The main purpose of the Cyprus Cannabis Association (CYCA) is to educate, connect, and lobby.

Our objectives include:

• To cooperate and work closely with both Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) as well as other relevant government departments to promote the creation, growth and further development of the cannabis industry. In due course, growers and processors will need to be empowered to ensure the entire cannabis plant is fully utilised to enable access to all its potential uses
• To represent all stakeholders and communities that can benefit from the development of a vibrant, sustainable and flourishing Cyprus cannabis industry
• To support, promote and further the cultivation, processing, distribution, manufacturing, import and export and use of cannabis and its products
• To represent the cannabis industry to the Cyprus government, institutions and regional ministries in order to promote growth and develop a sustainable, thriving and financially viable cannabis industry within Cyprus
• To provide the Cyprus government, institutions and regional ministries, the media, and the public with current and reliable information on cannabis
• To develop and submit recommendations for any legislative and/or other changes, and to participate in the required process of any legislative change
• To establish a regular exchange of information between its members, and to cooperate with other national, European, and international organisations and associations, to further the commercial, agricultural and medical use of cannabis in all its forms
• As far as possible to provide basic advisory and support services for members of CYCA and its community
• To undertake all such other activities, enterprises, projects or ventures which can be conducive (either directly or indirectly), to the attainment of the Association’s objectives and facilitate, support and encourage the various sectors of the cannabis industry
• Cannabis has the potential to transform lives and considerably improve healthcare services in Cyprus. With effective communication and reliable data, we aim to trigger further reforms so that patients can live happier and healthier lives as a matter of basic human right

Legal Developments

Cyprus legalised the medical use of cannabis oil in January 2017 for use by advanced state cancer patients only. In February 2019 a more expansive law was passed called ‘The Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Laws of 1977 to 2019’ which (inter alia):

(a) increased the number of qualifying medical conditions to include chronic painful conditions associated with, among others, HIV; degenerative diseases of the motor system; rheumatism; neuropathy and glaucoma; Tourette's syndrome and Crohn's disease;

(b) permits under certain strict pre-requisites and conditions import of cannabis seeds and cannabis plants for cultivation, production, processing and export of medical cannabis and

(c) regulates issuance of (initially) three licenses to those who meet all necessary requirements, aiming to draw in financially sound companies with worldwide experience in the field of cultivation and production of medicinal cannabis.

Cannabis used for industrial purposes is called hemp. The cultivation of hemp in Cyprus and export thereof has been legally permitted since 2016.