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Author: Hazel Norman

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Advocates Rally In Mexico City To Demand Cannabis Reform

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Cannabis reform advocates held a rally in Mexico City, Mexico over the weekend, demanding that the nation’s government modernize Mexico’s cannabis policies and regulations to expressly permit personal recreational cannabis activity.

“Thousands of people flooded the streets of Mexico City this weekend demanding free access to marijuana and cannabis.” reported 7 News Miami in its original coverage. “Protesters who took part in Saturday’s demonstration also demanded having the ability to grow it for personal use and for legal harassment of using it to end.”

The effort to modernize Mexico’s cannabis policies has taken many turns in recent years. Back in June 2021, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled in an 8-3 decision that the prohibition of private recreational use of cannabis by adults was unconstitutional.

“Today is a historic day for liberties,” Supreme Court president Arturo Zaldívar said at the time. The Court’s decision did not extend to recreational cannabis commerce, and consuming cannabis in public remained prohibited in Mexico.

Part of the Court’s decision tasked lawmakers in Mexico with introducing, approving, and implementing an adult-use cannabis legalization model that included expressed limits for private adult-use activity and regulated sales. However, political leaders in Mexico have continued to fail to codify those public policy changes.

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Portugal’s Cannabis Exports Have Nearly Tripled

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business.

The legal medical cannabis industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, particularly in Europe. One country that is witnessing substantial growth of its emerging medical cannabis industry is Portugal, where cannabis exports are booming.

“According to data provided to ECO by the National Authority for Medicines and Health Products (Infarmed), sales abroad totalled 32,558 kilos, covering cultivation, manufacturing and wholesale trade activities.” reported The Portugal News in its local coverage (translated to English).

“Germany, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom and Australia were the top five destinations for medical cannabis exports last year. With this year-on-year growth of 172%, which made the volume exceed 65 tons in 2019, the country consolidated its status as the largest European exporter and second in the world, a ranking in which it appears behind only Canada.” the outlet also reported.

One factor that people should have on their radars is the rise of domestic medical cannabis production in major markets, particularly in Germany. As part of the nation’s 2024 CanG law, caps on domestic medical cannabis production were removed in Germany.

It will take time for domestic production to significantly ramp up in Germany, which is Europe’s largest legal medical cannabis market, but once it does, it could impact imports from other countries such as Portugal.

Cannabis is now legal in some form, whether it be for medical use, adult use, or in the form of industrial hemp, in over 115 countries. According to a recent study conducted by researchers from Ukraine and France, and published by the U.S. National Institute of Health, 57 countries have adopted medical cannabis legalization measures.

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Austria’s CBD Flower Ban Faces Legal Challenges

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Months after it was reportedly determined that dried hemp flowers in Austria with a THC content of up to 0.3% are subject to the country’s tobacco tax and monopoly, the nation’s government is facing ongoing legal challenges from cannabis industry members.

“The Austrian cannabis industry is breathing a sigh of relief after the publication of a constitutional opinion by leading jurist Dr. Heinz Mayer. According to Mayer, the sale of CBD weed with less than 0.3% THC is not subject to the tobacco monopoly, despite earlier reports from the Ministry of Finance. This would allow CBD shops to legally resume the sale of smokable cannabis products.” reported Cannabis Industrie in its original coverage (translated to English).

“Mayer argues that the ruling of the highest administrative court only confirms that CBD weed falls under tobacco excise duty, not under the monopoly itself. According to him, an extension of the tobacco monopoly to cannabis would be in conflict with the Austrian constitution and European law.” the outlet also reported.

According to a previous analysis by the Tax Foundation, Austria places a €3.32 excise duty per 20-pack of tobacco cigarettes. An additional ‘value added tax’ or VAT is also placed on tobacco products, raising the total tax per pack of tobacco cigarettes to €4.23. The Tax Foundation estimates that tax as a share of the final selling price per pack of tobacco cigarettes is 77%.

Regulators across Europe, and many other parts of the world, are struggling to rectify the inconsistencies in laws and regulations on consumable hemp products. For many years, hemp products were largely limited to textiles. However, many savvy entrepreneurs are bringing more consumable hemp products to emerging markets, often referred to as ‘cannabis light,’ and policymakers are scrambling to try to catch up.

According to the Austrian government, sales of cannabis light products must exclusively go through official tobacco shops as long as the sales ban remains in force. Vending machine sales are also prohibited according to the Austrian government.

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Budapest March Protests Against Cannabis Prohibition

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Over the weekend, the internationally recognized cannabis holiday 4/20 took place worldwide, with events, gatherings, and demonstrations occurring in several jurisdictions. One such gathering was held in Budapest, Hungary, where cannabis advocates protested the nation’s cannabis prohibition policies.

“The event was held by Hungarian political party ‘Two-Tailed Dog’, with participants pointing out that alcohol has a far more serious negative effect and causes greater social harm than marijuana, the consumption of which is criminalised.” reported EuroNews in its coverage.

“At the Million Marijuana March event, MKKP co-chair Zsuzsanna Döme argued that alcohol and designer drugs cause much greater social harm, yet the government criminalises the usage of marijuana by young people.” the outlet also reported.

Whereas numerous European nations have modernized their cannabis policies to permit safe access to medical cannabis, and in some cases recreational cannabis, Hungary has seemingly trended in the opposite direction.

Currently, most European countries have operational medical cannabis programs. Cannabis is legal for adult use in Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany, and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

“A demonstration for legalising marijuana held on Easter Sunday “is a shameless provocation”, László Horváth, the government commissioner for eliminating drug dealing, has said, vowing that the protest would be “the last” of its kind.” reported Daily News Hungary about Sunday’s protest.

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Italian Court Upholds Classification Of CBD As A Narcotic

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Italy’s emerging cannabis industry was dealt another major setback recently, with an Italian court ruling that cannabidiol’s (CBD) classification as a narcotic is permissible. A previously approved measure in Italy equated floral hemp with cannabis flower that is high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content.

“In yet another blow to Italy’s beleaguered hemp sector, the Lazio Regional Administrative Court (TAR) has rejected an appeal by stakeholders challenging the government’s restriction of oral CBD products, solidifying a ban that has drawn sharp criticism from legal and trade experts.” reported HempToday in its coverage.

“Italy has now effectively banned all oral compositions of CBD derived from the cannabis plant, including extracts from flowers, leaves, or stalks, limiting them strictly to prescription-only pharmaceutical use. The decision expands prior restrictions, which only applied to flower-derived CBD.” the outlet also stated.

According to a recent economic report, Italy’s cannabis light industry employs over 20,000 people.

“The light cannabis sector has a direct economic impact of almost one billion euros, with another additional billion of indirect impact, and the creation of 22 thousand full-time jobs.” reported Dolce Vita in its original coverage.

“These are the recently updated estimates of the Italian light cannabis market, therefore relating only to inflorescences (without CBD oils and shredded) developed in a study by MPG Consulting, led by the specialized economist Davide Fortin together with the lawyer Maria Paola Liotti and commissioned by the Canapa Sativa Italia association.” the outlet also stated.

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Israel Announces 165% Tariffs On Canadian Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Israel is an international leader in medical cannabis in many ways, having allowed legal medical cannabis activity by patients going back to the 1990s. It is also considered the birthplace of modern medical cannabis research.

The Israeli medical cannabis market is large in size and scope, which makes it a popular destination for medical cannabis product imports and exports. Historically, medical cannabis products from Canada have been popular in Israel. However, that could be changing in the future, with Israel announcing stiff tariffs on Canadian cannabis.

“Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry has announced the nation will impose tariffs on Canadian cannabis at rates as high as 165% for the next four years.” StratCann reported. “The decision still needs to be approved by the country’s Knesset Finance Committee and Finance Minister.”

“In its adoption of the Minister of Economy’s Advisory Committee recommendations, the new levy tariffs will be 165% on all Canadian cannabis imported into Israel, except for Decibel (12%), Village Farms (28%), Organigram (53%), and Tilray (70%).” the outlet also reported.

Persistence Market Research estimates that “the global medical marijuana market is expected to grow from USD 33.1 Bn in 2025 to USD 83.1 Bn by 2032, registering a CAGR of 14.0% during the forecast period.”

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Chile Is Considering Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis measures, regional adult-use pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and top courts in multiple other countries have ruled against adult-use prohibition policies.

Chile is another country that may join the list of legalized nations, with lawmakers having recently introduced a measure that would legalize cannabis for adult use in the South American country if approved.

“Chile is entering a new chapter in its cannabis policy. Lawmakers have introduced a comprehensive bill to regulate adult-use cannabis, advocacy groups are rallying behind it and one of the country’s top presidential candidates has pledged to push for legalization if elected.” stated Benzinga in its original coverage.

“The bill outlines several major changes: adults would be allowed to cultivate up to six flowering plants, store up to 800 grams annually and carry up to 40 grams in public. Consumption would remain restricted to private spaces; public use—including in schools, transport or around minors—would be prohibited. Cultivation collectives of up to 500 members would be legal as long as distribution is limited to members and not commercialized.” the outlet also reported.

Cannabis legalization models differ across the globe, with no two jurisdictions having the exact same legalization model. Canada has the most robust adult-use commerce system, with sales permitted nationwide, including sales to non-residents. Uruguay also permits adult-use sales, yet they are limited to residents only.

What is being proposed in Chile is more akin to legalization models in Germany and Malta, both of which permit home cultivation, personal possession, and cultivation associations. However, the cultivation and possession limits being proposed in Chile are considerably greater than what is currently permitted in Germany and Malta.

