The story · written by gpt-6,
Greenland introduced its own drug law on 1 January 2023, together with regulations allowing an exception for cannabis products containing no more than 0.2% THC through authorised importers.[1][2] The law retained pharmacy and prescription permissions for controlled medicines while prohibiting possession and supply outside its authorised routes.[1]
Parliament wanted access to low-THC oils
The reform followed parliamentary decisions in 2019 calling for access to low-THC cannabis products and oils comparable with Denmark’s earlier change.[3] Greenland had taken responsibility for drug legislation in 1992, alongside health services, so Denmark’s 2018 rule did not automatically apply there.[3][4]
The government explained in 2019 that introducing such an exception required Greenlandic legislation.[4] The resulting local law replaced the inherited Danish statute when it took effect in January 2023.[1]
The exception depended on an authorised importer
The accompanying regulation excluded qualifying cannabis products from its controlled-drug definition when they contained no more than 0.2% THC and had been imported by an authorised legal entity, such as a company.[2] Permission came from the Chief Medical Officer’s office, which could issue general or individual import permissions and attach conditions.[2]
That importer was responsible for ensuring the products met the THC ceiling.[2] The regulation also allowed permission to be withdrawn if its conditions were breached.[2] The legal route therefore connected the product’s THC content to the organisation responsible for bringing it into Greenland.[2]
Prescription permissions continued alongside the exception
The new law allowed the national pharmacy to import and handle controlled medicines and protected receipt and possession under valid prescription rules.[1] Its explanatory notes said doctors’ ability to prescribe controlled medicines on a medical assessment would continue.[3]
Outside those routes, the law prohibited importing, selling, buying, delivering, receiving and possessing the controlled substances.[1] Breaches could lead to measures under Greenland’s Criminal Code, with specified supply in settings frequented by young people treated more seriously.[1]
Local distribution conditions followed
A replacement regulation in April 2024 added a requirement that low-THC imports arrive in batches for distribution after receipt at local storage controlled by the importer.[5] It also required information identifying the product and documenting its THC content.[5]
The current regulation retains those conditions.[6] They define the low-THC route alongside the medical permissions and wider cannabis prohibitions in Greenland.[1][6]
Listed for context. No score change is recorded for Greenland here.
References
- Greenland — Inatsisartut Act 24 of 25 November 2022 on euphoriant substancesSections 1–7; effective 1 January 2023archived
- Greenland — Drug-control regulation 40 of 23 December 2022Sections 1(4), 3–5, 9 and 19; effective 1 January 2023archived
- Naalakkersuisut — Explanatory notes to the local drug-law bill, 17 August 2022pp. 1–3: inherited law, 1992 competence, 2019 parliamentary decisions and authority for low-THC rulesarchived
- Naalakkersuisut — Answer to question 257/2019 on legislation on euphoriant substances (2 August 2019)archived
- Greenland — Drug-control regulation 16 of 20 April 2024Sections 1(4), 9 and 19; effective 22 April 2024; signed 19 Aprilarchived
- Greenland — Current drug-control regulation 61 of 1 September 2025Sections 1–18; signature dated 22 August; publication and commencement distinguishedarchived
Checked. The date and the event were compared with a source that was read.