Author: Hazel Norman

No Changes Expected To Luxembourg’s New Cannabis Law

Written by Hazel Norman on November 20, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Luxembourg became the fourth nation to ever pass a national adult-use cannabis law when it did so earlier this year. Luxembourg joined its European counterpart, Malta, which passed a national measure in late 2021. The other two legalized nations are Uruguay (2013) and Canada (2018).

Out of the four countries, Luxembourg’s legalization model is the most restrictive. It only provides for legal personal cultivation (4 plants per adult household), decriminalized possession (up to 3 grams away from the home, still punishable by a fine at the discretion of the public prosecutor’s office), and private consumption.

That legalization model is a far cry from what is found in Canada, where cultivation by adults is also permitted in most parts of the country, yet personal possession is permitted without the threat of a fine, and commercial cannabis sales are permitted in many forms.

Cannabis advocates were hopeful that Luxembourg’s law would be treated as a step in the right direction versus being a final destination, however, there appear to be no changes on the horizon to the nation’s new law.

The current CSV-DP government recently published a document outlining its priorities for the coming years, and while recently adopted cannabis policies are not expected to regress in the coming years, they are not expected to progress either.

According to the CSV-DP government’s professed priorities, personal cultivation will remain legal even though CSV voted against it when the measure was considered in the Chamber, and any reform beyond that limited scope will remain off the table, at least for now.

Luxembourg, like every other nation in Europe, is not considering its approach to cannabis policy in a vacuum. Several other countries are working to modernize their own cannabis policies, not the least of which is Luxembourg’s neighbor Germany.

Lawmakers in Luxembourg may want to cling to the status quo right now, but that will become increasingly more difficult as the cannabis policy landscape continues to evolve across the European continent.

First Legal Medical Cannabis Clinic Opens In Ireland

Written by Hazel Norman on November 19, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

Medical cannabis may be commonly found in various parts of the world now, however, in Ireland, medical cannabis policy modernization efforts have taken considerably longer to become a reality.

Back in June 2019, Ireland’s Minister for Health signed a measure that permitted the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme on a pilot basis for five years. Similar to the medical cannabis program that is in operation in France, the policy change was initially only temporary and limited in scope.

In Ireland, there are only three recognized health conditions that qualify a suffering patient to be able to enroll in the Medical Cannabis Access Programme. Those conditions are:

Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy

The nation’s medical cannabis program took a moderate step forward in 2021 when Ireland’s Health Minister announced that medical consultants could sign up themselves and their patients to the Medical Cannabis Access Programme through the nation’s Health Service Executive.

It was that latest change that led to the launch of Ireland’s first legal medical cannabis clinic. Per Irish Mirror:

Medicann CEO Gary Whipp, whose background is primarily in tech, has been studying cannabis for five years and is a qualified cannabis consultant. He told the Irish Mirror that Medicann first launched in “sunny” Jersey in 2019 and has since set up clinics in Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Now, Medicann has opened its first Irish clinic recently and has been “inundated” since it began accepting patients who wish to know if they are eligible for treatment with medicinal cannabis.

While it is presumed that many suffering patients who contact the clinic ultimately do not qualify right now due to the limited number of qualifying conditions, Medicann’s CEO feels that there may be a path for increased patient access via a ministerial license.

“Each individual gets a ministerial licence, it lasts for 12 months, and that allows us to prescribe for that particular condition.” Gary Whipp stated according to Irish Mirror. “That’s the only real difference between the other jurisdictions and Ireland, is that the initiating of it needs to have a ministerial licence if it’s not one of the MCAP conditions.”

Australian Medical Association Opposes Cannabis Legalization Measure

Written by Hazel Norman on November 13, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Lawmakers in Australia’s Parliament are currently considering a bill that would legalize cannabis for adult use. The ‘Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023‘ was introduced by Greens Senator David Shoebridge, an outspoken proponent of modernizing Australia’s cannabis policies.

According to the summary of the bill, the measure “establishes the Cannabis Australia National Agency as a statutory agency to register cannabis strains and regulate activities relating to cannabis including: growing and possessing cannabis plants; manufacturing and selling cannabis products; operating cannabis cafes; and importing and exporting cannabis products.”

The measure was first introduced and read for the first time on August 10, 2023, and is currently sitting in the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. The committee is accepting submissions, and for better or worse, the Australian Medical Association weighed in. Per the Milton Ulladulla Times:

A proposed federal Bill that would legalise cannabis for adult recreational use in Australia must be scrapped, according to the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

The AMA has set out its opposition to the Bill in its submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, saying there were many short-term and long-term risks posed by recreational cannabis.

The association’s submission was full of classic reefer madness talking points, many of which seem to fail to take into consideration the overwhelming success of adult-use legalization in Canada and Uruguay.

It’s an interesting irony that while Australia’s Medical Association is making claims that adult-use legalization would hurt its nation’s public health outcomes, lawmakers in Europe are pushing for legalization to boost public health outcomes.

In countries that prohibit cannabis, such as Australia, consumers make their purchases from unregulated sources and it’s anyone’s guess what was used to cultivate the unregulated cannabis that the sources provide. A significant amount of humans will always consume cannabis, and when that cannabis is unregulated and contaminated, consuming it can cause issues.

The Australian Medical Association, much like many cannabis opponents, fails to accept the reality of the situation. They seem to think that if cannabis is prohibited, that humans will not consume it. Obviously, that has never been the case at any point during the era of cannabis prohibition.

