The story
Kuwait published detailed rules for licensed cultivation of controlled plants in August 2026. Al-Jarida reported that eligible government, research and educational institutions could obtain permits for medical or scientific purposes, with seed records, a responsible pharmacist and secure growing premises.[1]
The licence belonged to an institution
The 2025 drug law required a health-minister licence to grow plants in its prohibited-plant table. It limited eligibility to specified government bodies, research centres, universities, colleges and specialised institutions.[2]
The law separately allowed authorisation for medical or scientific growing and for importing the plants and their seeds. Those imports remained subject to the controlled-drug import rules. Pharmaceutical manufacture followed another route, reserved to licensed medicine factories and operations authorised by the ministry.[2]
A pharmacist answered for seeds and plants
The published implementing rules required an application identifying the seeds, quantities, purpose and location. A licensed pharmacist had to take responsibility for the seeds and plants. Institutions had to maintain records and send regular reports on quantities received, used and remaining.[1]
Permits lasted two years, with renewal required before expiry. The rules also provided for inspection and for refusing or cancelling a licence when necessary.[1]
Security continued through disposal
Growing sites required secure fencing and guards, with access restricted to authorised people. Seeds and plants had to be stored securely. When the authorised purpose ended or a licence was cancelled, destruction of remaining seed and crops required an official committee.[1]
The underlying drug law distinguished unauthorised personal-use cultivation from cultivation for trafficking. It provided a maximum of three years and KD5,000 for the former prohibited-plant offence, while trafficking cultivation could bring death or life imprisonment and much higher fines.[2]
Controlled handling had a long history
Kuwait’s 1960 drug law had already placed Indian hemp and its preparations under controlled handling rules. It required permits for eligible pharmacies, laboratories and institutions importing drugs, and regulated prescribed possession and pharmacy records.[3]
The 2026 rules developed the later statute’s institutional-growing route, placing responsibility for seeds, crops, security and disposal with named licensees and supervising authorities.[1][2] The Kuwait profile explains that route alongside personal-use and supply offences.
Listed for context. No score change is recorded for Kuwait here.
References
- Al-Jarida — permits for controlled-plant medical and scientific research2026 · 30 August; reports publication of Health Ministry Decision 289/2026; eligible institutions, seed records, pharmacist, security, destruction and two-year permitsarchived
- Kuwait — enacted drug-control decree-law of November 20252025 · Articles 24, 32, 34–36, 42–44, 49, 52, 63–66 and 83–84; signed 24 November; public statutory reproduction without attached schedules
- Kuwait — 1960 narcotics law communicated to the United Nations1960 · E/NL.1962/52; gazette publication 25 July 1960; articles 1–2, 6–13 and 17–18; schedule item 5 Cannabis indica and all preparations/derivatives
Checked. The date and the event were compared with a source that was read.