medical cannabis would be produced and approved in Korea under a bill introduced by Rep. Kim Hyeong-dong that reclassifies certain cannabis-derived medicines as psychotropic drugs and creates a government-managed supply chain.
Rep. Kim of the opposition People Power Party (PPP), a member of the National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, filed an amendment to the Narcotics Control Act to allow domestic cultivation, extraction and manufacturing of cannabis-based medicines such as cannabidiol (CBD). The amendment aims to establish a legal pathway for obtaining marketing approval for finished pharmaceutical products containing those ingredients.
Key provisions in the draft law – Reclassify cannabis-derived substances with demonstrated therapeutic effects, including CBD, as psychotropic drugs. That reclassification would allow these substances to be handled under licensing and approval processes used for other controlled but medicinal compounds. – Authorize domestic manufacturing and clinical use approval procedures for medicines that contain cannabis-derived raw materials. – Create a Medical Narcotics Raw Material Management Center to manage procurement, storage and distribution of cannabis raw materials intended for medical use. – Require government oversight of the full supply chain, from licensed cultivation and extraction through production and distribution of finished medicines, with the stated goals of stabilizing supply and minimizing misuse.
Current system and stated problems Under existing Korean law, medical cannabis products are available only through imports arranged by the Korea Orphan & Essential Drug Center for patients with designated conditions, such as certain forms of epilepsy. Those imports are for personal therapeutic use and not for local production. Rep. Kim and other supporters say this import-only model leaves patients dependent on overseas manufacturers, contributes to high prices and causes shortages or delays in access.
Policy objectives and regional focus Rep. Kim said the amendment would broaden treatment options for patients with rare and intractable diseases and set up infrastructure for a domestic medical cannabis sector. He singled out Andong, a city in North Gyeongsang Province, as a target for developing hemp cultivation and related bio-industry activities, saying the bill would help create jobs and attract investment in the region.
“This amendment is not only a livelihood bill that will improve access to treatment for patients with rare and intractable diseases, but also legislation that will help transform Andong into a global bio hub and revitalize the regional economy,” Rep. Kim said in a statement. He added he will push for rapid passage to allow domestic production to stabilize supply chains and let Andong’s hemp industry expand into overseas markets.
Oversight, safety and enforcement The proposed Medical Narcotics Raw Material Management Center would centralize tracking of medical cannabis inputs, issue permits for licensed buyers and manage inventory to reduce diversion risk. The bill would place cultivation sites, extraction facilities and manufacturers under licensing and inspection regimes similar to those applied to other controlled pharmaceutical substances. Supporters say those controls would allow tighter oversight than current imported-product arrangements.
Debate and next steps Supporters frame the bill as a way to reduce supply volatility and lower costs for patients who rely on imported cannabis-based medicines. Critics may raise questions about public safety, enforcement capacity and international treaty obligations; the bill’s reclassification of cannabis-derived medicines as psychotropic substances is designed to address some of those compliance issues by keeping production and distribution within a controlled, state-supervised framework.
Rep. Kim is hosting a National Assembly policy forum on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in Conference Room 6 of the Members’ Office Building titled “Introducing Cannabis-Derived Medicines to Expand Treatment Opportunities for Patients with Rare and Intractable Diseases and Strengthen the Supply Chain for Essential Medicines.” The forum will discuss measures to improve patient access and to strengthen supply chains for essential medicines.
If lawmakers approve the amendment, Korea would move from an import-only system to one that allows licensed domestic production and marketing approval for medical cannabis products. That change would transfer oversight responsibilities from an import-focused model to a full domestic regulatory regime covering cultivation, extraction, manufacturing, distribution and patient access protocols.
