Lithuania: Market and regulatory data for the cannabis sector

14th November 2024: Lithuania: In Lithuania, the Cannabis Hub.LT 2024 conference exhibition gathered fibre hemp growers, processors and scientists from Lithuania and beyond, media reports. Among other discussions was a proposal to launch the Hemp for Victory 2.0 international initiative, which aims to ease EU administrative restrictions on the fibre hemp business and support its development in Ukraine. Hana Gabrielová from the European Industrial Hemp Association emphasised the need for regulatory changes to address the challenges of growing fibre hemp and combat its stigma.
31st October 2024: Lithuania: Lithuania has notified to the European Commission Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) database the draft law amending the law on hemp grown for fibre. Among other things, the draft seeks to update definitions for fibre hemp products and derived products; allow cultivation of fibre hemp in covered areas for scientific research with proper authorisation; permit all accredited laboratories to test THC content in these products; and require that any production involving intermediate products exceeding the 0.2% THC limit can only be conducted by authorised legal entities based in Lithuania. The end of the standstill period is 28th January 2025.
31st October 2024: Lithuania: Lithuania has notified to the European Commission Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) database the draft law amending the Law on the Control of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. The draft law seeks to allow all accredited laboratories to acquire reference THC material for testing fibre hemp products. Currently, only one state laboratory conducts THC-level testing in fibre hemp products due to the lack of legal means for other laboratories to procure standard THC units. By granting this right, the legislation aims to increase competition and enable producers to better monitor their fibre hemp products. The end of the standstill period is 28th January 2025.
15th October 2024: Lithuania: Today, the Seimas (parliament) approved the amendments to the Fibre Hemp Law that would make it easier to import hemp products from other EU countries and would also simplify the requirements for suppliers and allow the import of a limited amount of seeds of non-legalised EU fibre hemp varieties from third countries for scientific experimental or breeding purposes without an import licence, media reports. Next, the amendments should be signed by the president.
3rd October 2024: Lithuania: Yesterday, 2nd October, the Rural Affairs Committee of the Seimas (parliament) approved the amendments to the Fibre Hemp Law that would make it easier to import hemp products from other EU countries and would also simplify the requirements for suppliers and introduce new conditions for the cultivation of fibre hemp in closed ground, media reports. Next, it should be approved by the plenary.
26th September 2024: Lithuania: A supervisory board approved by the government has been created in the Department of Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control (NTAKD), media reports. The board will focus on providing recommendations for the NTAKD’s activity planning, improving internal administration functions, and overseeing the internal control system.
6th September 2024: Lithuania: The State Plant Service has reduced the number of inspections for suppliers of fibre hemp products and propagating material to ease the administrative burden, media reports.
14th August 2024: Lithuania: The Department of Drug, Tobacco, and Alcohol Control (NTAKD) has noted that two semi-synthetic cannabinoids (delta-8-THC-C8 (or THCJD) and delta-9-THC-C8) have been added to List I of narcotic and psychotropic substances as of 12th August, media reports. These substances are now prohibited for use, except in cases where they are included in a registered medicinal product.
12th August 2024: Lithuania: The Department of Drug, Tobacco, and Alcohol Control (NTAKD) has announced that the company Viada has been fined €2,198 for selling fibrous hemp flowers labelled as tea that contain THC when they must contain zero THC, media reports. The NTAKD’s decision can be appealed at court within one month.
7th August 2024: Lithuania: The government is proposing to tighten the conditions for cultivating fibre hemp in closed ground starting from November 2025, media reports. The proposal suggests allowing the cultivation of fibre hemp only in open ground, with cultivation in closed ground limited to scientific research or experimental development with special permits. The proposal also aims to regulate the THC content in fibre hemp products supplied to the Lithuanian market.
6th August 2024: Lithuania: The State Consumer Rights Protection Service (VVTAT) has fined the company Pas Bobutę €500 for selling CBD products (CBD face serum, CBD body oil, CBD hemp oil and CBD body balm) without the required certificates and test protocols. The VVTAT decision may be appealed in court within 30 calendar days.
12th June 2024: Lithuania: The Seimas (parliament) has approved the amendments to the Fibrous Hemp Law, which create more favourable conditions for the import of fibrous hemp products, media reports. Among other things, the proposed changes seek to specify that the maximum THC content of exported fibre hemp products is determined according to the requirements of the export country. The bill needs to be voted on one more time.

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