by allowing people to grow their own plants. Sinčić added that it would also help unburden the legal system by legalizing this benign and commonplace drug.

"I expect the support of the entire opposition, but from some in the majority as well, perhaps even from the largest parties in parliament, because this is not some ultra-liberal law ... this is a huge step that should have been made long ago," asserted Sinčić.

Source: HRT