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Brazil Supreme Court Issues Major Cannabis Decision

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis legalization measures, and adult-use pilot trials are operating in multiple jurisdictions in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Another area of emerging cannabis policy can be found via court decisions. Landmark court decisions have been handed down in such nations as Spain, Italy, and Mexico. South Africa’s top court struck down cannabis prohibition laws before the African nation’s lawmakers eventually adopted a legalization measure to further codify the court’s previous decision.

Brazil is the latest country to experience a landmark court ruling in favor of adult-use cannabis consumers. Below is more information about what the court decided and its potential impact via a news release from NORML:

Brasilia, Brazil: Brazilians may possess up to 40 grams of cannabis and home-cultivate up to six marijuana plants without the threat of arrest or incarceration, according to a determination by members of the Supreme Federal Court.

The decision affirms and clarifies an earlier decision depenalizing low-level marijuana possession. The use of cannabis in public remains subject to administrative penalties. Cannabis trafficking remains punishable by criminal penalties.

An estimated 25 percent of Brazilian prisoners are serving time for minor drug possession offenses.

In 2018, South Africa’s highest court similarly determined that the use of marijuana by adults in private is constitutionally protected behavior. Lawmakers eventually signed legislation into law in 2024, codifying the personal use of marijuana by adults.

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A New Phase For Cannabis Pilot Trials In The Netherlands

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Retail adult-use cannabis outlets participating in pilot trial research projects in the Netherlands entered into a new era today, with sales of recreational pilot trial cannabis flower products being limited to flowers originating from regulated sources. Previously, pilot trial participants could sell cannabis flower products produced by unregulated sources.

“From today, all coffeeshops in the ten participating municipalities are only allowed to sell cannabis grown by regulated cultivators.” reported NL Times in its local coverage. “This involves almost 80 coffeeshops in Almere, Arnhem, Breda, Groningen, Heerlen, Hellevoetsluis, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Tilburg, and Zaanstad.”

“This is a big step because it puts an end to the tolerance policy – in which coffeeshops were allowed to sell cannabis, but authorities turned a blind eye to where they got their supply because cultivation was illegal – in these municipalities.” the outlet also reported.

Some participants of the pilot trials had previously expressed concern about potential supply issues. Many regulated cannabis producers have indicated that they have experienced various setbacks in their operations.

Hash products were also originally slated to be part of the April 7th deadline; however, Minister of Justice David van Weel and State Secretary for Prevention Vincent Karremans previously announced that the deadline for requiring hash pilot trial products to come from regulated sources will be delayed until June 10th, 2025.

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Poll Finds Little Support For Reversing German Legalization

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

After a year of cannabis legalization being the law of the land in Germany, a new YouGov poll has found that a minority of the nation’s citizens want to reverse adult-use cannabis legalization. Conservative lawmakers in Germany have pushed for a reversal in recent months.

“Thirty-eight percent support reversing legalization, according to a survey conducted by the YouGov polling institute on behalf of the German Press Agency. Another 38 percent are in favor of maintaining legalization within its current framework. Eleven percent support even greater liberalization with fewer restrictions. Thirteen percent did not answer this question.” reported Frankfurter Rundschau in its local reporting.

“Even after controlled legalization, the survey shows that the vast majority still don’t smoke marijuana. 87 percent said they haven’t consumed cannabis since legalization. “Yes, but not because of legalization,” said 4 percent. Accordingly, 3 percent smoked marijuana because of legalization.” the outlet also reported.

Starting on April 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can cultivate, possess, and consume a personal amount of recreational cannabis. Additionally, starting on July 1st, 2024, adults can apply to launch an adult-use cultivation association in Germany. So far, at least 133 cultivation associations have gained approval, with hundreds more currently having their applications reviewed.

Another component of the German CanG law involves permitting regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials. The research-based pilot trials will help lawmakers and regulators gather data and insight. Federal regulators are currently processing 26 pilot applications.

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All Doctors In Czechia Can Now Prescribe Medicinal Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Starting today, all licensed doctors in the Czech Republic can now prescribe medical cannabis therapies to suffering patients. Previously, only specialist doctors could prescribe medical cannabis.

“All general practitioners (GPs) in Czechia are from today, April 1, authorized to prescribe medical cannabis to patients suffering from chronic pain, marking a significant shift in accessibility for the drug.” reported Expats CZ in its local coverage.

“Until now, only specialists—of whom there are approximately 250—could issue prescriptions for medical cannabis. Under the new regulation, GPs will be able to provide prescriptions, simplifying access for patients dealing with long-term health conditions.” the outlet also stated.

The medical cannabis public policy change will help improve safe access to cannabis therapies in the European nation. The change in who can prescribe legal medical cannabis in Czechia is now in line with many other countries around the world. Medical cannabis was first legalized in Czechia in 2013.

Starting in July of this year, the Czech Republic will regulate sales of cannabis containing up to one percent THC. The public policy change will also involve permitting regulated sales of kratom.

“The regulation focuses on substances deemed to pose low public health and social risks based on current scientific evidence. These include Kratom and kratom extracts, known for their stimulant and pain-relieving effects; cannabis with up to 1 percent THC, a low-potency form of cannabis with minimal psychoactive effects.” reported Expats CZ in its local coverage.

“Cannabis extracts and tinctures with up to 1 percent THC are also included.” Expats CZ also reported. Low-THC cannabis products will be permitted to be sold in licensed stores starting this summer in Czechia, although certain forms of commerce, such as automated vending machines, remain prohibited.

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Moldova Issues First Authorization For Hemp Production

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Hemp policy and regulatory modernization is sweeping across the globe, with a recent example being in the European nation of Moldova where the government has issued its first authorization for legal hemp cultivation.

“Moldova has officially entered the industrial hemp sector, issuing its first authorization for hemp cultivation under new regulations that open the door for fiber and seed production.” reported Hemp Today in its original coverage. “The approval, granted by the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices through its Standing Committee on Drug Control, marks a significant step in the country’s agricultural policy.

“The move follows recent government amendments to laws regulating plants containing narcotic or psychotropic substances, which now define industrial hemp separately from marijuana. Under the new framework, farmers can grow hemp varieties listed in the Moldovan National Plant Variety Catalog, the EU’s Common Catalog of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species, or national catalogs of EU member states.” the outlet also stated.

Humans have made use of the hemp plant for various purposes for thousands of centuries. It wasn’t until the 1900s that policies prohibiting hemp production and use were enacted.

Thankfully, more governments are getting on the right side of history and allowing aspiring members of the legal hemp industry to cultivate hemp and use it as a source for medical products and adult-use products, in addition to using hemp for creating numerous textiles.

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Australian Government Report Recommends Cannabis Reform

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

A government committee in Victoria, Australia is recommending that personal cannabis cultivation and possession be decriminalized in the jurisdiction. The recommendation is similar to the public policy approach that is already in place in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

The cross-party parliamentary group in Victoria is an eight-member council focused on legal and social issues. The committee concluded that the local government should “draw on the experience of the ACT” and adopt a “new approach” to cannabis policy.

“This Report from the Legal and Social Issues Committee examines a Bill introduced in the Legislative Council by the Legalise Cannabis Party, to regulate the personal use of cannabis in Victoria.” stated the report titled Inquiry into the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis) Bill 2023.

“During this Inquiry, the Committee engaged with stakeholders through submissions and consultations. It visited Canberra on 11 February 2025 to better understand the impact of the ACT’s Drugs of Dependence (Personal Cannabis Use) Amendment Act 2019. The Committee also spoke with a range of stakeholders at a public hearing on 14 February 2025.” the report also stated.

The report determined the following after examining the impact of cannabis policy modernization in the ACT:

  • Stable cannabis use: Cannabis use rates have remained stable, with no significant increase since the reforms. ACT residents remain less likely to have used cannabis recently than the national average.
  • Decrease in cannabis offences: Charges for cannabis offences and police diversions have declined significantly, reflecting the intended shift towards treating
    cannabis use as a health issue rather than a criminal justice matter.
  • No increase in health issues: Cannabis‑related ambulance callouts and hospital admissions have shown no substantial changes since the Act’s implementation.

The 146-page report concluded by offering nine findings and seven recommendations for Victoria’s government to consider. The government now has six months to respond to the report.

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Action Gets Delayed On Italy’s Restrictive Hemp Laws

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

For centuries the hemp plant and its varied uses were fairly limited to textiles. While the practice of incorporating hemp into medicinal applications is thousands of years old, it wasn’t as widespread in use compared to using hemp to make things like rope and paper.

In recent years, hemp-derived products for medical patients and consumers have increased significantly. ‘Cannabis light’ products in Europe, which contain low amounts of THC and typically larger amounts of CBD, are very popular and widespread in many places, including in Italy.

Unfortunately, lawmakers in Italy have tried to hinder the nation’s emerging hemp-derived product sector, having issued a decree last year that equates cannabidiol (CBD) with dangerous narcotic substances. The decree sought to limit the sale of CBD products to pharmacies only (non-repeat prescriptions).

Members of Italy’s CBD industry have sought relief from the European Commission, requesting that the European Commission intervene. However, such an intervention has yet to materialize, and action from the EC is being delayed.

“Brussels has delayed addressing Italy’s restrictive measures on industrial hemp and CBD, with stakeholders warning that the holdup is stifling the country’s growing hemp industry, following a March 17 debate in the European Parliament.” reported Hemp Today in its original coverage.

“The conflict centers on two key Italian measures that have raised alarms among hemp advocates: a proposed amendment to the country’s Security Law and a decree that classifies oral CBD products as narcotics. The amendment, still under consideration in Italy’s Senate, would ban the production and trade of hemp flowers and derivatives, even those with THC content below the EU’s permitted 0.3% threshold.” the outlet also reported.

