Bulgaria: Cannabis
Cannabis (hemp) is an annual flowering herb that can potentially be used to obtain marijuana. The plant contains chemical substances called cannabinoids that affect humans. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive substance in cannabis, while cannabidiol (CBD) is not regulated under Bulgarian law. THC content varies from 0.2 to 21% depending on the hemp variety. Plant varieties with THC content below 0.2% qualify as industrial cannabis, unsuitable for marijuana production and used in textile, paper, food, and feed industries.
APPROACH
Bulgarian lawmakers have demonstrated ambivalence about industrial cannabis cultivation through the Narcotic Substances and Precursors Control Act (NSPCA). The law simultaneously permits cultivation of industrial hemp with THC below 0.2% while implementing international conventions on psychotropic substances and narcotic drugs.
LEGAL
Registered farmers without drug-related convictions may grow industrial cannabis. To obtain a permit, farmers must submit applications to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry with clear court records and declarations that they will not separate, use, or process hemp plant parts. A committee decides within three months whether to issue a three-year license at no charge.
… BUT ALSO A CRIME.
THC and its isomers are classified as narcotic substances under Bulgarian law. Products containing THC are considered “preparations” subject to the same control measures as narcotics, requiring seizure by authorities. The absence of legally-permissible minimum THC amounts creates risk for all cannabinoid products on the market, including CBD products where THC traces are practically unavoidable. While stem and seed processing is legal, leaves and flowers remain classified as marijuana sources, creating legal inconsistencies that complicate farming and processing operations.