Rama asks citizens: Should Cannabis be legalized?

Rama has invited all citizens to give their opinion without being influenced, while adding that the time has come to leave divisive slakes behind.

To walk faster and to climb upward, we need to leave the party's divisive vanes behind and listen to each other more! I invite you all to give your opinion in this first-time popular process and it's open to every Albanian, wherever you live and reside, despite the beliefs of political sympathy” writes Rama.

The government's national consultation questionnaire with citizens, announced by Prime Minister Rama several weeks ago, includes 12 questions, some of which are discussed on sensitive topics discussed in public opinion.

Among the issues that Albanians are asked for through this survey are family and social issues, such as dealing with mothers with many minor children, mandatory vaccination for civilians, cultivating cannabis for medical purposes, and to topics with specific focus as fiscal amnesty for migrants' money, property of judges and prosecutors or Albania's integration into the European Union.

In this poll, which is not binding anyway, Albanians also face questions about the open Balkans initiative, which both politicians and economy experts and other areas are divided into thoughts or and unclear expectations.

What is noted is that before the respondents choose one of three areas of response, the pollster (in this case the government) shows her option or position on the subject.

Concretically; the question “whether it brings benefits to Albania the Balkan initiative opened” is followed by the suggestion that “there are, in fact, many barriers related to the movement of people, goods, services and capital in the countries of the Western Balkans. But the Open Balkans would bring new advantages to Albania and Albanians”.

The questionnaire is anonymous, and it can be fulfilled by the family head or other family members over 18. But the authors have been taken care of to remind the citizens who will be able to leave their individual contact records if they want to, continue to communicate with government representatives on issues that the opinion has been asked about.

Polling “Let us listen to each other” is not the first communication bridge between Prime Minister Rama's government and Albanians. There are government portals where citizens are invited to voice complaints, pending their settlement by relevant institutions. What is important and remains to be seen in this case is how the opinion of Albanians who will respond to this survey is managed and materialised

Question 6 on the National Council questionnaire:

There are people who say Albania should allow cultivation, processing and export controlled by the state of cannabis for medical purposes, without legalising it for personal use. Others say that cannabis should not be allowed for medical purposes either. What do you think?

The medical cannabis, which is different from the cannabis for self - use, is widely proved by science to have medicinal effects. However, as results from the experience of various countries in the region or the world, the controlled exploitation of cannabis by the state has a very positive impact not only on health but also on economic growth and the fight against the illegal exploitation of this plant.

Reply Options:

-Albania should allow the state-controlled cultivation, processing and export of medical cannabis.
) We don't need this initiative.
I can't judge this case.