Until the European Commission makes a firm decision in either direction, Italy’s hemp and CBD industries will continue to remain in a state of limbo.

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Luxembourg Cannabis Use Survey Provides Insight

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Luxembourg became the second country in Europe to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization law when lawmakers approved the public policy change in 2023. Malta became the first nation in Europe to adopt national legalization in 2021.

At the time of Luxembourg’s approval, the European nation was the fourth legalized country on the planet, with Uruguay becoming the first legalized country in 2013 followed by Canada in 2018. Germany has also since legalized cannabis for adult use, as has South Africa (both in 2024).

Luxembourg’s model is the most restrictive of the countries that have adopted a national legalization measure. Adults in Luxembourg can cultivate up to four plants in their private residences, however, they can only possess up to three grams of cannabis, and sourcing models like cultivation associations and pilot trials remain prohibited.

According to a poll that market research firm ILRES recently conducted on behalf of Luxembourg’s Health Ministry, nearly half of residents in Luxembourg have consumed cannabis at least one time in their lives.

“46.3% of Luxembourg residents have tried cannabis at some point in their life, the ILRES poll released Monday estimates. That includes 14.2% who have used the drug in the past year and 7.8% in the past month.” stated Luxembourg Times in its local reporting.

“Although just under seven in ten people growing cannabis at home said they started cultivating after it became legal, they still amounted to just 11.5% of recent cannabis users.” the outlet also stated.

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Legal Cannabis Supply Changes Coming To The Netherlands Next Month

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

The Netherlands is home to multiple regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials. The pilot trials involve permitting limited recreational cannabis sales at a local level for policymakers and regulators to be able to gather industry research data for later use.

Currently, the participating pilot trial retail outlets can source their cannabis products from non-legal sources. However, that is going to change starting next month when all products for the pilot trials have to be sourced from legal suppliers.

“As of April 7, coffeeshops in the ten participating municipalities will no longer be allowed to sell illegally sourced cannabis, marking the most substantial shift in the Netherlands’ drug policy in decades.” stated NL Times in its local coverage.

“Under the new system, all cannabis must come from government-approved growers. Minister of Justice and Security Van Weel said he expects the “quantity, quality, and diversity” of legally grown cannabis to be sufficient by the deadline to meet consumer demand.” the outlet also reported.

Cannabis pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands in Breda, Tilburg, Arnhem, Almere, Groningen, Heerlen, Hellevoetsluis, Maastricht, Nijmegen, and Zaanstad. A proposal to expand the cannabis trials to include the Amsterdam-Oost district was previously denied by members of the Netherlands Parliament.

A poll conducted in April 2024 found that 60% of residents in the Netherlands support having a regulated cannabis industry.

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Legal Cannabis Sales Spike In Canada As Alcohol Sales Plummet

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business.

Canada was the second country to adopt a national recreational cannabis legalization law and remains the most robust nationwide legal adult-use cannabis market on the planet. Uruguay legalized cannabis before Canada, however, Uruguay continues to limit adult-use cannabis commerce to legal residents.

The legal adult-use market in Canada is the best recreational cannabis commerce experiment for public policy and economic researchers for a multitude of reasons. The data generated in Canada provides insight into what other nations may expect if/when they adopt a similar legalization model.

One thing that the data is demonstrating in Canada is that legal cannabis sales continue to erode the unregulated cannabis market, and paralleling the rise in cannabis sales is a drop in sales of alcohol products. Below is more information about the sales trends via a news release from NORML:

Ottawa, Ontario: Sales of alcohol and cannabis in Canada are on opposite trajectories, according to data provided by Statistics Canada, the national statistical agency of the Canadian government.

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, sales of alcoholic beverages experienced historic declines, with beer sales experiencing the largest overall decrease. In comparison, “Sales of recreational cannabis by provincial cannabis authorities and other retail outlets increased 11.6 percent or $0.5 billion from one fiscal year earlier, reaching $5.2 billion in 2023/2024.” Sales of cannabis products had previously grown nearly 16 percent in 2022/2023.

Canada legalized the adult-use marijuana market in 2018.

Separate data published in February in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reported that fewer young adults in the US acknowledge consuming alcohol following the opening of licensed marijuana retailers.

While survey data finds that many consumers acknowledge substituting marijuana for alcohol, observational data gathered from jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis is mixed – with some studies reporting dips in alcohol sales post-legalization and others reporting no significant changes at the population level.

Complete data sets are available from Statistics Canada.

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European Commission Clarifies Hemp-Derived CBD Is Permitted In Cosmetics

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

The hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) market is increasing in size and value with every passing year, including the cosmetics sector. Just the skincare subsector of the CBD cosmetics market alone is worth billions of dollars according to market analysts.

“The global CBD Skincare Market is poised for rapid expansion, with forecasts revealing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.76% from 2025 to 2030.” analysts at Research and Markets stated recently.

“This exponential growth indicates a market size increase from US$4.759 billion in 2025 to US$9.892 billion by the end of the decade, reflecting consumers’ rising inclination towards products infused with cannabidiol (CBD) and signaling a significant shift in skincare trends towards natural and effective ingredients.” the analysts also stated.

Europe is a market where hemp-derived CBD cosmetics are particularly popular, and the European Commission recently clarified that cosmetic products containing hemp-derived CBD are permitted.

“The European Commission has responded to a request for clarification from CannaReporter regarding the recent decision by Infarmed IP to withdraw from the market several cosmetic products containing cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from the hemp plant.” CannaReporter stated it its original coverage.

“In this regard, the EC reiterates that the classification of CBD as a narcotic (whether synthetic or extracted from hemp) is not in line with the understanding of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) or with European Regulation. It was also clarified that a scientific evaluation is underway to define safety criteria for CBD and THC in cosmetics.” the outlet also stated in its reporting.

A recent market analysis by Meticulous Market Research estimates that the overall global CBD-infused products market “is expected to reach $291.39 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 30.6% from 2025 to 2032.”

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South Africa Department Of Health Bans Cannabis Edibles

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

South Africa is on a short list of countries that have adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures. The African nation is joined by Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany.

The Department of Health in South Africa recently announced a complete ban on cannabis edibles. Cannabis edibles are popular with medical cannabis patients and recreational consumers for various reasons, not the least of which is that they are a smokeless form of consumption.

“In a shocking move, the Department of Health has quietly banned the production and selling of cannabis and hemp-derived foodstuffs in South Africa.” reported ION in its local coverage. “This unexpected turn of events contradicts the government’s decriminalisation of cannabis by the Constitutional Court in recent years.”

“In the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government aims for South Africa to spearhead the commercial production of hemp and cannabis.” the outlet also reported.

South Africa’s President signed a limited adult-use cannabis legalization measure into law back in May 2024.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act (“CfPPA”). The CfPPA regulates the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis by adults in a private setting.” The President’s office stated in a press release at the time.

“The consequent regulatory reform enabled by the CfPPA will, amongst others, entirely remove cannabis from the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. This will further enable amendment of the Schedules to the Medicines and Related Substances Act and provide for targeted regulatory reform of the Plant Breeders Rights Act and the Plant Improvement Act, as well as other pieces of legislation that require amendment to allow for the industrialisation of the cannabis sector.” the press release also stated.

Back in 2018, South Africa’s Constitutional Court issued a landmark ruling that deemed cannabis prohibition as it pertained to adult individuals to be unconstitutional. The 2018 decision stemmed from a lower court decision in Western Cape in March 2017 which determined that a ban on cannabis use by adults at home was unconstitutional.

The 2018 decision in South Africa left many unknowns, including how much cannabis a person could cultivate and possess in a private setting. The Court largely punted many policy decisions to lawmakers, who then proceeded to drag their feet for several years.

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Cannabis Legalization In Australia Would Generate $700 Million In Annual Revenue

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

A recent estimate from Australia’s Parliamentary Budget Office projects that the enactment of adult-use cannabis legalization in Australia could generate as much as $700 million in annual revenue.

“The $700 million in annual revenue would come from a mix of sales tax, corporate taxes and a 15-percent special tax on cannabis.” reported Marijuana Moment in its original coverage. The government estimate is part of a renewed legalization effort recently announced by Australia’s Greens Party.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis legalization measures, and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Medical cannabis sales in Australia have quadrupled during the last two years, with Australians estimated to have spent an estimated $1 billion on medical cannabis in 2024. Medical cannabis was first legalized in Australia in 2016.

“The Pennington Institute’s Cannabis in Australia report has revealed spending has skyrocketed from $230 million two years ago to a predicted $1 billion by the end of this year.” 9News stated in its local coverage at the end of last year.

“The spending correlates with usage, which jumped from just 3.9 per cent of survey respondents in 2019 to almost 30 per cent admitting they use prescription marijuana.” the outlet also reported.

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France Expected To Take Key Step Towards Authorizing Medical Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Policymakers in France are reportedly expected to make a meaningful step towards authorizing cannabis production and dispersal for medical use, beyond the current limited medical cannabis pilot trial.

“According to our information, the two decrees governing the specifications of cannabis-based medicinal products for medical use and the safety of their production are in the process of being notified to the European Commission (EC). This notification, via the TRIS procedure, constitutes an essential regulatory step before the integration of medical cannabis into common law.” reported Newsweed in its local coverage.

“Following this notification, a three-month standstill period begins, allowing the Commission and other Member States to examine the texts and issue observations.” excerpts from Newsweed’s report stated. “In the absence of any major objections, medical cannabis regulations in France could therefore be validated by Europe after this period. The decrees will then have to be signed by the executive to come into force.”

As of 2022, the European Union Drugs Agency estimated that France had the greatest cannabis consumption rate of any of its member nations, with a reported 10.6% of France’s population having consumed cannabis at least once within the last year.

Health authorities in France announced late last year that the nation’s medical cannabis trial experiment will be extended until July 31st, 2025. The announcement was welcomed news to the reported 1,800 suffering patients estimated to be currently participating in the trial.

The French medical cannabis experiment received initial approval from the federal Senate back in 2019, however, the launch of the trial was delayed until the spring of 2021 due to various reasons. Initially slated for two years, France’s medical cannabis experiment was eventually granted a one-year extension and was set to end in 2024 before receiving the latest extension pushing the estimated end of the trial to the summer of 2025.

According to a recent newsletter sent out by international cannabis economist Beau Whitney of Whitney Economics, France is home to the largest total addressable cannabis market in the European Union with a value of $11.3 billion (midpoint).

A previous study by an economic advisory board within the nation’s prime minister’s office determined that the French government spends roughly €570m annually on cannabis prohibition enforcement. The study recommended that France adopt adult-use cannabis legalization and launch a regulated recreational industry.

Emmanuelle Auriol, a professor at the Toulouse School of Economics who authored the study’s report and findings, estimated that such a policy change could create as many as 80,000 new jobs, and generate €2.8bn in taxes annually.

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84% Of Polled UK Doctors ‘Open To Prescribing Cannabis For Chronic Pain’

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

According to the results of a recent survey commissioned by medical cannabis clinic Alternaleaf, 84% of polled UK doctors indicated that they would be open to prescribing cannabis for chronic pain if it was part of the NHS toolkit.

“The survey of 250 practicing doctors in the UK, commissioned by the medical cannabis clinic Alternaleaf, found that eight in 10 (78%) believe opioids are prescribed too frequently for pain relief, while one in three say the NHS is not prepared for the dramatic increase in patients predicted.” reported Cannabis Health News in its original coverage.

“An early economic analysis published last year found that prescribing cannabis-based medicines for chronic pain could save the NHS almost £4 billion annually (based on current prevalence rates).” the outlet also reported.

A separate report recently published by the advocacy group Transform Drug Policy Foundation found that adult-use cannabis legalization could generate as much as £1.5 billion in revenue and savings.

The report, which was posted on the organization’s social media account, determined that over £1.2 billion would be generated from taxes and fees annually, and an additional £284 million would be saved annually by the nation’s criminal justice system no longer enforcing cannabis prohibition policies.

“There would be costs incurred for Govt by regulatory infrastructure – inspection, monitoring, compliance, trading standards etc – but largely covered by licensing/other fees.” the organization stated on social media.

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Record Number In Scotland Buy Legal Medical Cannabis Privately

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Scotland’s legal medical cannabis industry has struggled to reach its full potential in recent years, however, the industry has passed a meaningful milestone with a record number of Scots making legal purchases of medical cannabis products from private industry sources.

“Record numbers of Scots are paying for medical cannabis as NHS waiting lists leave them struggling to get conventional treatment.” reported Daily Mail. “An unprecedented 3,440 Scots now have private prescriptions for the drug – mostly patients suffering from common conditions such as depression, anxiety, or chronic pain.”

“Scotland’s first medical cannabis clinic was set up in 2019 and its roster of clients has grown monthly.” the outlet also reported.

Nearly five dozen nations around the world have legalized cannabis for medical use to some degree. Israel was the first country to legalize cannabis for medical use back in 1999.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Recreational cannabis legalization has also been adopted by two dozen states in the U.S., and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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Malaysia Health Ministry Opens Cannabis-Based Product Registration

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

A major push for limited medical cannabis policy reform and industry regulations took place in Malaysia in 2022, and the nation passed a major milestone this week with Malaysia’s Health Ministry announcing that registration for medical cannabis-based products is now open.

“Those who have sufficient scientific evidence supporting the use of cannabis-based products for medical treatment can come forward to submit their product registration, says the Health Ministry.” reported The Star in its local coverage.

“However, they must comply with the relevant laws, the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply dated March 3.” the media outlet also reported.

Malaysia’s cannabis policies are largely governed by the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Poisons Act 1952, both of which classify cannabis and its derivatives as ‘dangerous drugs.’

Historically, the region that Malaysia is located in is where some of the harshest cannabis laws on earth can be found, and in some ways in Malaysia, can still be found.

Malaysia is one of a handful of countries around the world, most of them located in the same region, that still issues the death penalty for certain cannabis-only offenses. With that in mind, any movement towards permitting medical cannabis is significant.

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Colombia’s President Calls For Cannabis Legalization

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Over the weekend Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged his nation’s Congress to legalize cannabis for adult use, stating in a social media post (translated from Spanish to English) that “the prohibition of marijuana in Colombia only brings violence.”

“The empowerment of mafia organizations shows the failure of prohibition and the absence of alternative measures to simple prohibition,” President Petro also stated in his social media post. “I ask the Colombian Congress to legalize marijuana and remove this crop from violence.”

This is not the first time that Colombia’s current president has publicly expressed support for cannabis legalization. In late 2023, when a push for legalization in Colombia failed, President Gustavo Petro called out lawmakers for ‘helping to perpetuate illegal drug trafficking and the violence associated with the unregulated trade.’

Colombia is home to an emerging legal medical cannabis industry, including the legalized exporting of medical cannabis products. Colombia’s legal industry exported over $10.8 million worth of medical cannabis products in 2023.

Cannabis is currently legal at a national level for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, cannabis is legal at a state level in two dozen states in the U.S., and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are currently operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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Industrial Hemp Regulations To Be Reviewed In New Zealand

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

The global industrial hemp market is already massive, and likely to continue to increase in size for the foreseeable future. According to a recent market analysis by Technavio, the worldwide industrial hemp market “is set to grow by USD 18.31 billion from 2025 to 2029” at “a CAGR of over 27% during the forecast period.”

New Zealand is a market that is largely struggling to properly get off the ground, however, a recent announcement by government officials that the nation’s hemp regulations will be reviewed could help.

“On Friday, Minister for Regulation David Seymour announced it would review what he called “outdated and burdensome regulations” surrounding industrial hemp.” reports The New Zealand Herald in its local coverage.

“It was the result of years of campaigning by hemp farmers, processors and companies that were hamstrung by regulations developed in 2006, which put licensing for cultivation into the hands of the Ministry of Health.” the outlet also reported.

In addition to the previously cited market analysis by Technavio, IMARC Group also recently published a global industrial hemp market analysis, finding that the global industrial hemp market size “was valued at USD 6.2 Billion in 2024” and will “reach USD 20.9 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 14.5% during 2025-2033.”

“The market is witnessing significant growth mainly driven by the extensive change in legislative landscapes facilitating a more favorable environment for hemp cultivation and processing, thereby facilitating the recognition of hemp’s environmental benefits and diversification of hemp applications across numerous end use industries.” IMARC Group also stated.

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Constitutional Challenge To Cannabis Prohibition In Namibia

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Cannabis prohibition policies are typically challenged in one of two ways. The first is via the political process, with some countries having better options for seeking this route than others.

The other common way that cannabis advocates challenge cannabis prohibition policies is via the courts. Several countries have witnessed their top courts handing down landmark rulings against cannabis prohibition, such as in Mexico and South Africa. Namibia is the latest country to see a cannabis court challenge.

“Three judges of the Windhoek High Court are set to hear oral arguments in early July on whether an attempt to have the outlawing of cannabis in Namibia declared unconstitutional is ripe to be decided at this stage.” reported The Namibian in its local coverage.

“The plaintiffs in the case, Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN) president Brian Jaftha and GUN secretary general Borro Ndungula, want the High Court to declare the prohibition of the possession and use of cannabis by adults in Namibia as unconstitutional.” the outlet also reported.

Currently, cannabis activity is expressly permitted by adults in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa after lawmakers in those countries adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures.

Additionally, court decisions have been rendered in at least Spain, Italy, and Mexico that afford some level of protection for adult cannabis consumers. Cannabis is also legal at the state level in two dozen states in the U.S., and recreational pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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French Lawmakers File Cannabis Legalization Proposal

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Momentum for cannabis policy and regulatory modernization efforts has increased in recent years in Europe, with three countries—Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany — having adopted national adult-use legalization measures.

France is one European nation that advocates hope will make history soon by adopting recreational legalization. A pair of lawmakers, Ludovic Mendes (EPR) and Antoine Léaument (LFI), recently filed a proposal in France to achieve that goal.

“This measure, which opposes the government’s repressive policy, would aim to regulate production and distribution via a public agency, on the model of the National Gaming Agency.” reported Entrevue in its local coverage (translated from French to English).

“Legalization advocates, such as the Addictions France association, point out that cannabis consumption is already massive in France, with around 4 million regular users. For them, lifting the ban would not cause a significant increase in consumption, but would on the contrary allow for stricter control of the product and a reduction in health risks.” the outlet also reported.

A recent report produced by NORML France determined that 99.7% of cannabis being consumed in the European nation is unregulated, which creates potential public health risks.

According to a recent newsletter sent out by international cannabis economist Beau Whitney of Whitney Economics, France is home to the largest total addressable cannabis market in the European Union with a value of $11.3 billion (midpoint).

A previous study by an economic advisory board within the nation’s prime minister’s office determined that the French government spends roughly €570m annually on cannabis prohibition enforcement. The study recommended that France adopt adult-use cannabis legalization and launch a regulated recreational industry.

Emmanuelle Auriol, a professor at the Toulouse School of Economics who authored the study’s report and findings, estimated that such a policy change could create as many as 80,000 new jobs, and generate €2.8bn in taxes annually.

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Argentina To Revoke All Medical Cannabis Production Permits

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business.

In October 2022, regulators in Argentina issued the nation’s first-ever domestic cannabis production license. However, government officials in Argentina announced this month that it plans to revoke all current medical cannabis cultivation permits.

“The Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich announced that the Government will cancel permits to grow marijuana.” InfoBae stated in its local coverage.

“We are going to cancel everything, we are going to start from scratch.” Patricia Bullrich stated according to the media outlet.

In April 2023, Argentina’s government participated in the nation’s first legal hemp harvest in roughly 50 years. Starting in 2019, Argentina has made a big push to boost its domestic cannabis industry, particularly as it pertains to science and research. Back then, Argentina’s Ministry of Science and Technology signed an agreement with a local government, the National University, and other entities.

That was followed by a Presidential decree issued in 2020 which provided a way for medical cannabis patients to, in theory, sign up for a government program in order to be able to cultivate their own medicine.

In May 2022, lawmakers in Argentina passed a measure that created the framework for a more robust medical cannabis industry in the South American nation, including provisions for boosting exports around the world. Later in 2022, the government established a public company to provide seeds, testing, and training to the nation’s emerging medical cannabis industry.

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99.7% Of Cannabis In France Remains Unregulated

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

As of 2022, the European Union Drugs Agency estimated that France had the greatest cannabis consumption rate of any of its member nations, with a reported 10.6% of France’s population having consumed cannabis at least once within the last year.

Unfortunately, cannabis use by adults for recreational purposes remains illegal in France, and only patients enrolled in the country’s medical cannabis trial experiment are permitted to consume cannabis legally. As such, nearly all of the cannabis consumed in France comes from unregulated sources.

“Despite a strict prohibition policy in France, the figures are clear: after the Place Nette operations, 99.7% of the cannabis circulating in France remained on the black market.” reports Newsweed (translated from French to English).

“This observation highlighted by the NORML France association in a report entitled “Why legalize cannabis in 2025” aims to show the ineffectiveness of repressive measures and raises the question of their relevance in the face of a market that continues to prosper.” the outlet also reported.

Health authorities in France announced late last year that the nation’s medical cannabis trial experiment will be extended until July 31st, 2025. The announcement is welcomed news to the reported 1,800 suffering patients estimated to be currently participating in the trial.

“The experiement was due to end on 31 December 2024, but at a meeting on Thursday between patient associations and the health authorities, the Ministry of Health gave the green light for it to run for a further six months, FranceInfo reported.” stated RFI in its local coverage.

The French medical cannabis experiment received initial approval from the federal Senate back in 2019, however, the launch of the trial was delayed until the spring of 2021 due to various reasons.

Initially slated for two years, France’s medical cannabis experiment was eventually granted a one-year extension and was set to end in 2024 before receiving the latest extension pushing the estimated end of the trial to the summer of 2025.

According to a recent newsletter sent out by international cannabis economist Beau Whitney of Whitney Economics, France is home to the largest total addressable cannabis market in the European Union with a value of $11.3 billion (midpoint).

A previous study by an economic advisory board within the nation’s prime minister’s office determined that the French government spends roughly €570m annually on cannabis prohibition enforcement. The study recommended that France adopt adult-use cannabis legalization and launch a regulated recreational industry.

Emmanuelle Auriol, a professor at the Toulouse School of Economics who authored the study’s report and findings, estimated that such a policy change could create as many as 80,000 new jobs, and generate €2.8bn in taxes annually.

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European Parliament Accepts Low-THC Cannabis Petition

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Cannabis products that are low in THC are very popular in many parts of the world right now, particularly in Europe. ‘Cannabis light,’ as it is sometimes referred to, is widespread across the European continent.

Italy is a market where cannabis light products are very popular, however, the products have been the target of recent crackdown attempts by Italian lawmakers and regulators. Attempts to ban Italy’s cannabis light industry resulted in a petition being previously submitted to the European Parliament, and the petition was recently accepted.

“The petition presented by several national acronyms last September was accepted by the Petitions Committee (PETI) of the European Parliament. Its chairman, Polish conservative Bogdan Rzońca, asked the European Commission to “conduct a preliminary investigation into the issue.” reported EUNews in its recent coverage.

“In the response addressed to the president of Canapa Sativa Italia, Mattia Cusani (the first signatory of the petition that gathered the yes of Confagricoltura, Cia, Copagri, Cna Agroalimentare, Unci, Liberi Agricoltori, Altragricoltura, Associazione Florovivaisti Italiani, Federcanapa, Sardinia Cannabis, Assocanapa, Resilienza Italia Onlus, Canapa delle Marche, the European Industrial Hemp Association -EIHA, and the French UPCBD) the PETI committee pointed out that the Court of Justice of the European Union, in a judgement of October 4, 2024, ruled that Member States may not impose restrictions on the cultivation of industrial hemp, including indoor cultivation and cultivation exclusively for the production of inflorescences, unless such restrictions are supported by factual scientific evidence relating to the protection of public health.” the outlet also reported.

The battle over cannabis light in Italy and other parts of Europe comes at a time when many European countries are working to modernize their cannabis policies. Most European nations now have some type of medical cannabis program operating to some degree.

Currently, cannabis that is not low in THC is expressly legal for adult use in Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany. Additionally, regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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Hemp Flowers Are Now Subject To Austria’s Tobacco Tax

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

The level of popularity for hemp flowers among cannabis consumers has exploded in recent years, particularly in Europe. ‘Cannabis light,’ as it is sometimes referred to, contains low enough levels of THC that many markets in Europe permit sales of it.

Whereas adult-use cannabis commerce for products derived from non-hemp sources remains illegal throughout most of Europe, commerce involving hemp products is often legal to some degree. Hemp flowers are a bit of a grey area from a regulatory standpoint in much of Europe. In Austria, a recent court decision declared that hemp flowers are subject to the nation’s tobacco tax.

“The Austrian Administrative Court (VwGH) has recently ruled that dried hemp flowers with a THC content of up to 0.3% are subject to tobacco tax.” reported Cannabis Industrie in its original coverage. “In addition to the tax liability, these products are also subject to the Tobacco Monopoly Act, which means that they may only be sold through tobacco shops.”

“The decision of the VwGH could have far-reaching consequences for the cannabis industry in Austria. Producers and distributors must now adapt to the new regulations and comply with the sales restrictions. This could lead to a shift in the market and possibly new legal challenges.” the outlet also reported.

According to analysts at the Tax Foundation, Austria places a €3.32 excise duty per 20-pack of tobacco cigarettes. An additional ‘value added tax’ or VAT is also placed on tobacco products, raising the total tax per pack of tobacco cigarettes to €4.23. The Tax Foundation estimates that tax as a share of the final selling price per pack of tobacco cigarettes is 77%.

Regulators across Europe, and many other parts of the world, are struggling to rectify the inconsistencies in laws and regulations pertaining to consumable hemp products. For many years, hemp products were largely limited to textiles. However, many savvy entrepreneurs are bringing more consumable hemp products to emerging markets, and policymakers are scrambling to try to catch up.

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Malta Cannabis Associations Permitted To Sell Concentrates Later This Year

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Malta will forever hold the distinction of being the first European nation to adopt a national recreational cannabis legalization measure. Lawmakers in Malta approved adult-use legalization in 2021, permitting adults to cultivate, possess, and consume cannabis.

Before Malta approved legalization, the only other nations to do so previously were Uruguay in 2013 and Canada in 2018. A major component of Malta’s legalization model is permitting cultivation associations, sometimes referred to as clubs. Members can source cannabis legally through the associations.

So far, cultivation associations in Malta have only sold cannabis flower. However, starting later this year cannabis cultivation associations in Malta will also be able to sell certain concentrated cannabis products to their members.

“Malta’s cannabis associations will be allowed to sell cannabis resin and rosin, the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) Executive Chairperson Joey Reno Vella confirmed to MaltaToday.” reported MaltaToday in its local coverage.

“ARUC is in the process of updating its Directives to permit the distribution of cannabis resin (hash) and similar processed products, such as rosin, through licensed CHRAs. However, it is imperative to highlight that only solvent-free, non-chemical extraction processes will be authorised. The use of solvents and/or chemical agents for the production of cannabis derivatives remains strictly prohibited. Additionally, the conversion of cannabis into oils and tinctures will not be permitted under these amendments,” Joey Reno Vella said according to the media outlet.

Cannabis concentrates, sometimes referred to as cannabis extracts, are very popular among adult cannabis consumers and medical cannabis patients. According to Coherent Market Insights, the global cannabis extract market “is expected to reach USD 38.13 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.4% from 2024 to 2031.”

In other recent cannabis news out of Malta, the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis signed an agreement with the University of Malta to conduct cannabis-based research.

“The authority and the university’s chemistry department plan to study pesticides and “substances” found in legal and illegal cannabis by next October, with legal samples from cannabis associations and illegal samples held by the courts due to be tested.” reported Times of Malta.

“The tests aim to scientifically demonstrate how the dangers of controlled – legally grown – cannabis and illegal offerings vary, Reforms Junior Minister Rebecca Buttigieg said.” the local media outlet also reported.

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Paraguay Exports Cannabis Flower To Switzerland In Historic First

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business.

Paraguay first adopted a national industrial hemp legalization measure back in 2019, and the South American nation recently passed a historic milestone by making its first legal export of cannabis flowers to Switzerland.

“The Paraguayan Chamber of Industrial Cannabis proudly announced the first export of 100% Paraguayan industrial cannabis flowers, known as Kuñatai, to Switzerland. This flower, registered with specific cultivars, stands out for its high quality and purity, meeting the rigorous standards required by the Swiss market and opening doors for expansion to other destinations in Europe.” reported Sechat in its local coverage (translated from Portuguese to English).

“The export of Kuñatai to Switzerland represents a significant step forward for Paraguay on its path to internationalizing its cannabis industry.” the outlet also stated.

Paraguay’s international cannabis industry pursuits come at a time when nearly six dozen nations around the world have adopted medical cannabis legalization measures, many of which now import and export medical cannabis products.

Additionally, Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa have adopted adult-use cannabis legalization measures, although none of those countries currently permit the importation of recreational cannabis products and all adult-use cannabis is produced domestically either by individuals for personal use or by local companies.

Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are also currently operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland. Pilot trials are also expected to launch in Germany soon. Two dozen states in the United States have adopted recreational cannabis legalization measures, although cannabis remains prohibited at the federal level in the U.S.

Analysts at Research and Markets estimate that “the global cannabis cultivation market was valued at USD 43.52 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to record steady growth over the forecast period, with a CAGR of 5.25% through 2029.”

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Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Approves Hemp Pilot

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

The government in Himachal Pradesh, a state in India, has approved a pilot study to examine the potential benefits of permitting industrial hemp cultivation and the creation of related medical products and scientific research.

“The Himachal Pradesh cabinet has approved the report of a committee recommending the controlled cultivation of cannabis for industrial, scientific, and medicinal purposes, setting the stage for its legalisation in the state. The report, previously passed by the Himachal Vidhan Sabha, was prepared with inputs from opposition BJP members, horticulture experts, and scientists.” Indian Express stated in its local coverage.

“Controlled cannabis cultivation will be undertaken jointly by two agricultural universities—Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, and Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture, Nauni, Solan. The Agriculture Department has been designated as the nodal body for the initiative.” the outlet also reported.

A recent market analysis by Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence estimates that the global industrial hemp market “is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 17.75% between US$9.913 billion in 2025 to US$22.438 billion in 2030.”

A separate market analysis recently published by Markets and Markets predicts an even larger global industrial hemp market in the future, estimating that “the industrial hemp market is estimated at USD 11.03 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 30.24 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 22.4% from 2024 to 2029.”

The booming industrial hemp market is not limited to just industrial applications and medical products. According to analysts at Maximize Market Research, “the global hemp-infused beverage market is experiencing significant expansion, driven by increasing consumer awareness of hemp’s health benefits and a growing demand for functional, wellness-oriented drinks.”

“In 2023, the market was valued at USD 3.63 billion and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.9% from 2024 to 2030.” the analysts predict.

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37% Of Medical Cannabis Patients In New Zealand Have A Prescription

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Modern medical cannabis was first legalized in New Zealand in 2018, with the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme launching in 2020. Since that time, a growing number of medical cannabis patients have received prescriptions to safely access medical cannabis products.

“In 2022/23, fewer than one in 10 medical users obtained a prescription for their cannabis. That had climbed to 37% in 2024, according to the annual New Zealand Drug Trends Survey (NZDTS) conducted by the Shore and Whariki Research Centre at Massey University’s College of Health.” states Cannabiz in its original reporting.

“Of 1,742 respondents who claimed all or most of their cannabis use was for medical purposes, 60% said they had not approached a health professional, down from 85% in 2022/23 and 93% in 2020, when the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme launched in New Zealand.” the outlet also reported.

Initially, all legal medical cannabis products sold in New Zealand were imported. However, in September 2022, New Zealand’s government granted permission for domestic medical cannabis cultivation.

Voters in New Zealand decided on a recreational cannabis legalization measure in 2020, with the measure being narrowly defeated on Election Day. At the time, only two countries had adopted adult-use legalization measures – Uruguay and Canada.

Since the failed legalization vote in New Zealand, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa have approved national legalization measures. Additionally, nearly five dozen countries have now adopted medical cannabis legalization measures.

A recent survey of more than 23,000 New Zealanders found that 60% of respondents reported that they consumed less alcohol after beginning cannabis use. The survey also found that of people who report using cannabis and other substances, 60% of respondents reported consuming less synthetic cannabinoids, 44% reported using less morphine, and 40% reported using less methamphetamine.

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Belize Offers Automatic Expungements For First-Time Cannabis Offenders

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Cannabis prohibition is one of the most harmful public policies in human history. Starting in the early 1900s, cannabis prohibition has ruined countless lives across the globe and wasted a tremendous amount of precious public resources.

Fortunately, more and more governments around the globe are getting on the right side of history when it comes to cannabis policy, albeit slowly. One of those countries is Belize where the government is now offering automatic expungements for first-time cannabis offenders.

“Тhе Соmmunіtу Rеhаbіlіtаtіоn Dераrtmеnt оf thе Міnіѕtrу оf Нumаn Dеvеlорmеnt, Fаmіlіеѕ & Іndіgеnоuѕ Реорlе’ѕ Аffаіrѕ hаѕ аnnоunсеd thе аvаіlаbіlіtу оf аutоmаtіс ехрungеmеnt fоr сеrtаіn fіrѕt-tіmе оffеnѕеѕ undеr nеw рrоvіѕіоnѕ оf thе Сrіmіnаl Rесоrdѕ (Rеhаbіlіtаtіоn оf Оffеndеrѕ) Асt, 2024.” stated Breaking Belize News in its local reporting.

The change in public policy applies to “a fіrѕt оffеnсе fоr роѕѕеѕѕіоn оf саnnаbіѕ оr саnnаbіѕ rеѕіn undеr ѕесtіоn 7 оf thе Міѕuѕе оf Drugѕ Асt, whеrе thе іmроѕеd fіnе dоеѕ nоt ехсееd $1,000” according to the media outlet.

In order for people to obtain an expungement for a first-time cannabis offense that fits within the parameters of the new program they must submit an application to the government for consideration and approval. The program is designed to help offenders move on with their lives and not be further affected by a personal cannabis possession offense.

Recreational cannabis remains illegal in Belize, and only first-time offenders are eligible for the expungement program. People convicted of cultivating and/or distributing cannabis are not eligible for the expungement program.

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Rate Of Legal Cannabis Buyers Continues To Increase In Uruguay

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Uruguay became the first nation on earth to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization law back in 2013. The first legal recreational sales were launched in registered pharmacies in Uruguay in 2017. Since that time, the number of adults making legal purchases in Uruguay has increased considerably.

“The number of legal marijuana buyers rose to some 102,156 people over the course of last year, boosted by the market debut of the Epsilon variant, which has a higher THC content (20%), and was in high demand.” reported Ambito.

“The new, more potent variant debuted in October, and in the following two months alone, a total of 359 kilos were sold in pharmacies, more than what had been sold up to that point of Alpha or Beta, according to data provided by the Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis (IRCCA).” the media outlet also reported in its local coverage.

When legal sales at pharmacies began in Uruguay in the summer of 2017, consumers could initially choose from two different strains. The two strains are named ‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta’, each with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels equal to or less than 9%, and cannabidiol (CBD) levels equal to or less than 3%.

Then, in 2022, Uruguay permitted a third option, ‘Gamma,’ which has a THC level of equal to or less than 15%, and CBD levels of equal to or less than 1%. Regulators in Uruguay then approved a fourth option that contains a higher level of THC than the other three options.

“The new variant has a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of equal to or less than 20% and a cannabidiol (CBD) content of equal to or less than 1%.” stated Latin America Reports in its local coverage at the time of the strain’s launch.

Currently, 74,583 adult consumers are reportedly registered to make legal recreational cannabis purchases from Uruguay’s 40 authorized pharmacies making sales. Additionally, a reported 15,796 adults are members of 460 cannabis clubs registered in Uruguay, and another 11,597 adults reportedly cultivate legal plants in their homes.

Uruguay’s legal cannabis companies exported over $3 million worth of medical cannabis products in the last year to such nations as Germany, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Uruguay’s export data is part of a report recently published by the Uruguay XXI Institute.

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Legal Cannabis Cultivators Call For Adult-Use Legalization In Morocco

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Legal cannabis cultivators and advocates in Morocco are urging the nation’s lawmakers to adopt recreational cannabis legalization. Morocco first adopted its current medical cannabis policy in 2021, with ten entities receiving permits to legally cultivate cannabis in late 2022. The number of legal cultivators has increased exponentially since 2022.

“Growers and activists say legalizing recreational and traditional cannabis use could ease market pressures while bringing economic benefits.” reported Newsweed in its original coverage. “Such measures could not only boost domestic sales, but also attract tourists, especially as Morocco prepares to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.”

According to the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-related Activities (ANRAC), Morocco issued 2,837 authorizations to 2,659 farmers in 2024, up from 430 authorizations in 2023.

Additionally, regulators in Morocco issued 60 authorizations for processing, 49 for marketing, 39 for exports, and 24 for seed imports. The increase in authorizations in 2024 demonstrated the growth of Morocco’s emerging legal cannabis industry.

ANRAC Director General Mohamed El Guerrouj recently announced at an annual board meeting that the nation’s emerging legal cannabis industry produced thousands of tons of cannabis last year.

“In 2024, approximately 4,000 tons of cannabis were produced over an area of 2,169 hectares,” ANRAC Director General Mohamed El Guerrouj stated about Morocco’s legal cannabis industry according to local reporting by APA News. “No infractions related to non-compliance were recorded.”

The climate in parts of Morocco is well-suited for large-scale cannabis production, which is why the North African nation has long served as a leading source of unregulated cannabis, particularly as a source for the European market.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, nearly five dozen countries have adopted medical cannabis legalization policies to some degree.

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Medical Cannabis Prescriptions Are Decreasing In Poland

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Medical cannabis reform was implemented in Poland in 2017, and as of November 2022, the nation’s doctors were approving roughly 3,000 medical cannabis patients a month. After years of an increasing medical cannabis patient base, Poland’s medical cannabis approvals are reportedly declining.

“New regulations in Poland require in-person doctor visits for medical cannabis prescriptions, leading to a sharp drop from 68,000 in October 2024 to 28,000 by December.” reported Born2Invest in its original coverage.

“This change is not surprising at all, because medical cannabis was largely used not for treatment, but for recreation. The new regulations limit this phenomenon,” commented Jakub Kosikowski, spokesman for the Supreme Medical Chamber, according to Born2Invest.

While medical cannabis policy in Poland appears to be backtracking, there is an effort to modernize the nation’s adult-use policies. In November 2024, a legislative committee in Poland sent a cannabis reform proposal to Prime Minister Donald Tusk for his consideration.

Members of the Polish Parliamentary Committee on Petitions moved forward with the proposal which would decriminalize up to 15 grams of cannabis for personal use by adults in addition to decriminalizing home cultivation of one plant. However, the measure still has additional political hurdles before becoming law.

Currently, nearly five dozen countries around the world have adopted medical cannabis legalization to some degree, and Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa have adopted national adult-use legalization measures.

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South African Human Rights Commission Urges Police To Halt Cannabis Arrests

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Last year South Africa became the latest country to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure, codifying a prior landmark court decision which determined that prohibition policies against personal cannabis use were unconstitutional.

Recreational legalization in South Africa placed the country on a list with Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany for nations that have adopted an adult-use cannabis legalization policy change. Despite South Africa adopting legalization, the arrests of cannabis users persist, and South Africa’s Human Rights Commission is calling that out.

“The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has written to national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola to express concern over the ongoing arrests of cannabis users and Rastafarians despite a law permitting the private cultivation and use of cannabis by adults.” stated Times Live in its local reporting.

“As the festive season approaches, the SAHRC reminds law enforcement, in particular the SA Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority, that the arrest and/or prosecution of adults for the private use, possession or cultivation of cannabis, as well as making assumptions about dealing, is inconsistent with the law and national operational directives. Such arrests and/or prosecutions could lead to human rights violations being perpetrated by law enforcement,” the SAHRC said according to the media outlet’s coverage.

South Africa is home to an emerging legal cannabis industry. A great example is the recent certification of Africa’s first cannabis higher education course. Recently cannabis education provider Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy launched its Higher Certificate in Cannabis Production & Management. The cannabis education program is the first on the African continent to be accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE). CHE is an internationally recognized accreditation body.

“It comes at the same time as Cheeba Africa has announced a partnership to bring its offering to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. The economically-stressed province is hoping to see benefits from provincial government efforts to roll out an investment in the local medical cannabis industry that is expected to reach R1 billion over the next five years.” Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy stated in a press release obtained by the International Cannabis Business Conference.

“It has been a rigorous four-year journey for our Academy to reach this important accreditation milestone and we’re excited to set this benchmark in cannabis education by offering this powerful programme to potential cannabis entrepreneurs and workers. It is a proud moment for our industry, and for South Africa, as we lead the way in one of the most important sectors of our time. The emerging cannabis and hemp industry has so much potential to create sustainable and dignified livelihoods in South Africa, especially in some of our most underserved communities.” states Trenton Birch, CEO and co-founder of Cheeba Africa.

The new partnership that Cheeba Cannabis and Hemp Academy has formed with the Township Cannabis Incubator (TCI) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape is a partnership that recognizes the significant potential of cannabis-related job creation and sustainable development in one of South Africa’s most rural and underserved provinces. Official unemployment rates in the Eastern Cape are above 40%, and the expanded unemployment rates are close to 50%. With 60% of the population living below the poverty level, it is recognized as one of the country’s poorest regions.

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Textile Industry Members In India And South Korea Forge Hemp Partnerships

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business.

At a recent meeting hosted by the Wool and Woolens Export Promotion Council, members of the textile industries in both India and South Korea announced plans to, among other things, forge partnerships to tap into the industry potential of the industrial hemp fiber sector.

“Attendees discussed innovative ways to greater integrate hemp into India’s textile ecosystem, and the benefits of blending hemp with wool to create sustainable products that can help meet the rising global demand for eco-friendly materials.” reported Hemp Today in its original coverage.

“Also during the meeting, India’s Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, reaffirmed his commitment to fostering the growth of commercial hemp production, pledging to collaborate with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami to draft a proposal aimed at aligning policies and promoting growth within the sector.” the outlet also reported.

Despite a long history with the hemp plant, India does not currently have national hemp industry regulations permitting such activity. However, some local jurisdictions have adopted industry rules and regulations, and India’s hemp industry should experience continued growth in the foreseeable future.

According to a recent market analysis by Technavio, “the global industrial hemp market size is estimated to grow by USD 13.90 Billion from 2024 to 2028,” and “the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 25.25% during the forecast period.”

In other news out of India, senior state police officials in India recently told Al Jazeera that they have “seized about 600 tonnes of cannabis in the three years until 2023, goods worth $200m, and have also arrested 8,500 drug traffickers.”

“The police have also destroyed about 28,000 hectares (70,000 acres) of cannabis plantations in Odisha between 2021 and 2023, the highest for cannabis in the country, JN Pankaj, a former inspector general of the Special Task Force of the Odisha Police, told Al Jazeera.” the media outlet also reported.

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Morocco’s Legal Industry Produced 4,000 Tons Of Cannabis In 2024

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business.

Morocco’s National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC) Director General Mohamed El Guerrouj recently announced at an annual board meeting that the nation’s emerging legal cannabis industry produced thousands of tons of cannabis last year.

“In 2024, approximately 4,000 tons of cannabis were produced over an area of 2,169 hectares,” ANRAC Director General Mohamed El Guerrouj stated about Morocco’s legal cannabis industry according to local reporting by APA News. “No infractions related to non-compliance were recorded.”

APA News also reported the following statistics for Morocco’s legal cannabis industry in 2024:

  • 3,371 licenses were granted out of 4,158 applications, reflecting an approval rate of nearly 81%
  • 3,056 permits were issued to 2,907 farmers for cannabis cultivation and production – up from the 430 licenses issued in 2023
  • 315 licenses were granted to 158 sector operators

The climate in parts of Morocco is well-suited for large-scale cannabis production, which is why the North African nation has long served as a leading source of unregulated cannabis, particularly as a source for the European market.

In recent years, Morocco’s government has worked to modernize the nation’s cannabis policies and regulations to permit legal cannabis production and commerce.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, nearly five dozen countries have adopted medical cannabis legalization policies to some degree.

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Lawmakers Criticized In Australia For Failing To Legalize Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

A lawmaker in Australia is criticizing his peers for failing to approve an adult-use cannabis legalization measure this year. Legalise Cannabis WA MP Dr. Brian Walker recently lashed out at Australia’s federal government for failing to take advantage of the robust economic benefits that recreational cannabis legalization creates.

“Dr Walker hit out at what he called the “pig-headed intransigence of the federal government” after it helped vote down Greens Senator David Shoebridge’s Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023 in November.” Cannabiz stated in its local coverage.

“Late last month, we watched the Labor and Liberal parties vote down a proposal to legalise cannabis in the federal senate,” Dr. Walker said according to Cannabiz.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis legalization measures, and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Medical cannabis sales in Australia have quadrupled during the last two years, with Australians expected to spend an estimated $1 billion on medical cannabis this year. Medical cannabis was first legalized in Australia in 2016.

“The Pennington Institute’s Cannabis in Australia report has revealed spending has skyrocketed from $230 million two years ago to a predicted $1 billion by the end of this year.” 9News stated in its local coverage.

“The spending correlates with usage, which jumped from just 3.9 per cent of survey respondents in 2019 to almost 30 per cent admitting they use prescription marijuana.” the outlet also reported.

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France’s Medical Cannabis Trial Receives Another Extension

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Health authorities in France recently announced that the nation’s medical cannabis trial experiment will be extended until July 31st, 2025. The announcement is welcomed news to the reported 1,800 suffering patients estimated to be currently participating in the trial.

“The experiement was due to end on 31 December 2024, but at a meeting on Thursday between patient associations and the health authorities, the Ministry of Health gave the green light for it to run for a further six months, FranceInfo reported.” stated RFI in its local coverage.

“The extension will be granted only “with a view to weaning patients off the drug or finding alternatives”, the resigning Health Minister, Geneviève Darrieussecq, wrote in the letter enabling the decision.” the outlet also reported.

In March 2021, France launched its limited medical cannabis experiment involving between 2,000 and 3,000 suffering patients at the time to gain insight into crafting national medical cannabis policies and regulations.

The French medical cannabis experiment received initial approval from the federal Senate back in 2019, however, the launch of the trial was delayed until the spring of 2021 due to various reasons.

Initially slated for two years, France’s medical cannabis experiment was eventually granted a one-year extension and was set to end in 2024 before receiving the latest extension pushing the estimated end of the trial to the summer of 2025.

According to a recent newsletter sent out by international cannabis economist Beau Whitney of Whitney Economics, France is home to the largest total addressable cannabis market in the European Union with a value of $11.3 billion (midpoint).

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Germany Finalizes Recreational Cannabis Pilot Projects

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

A major component of Germany’s adult-use cannabis legalization model involves launching regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials. The European nation took a major step forward in implementing pilot trials by announcing that the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food will help oversee the nation’s adult-use cannabis research projects, part of which includes pilot trials.

“By passing the Consumer Cannabis Act, the Bundestag has given the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) was given the task of appointing the responsible body for processing research applications on consumer cannabis and industrial hemp. The regulation that has now been issued – the Consumer Cannabis Science Responsibility Regulation – stipulates that the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food will examine corresponding research applications and monitor the approved projects.” the German government stated in a news release (translated from German to English).

“Previously, this task was carried out by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). The BfArM remains the responsible authority for research into medical cannabis.” German officials also stated.

Germany enacted the first provisions of the CanG legalization law on April 1st, 2024. Adults in Germany are now allowed to cultivate cannabis in their private residences and to possess a personal amount of cannabis in their homes and while away from their residences.

Starting on July 1st, 2024, adults could apply to start a member-based cultivation association in Germany. Personal cultivation, possession, and consumption combined with cultivation associations were part of ‘pillar 1’ of Germany’s CanG law.

“Research on and with consumer cannabis is now possible again, but requires a permit. Applicants must meet the criteria set out in the Consumer Cannabis Act, demonstrate the required expertise and demonstrate an interest in research. Not only universities, but also companies can submit research applications. Research can help to effectively curb the black market, expand health prevention and make the debate more objective.” the German government stated.

While this week’s announcement gets Germany a step closer to launching pilot trials, more steps are necessary before final implementation.

“The regulation pursuant to Section 2 Paragraph 4 of the KCanG regulates the scientific use of cannabis for consumption. Anyone who wants to possess, cultivate, produce, import, export, acquire, receive, hand over, pass on, extract cannabinoids from the cannabis plant or trade in cannabis for consumption for scientific purposes requires a permit from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food.” German officials state on a recently published FAQ page.

“This is not the “second pillar” of the key points paper. The “second pillar” should test cannabis specialty stores nationwide in a comprehensive and detailed law. The Federal Ministry of Health is responsible for drafting such a draft law.” the FAQ page also states.

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Malta Cannabis Legalization Has Not Led To Increased Consumption Rates

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Malta became the first European country to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure back in 2021. According to the results of a recent survey, the policy change has not led to an increased rate of cannabis consumption.

“People who admitted smoking cannabis in the past year account for 4% of the population, a decline from 7% in 2021, a Eurobarometer survey shows.” stated Malta Today in its local reporting.

“The survey shows that 53% of respondents across all EU member states are in favour of regulating cannabis for recreational use.” the outlet also reported.

In addition to Malta, cannabis is legal at a national level in Luxembourg and Germany, as well as in Uruguay, Canada, and South Africa. Each legalized nation has a different model with different provisions and limits. In Malta, cannabis cultivation is permitted by adults (up to 4 plants), as is personal possession of 7 grams when away from home and up to 50 grams at home.

Cultivation associations, often referred to as cannabis clubs, are also permitted in Malta. Adults can become members of a club and legally source their cannabis from them. As of August 2024, roughly 2,000 had joined a registered cannabis club in Malta. According to the nation’s top regulatory chief, legalization in Malta is working.

“The country’s harm reduction approach is working,” ARUC Chairperson Joey Reno Vella stated in a recent interview according to separate reporting by Malta Today.

“Before 2021, before the reform was enacted, you had a reality where studies showed a large section of the population used cannabis, but they had no regulated market from where they could buy it. The cannabis they bought was not cultivated in a safe manner, and so posed more risks. They had to turn to the black market where they did not know what they were buying,” Vella also stated.

Since recreational cannabis legalization took effect in Malta in 2021, a total of 39 people have faced prosecution for consuming cannabis in public spaces according to Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri’s recent testimony to parliament.

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Health Canada: Only 3% Of Cannabis Consumers Obtain Products From Illegal Sources

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Every year since 2017, Health Canada has conducted its ‘Canadian Cannabis Survey,’ in which the government agency poses various cannabis-related questions to members of Canadian society. Canada adopted recreational cannabis legalization in 2018, and the survey helps lawmakers and regulators gain insight into how legalization has affected Canada.

Health Canada recently released the results of the 2024 survey, with data being collected from April 4th to July 2nd, 2024. The 2024 survey involved 11,666 respondents aged 16 years and older across all provinces and territories.

One of the main findings of this year’s survey is that only 3% of consumers “reported accessing cannabis through illegal sources,” which is a decrease from a reported 16% back in 2019. Many consumers reported cultivating their own cannabis and/or being gifted cannabis from friends and family. The Health Canada survey also found the following.

  • The number of respondents who reported getting cannabis from a legal source in 2024 was 72% – an increase from 37% in 2019 to 72% in 2024, with legal storefronts being the most common source since 2019.
  • There was no change in rates of cannabis use among youth (age 16-19) over the past year. Past 12-month cannabis use among youth aged 16-19 was 41%, similar to several previous years (44%, 44%, and 43% in 2019, 2020 and 2023 respectively).
  • Overall, the proportion of respondents who said they used cannabis and reported daily, or almost daily use has been stable since 2018 (approx. 25%), including among youth (approx. 20%).

“Since 2017, Health Canada has conducted the annual Canadian Cannabis Survey to better understand attitudes and knowledge regarding cannabis, as well as patterns of cannabis use in Canada. Through the information gathered, Health Canada can better understand where support is needed the most and develop program initiatives that will help educate and raise awareness around the use of cannabis.” Health Canada stated about its annual survey.

Below is a breakdown of the rates of product types reportedly consumed in 2024 in Canada according to the survey results:

  1. Dried flower/leaf (63%; down from 2018 and up from 2023)
  2. Edible cannabis (55%; up from 2018)
  3. Vape pens/cartridges (37%; up from 2018 and 2023)
  4. Oil for oral use (24%; unchanged from 2019)
  5. Beverages (21%; up from 2018)
  6. Hashish/kief (16%; down from 2018)
  7. Topical products (13%; up from 2019)
  8. Concentrates/extracts (e.g., wax, shatter or budder) (13%, down from 2018)

Canada was the second country to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure behind Uruguay (2013). Malta (2021), Luxembourg (2023), Germany (2024), and South Africa (2024) have also adopted national recreational cannabis legalization measures.

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Cannabis Crimes Are Down 68% In Berlin Compared To Last Year

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Cannabis-related crimes in Germany’s capital city were significantly lower for the seven months immediately following partial cannabis legalization compared to the same period last year. Cannabis cultivation, possession, and consumption by adults became legal throughout Germany on April 1st, 2024.

“Berlin’s police database recorded 1,685 criminal offences under the Cannabis Act between the beginning of April and the end of October, including illicit trafficking or illicit possession, the agency said in response to questions from local Green Party lawmaker Vasili Franco.” stated Yahoo! News in its reporting.

“By comparison, 5,315 criminal offences were reported in the same period in 2023.” Yahoo! News also reported.

While adult-use cannabis cultivation, possession, and consumption are legal in Germany, other cannabis-related activities remain prohibited such as selling unregulated cannabis, public consumption, and operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway while intoxicated. Adults can possess up to 25 grams of cannabis away from their homes.

“Contrary to all the scaremongering, the cannabis law is already showing initial success after just a few months. Decriminalization should mean that cannabis users are no longer unnecessarily prosecuted, criminalized and stigmatized,” said Vasili Franco.

According to a 2021 report from Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Germany will eventually save 1.05 billion euros annually by no longer enforcing cannabis prohibition, in addition to judiciary savings of 313 million euros per year.

The German cannabis market is home to 4-8 million consumers with a total potential market value of between €7.8 billion and €15.6 billion according to data provided by leading economist firm Whitney Economics.

To completely supply German demand, Germany’s cannabis industry would need to produce over 948,000 kg of flower annually according to Whitney Economics.

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German Hospitals Want Greater Medical Cannabis Telemedicine Integration

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

The German Hospital Association (DKG) and the German Society for Telemedicine (DGTelemed) have issued a joint position paper calling for increased medical cannabis telemedicine in German hospitals and doctors’ offices. The Association and Society cite a shortage of specialized workers, especially in rural regions, as one reason greater integration is warranted.

Telemedicine involves patients visiting a doctor over the internet instead of in the doctor’s office, and DKG and DGTelemed indicated in their joint position paper that it is important “to move away from the idea that good care can only be provided at the location.” The position paper was published earlier this month.

“Telemedicine gives doctors access to specialist knowledge and patients access to care close to their homes. This avoids many transfers. This saves valuable resources at both university hospitals and smaller hospitals,” Gernot Marx, Chairman of the Board of DGTelemed, stated according to local reporting by Ärzteblatt.

“Care should also be able to be provided regardless of location if this benefits the patient,” said Gerald Gaß, Chairman of the Board of the DKG, according to the media outlet.

Demand for medical cannabis in Germany is on the rise after the nation adopted adult-use legalization reform earlier this year. During the first three full months following Germany’s enactment of the CanG adult-use legalization law (Q3), legal medical cannabis imports increased by over 70% compared to the previous period.

The German cannabis market is home to 4-8 million consumers and patients with a total potential market value of between €7.8 billion and €15.6 billion according to data provided by leading economist firm Whitney Economics.

To completely supply German recreational and medical cannabis demand, Germany’s cannabis industry would need to produce over 948,000 kg of flower annually according to Whitney Economics.