Legalization Vote Delayed In Germany

Written by Hazel Norman on November 13, 2023. Posted in Policy.

A long-awaited adult-use cannabis legalization vote was initially scheduled for this week in Germany, however, the vote was delayed until at least December. This likely means that German adult-use reform will not be achieved until next year.

The measure that is currently being considered by members of the Bundestag was largely championed by German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. In its current form, the measure would permit the personal cultivation, possession, and consumption of cannabis by adults, as well as the eventual launch of noncommercial cannabis clubs.

Several lawmakers in Germany have expressed frustration with some of the provisions that are currently included in the legalization measure, as well as expressed frustration with how long the political process is taking:

Das CannG wird im Dezember beschlossen. Das bedeutet, dass wir den Zeitplan nicht halten. Ich weiß, dass das für viele eine große Enttäuschung ist. Deswegen ist diese Entscheidung auch niemandem leicht gefallen. Gut ausgearbeitete Verbesserungen sind aber in unser aller Sinne. ✊

— Carmen Wegge (@CarmenWegge) November 10, 2023

Translated from German to English the social media post states, “The CannG will be decided in December. This means that we are not keeping to the schedule. I know this is a huge disappointment for many. That’s why this decision wasn’t easy for anyone. However, well-designed improvements are in all of our interests. ✊”

Reading between the lines a bit, Carmen Wegge’s social media post seems to indicate that the current adult-use legalization measure is evolving and that the delayed vote could be indicative of changes on the horizon. Obviously, only time will tell.

Currently, only two nations in Europe have passed a national adult-use legalization measure. Malta did so in late 2021, and Luxembourg did so earlier this year. Both legalization models are limited in scope, with Luxembourg’s legalization model being particularly narrow and only permitting cultivation, possession, and consumption.

According to the European Union, continental agreements prohibit robust national sales such as what is found in Canada and Uruguay. The two Western Hemisphere nations make up the remainder of the list of countries that have passed a national adult-use measure.

Many international cannabis observers have wondered if domestic lawmakers in Germany will push for reform provisions that go against the EU’s expressed limitations, and if so, where things will go from there. It appears that the earliest that may happen will be in 2024.

SPD Interior Ministers Continue To Cling To Failed Prohibition

Written by Hazel Norman on November 5, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Roughly a month ago, cannabis opponents in Germany’s Federal Council (or Bundesrat) tried to derail the nation’s legalization plans. German lawmakers are currently considering a proposal that was largely championed by the nation’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

Minister Lauterbach’s measure, which would legalize cannabis for personal cultivation, possession, and consumption, was already approved by the nation’s Federal Cabinet. The measure would also permit adult-use noncommercial cannabis clubs to operate.

A coalition of SPD ministers from jurisdictions like Hamburg, Thuringia, and Lower Saxony have been very vocal in opposition to the measure, which is currently working its way through the Bundestag process.

In the coalition’s latest move, the ministers sent a ‘warning letter’ to the SPD parliamentary group. The letter was reportedly authored by Hamburg’s Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) on behalf of the coalition and focused on Dutch and Spanish policies.

“The liberal drug policy has given organized crime an enormous increase in the market while at the same time reducing the risk of criminal prosecution and has thus created the foundations for the structures that the Dutch state has today escalated violence.” the letter stated.

The letter went on to bemoan “perpetrators from all nations” that it claims have flooded into the two countries, creating a “pull effect on perpetrators of organized crime.” The letter was specifically critical of the amount of cannabis that an adult will be able to acquire through a licensed and regulated, noncommercial club in Germany if/when the law is approved and implemented.

“It is therefore very likely that many 18-year-olds will pass on their ‘excess’ cannabis to people under 18 at parties and on other occasions (including for money).” stated the letter.

For context, Uruguay passed a national legalization measure in 2013 that included club provisions. None of the doomsday scenarios that the SPD interior ministers are predicting ever materialized in Uruguay. The same is true in Canada, which legalized nationwide in 2018. The same will presumably be true in Malta where regulators recently approved the first two licenses for noncommercial clubs.

United Kingdom Accepts New Recommendations For CBD Products

Written by Hazel Norman on October 30, 2023. Posted in Policy.

The United Kingdom, like most countries, has struggled to regulate products containing cannabidiol (CBD). CBD products have increased in popularity and availability across Europe, and there is a considerable amount of confusion regarding what is permitted, what is not, and what is in a ‘grey area.’

Due to CBD’s lack of euphoria-inducing properties, people who typically buy and consume CBD products are doing so for wellness purposes, and not recreational purposes. As such, they really need the products that they are consuming to be properly regulated to ensure consistency, efficacy, and safety.

The government of the United Kingdom recently accepted recommendations to specify permissible cannabinoid levels in CBD products. Per excerpts from Cannabis Health News:

The UK Home Office this week accepted recommendations from the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) regarding the legal levels of controlled cannabinoids, including THC, in consumer CBD products.

In a response to the ACMD report, published on 24 October, Minister for Crime and Policing, Chris Philp MP, said the government intends to accept the advised limit of 50 micrograms of THC and other controlled cannabinoids per unit of consumption.

Clear and sensible regulations are desperately needed in the global CBD sector. Many jurisdictions either have no regulations or vague regulations, while many others have regulations that are overburdensome and/or conflicting with other public policies and rules.

All of that makes it very difficult to be an entrepreneur or investor, as neither wants to operate in an uncertain and seemingly-shifting landscape. That, in addition to the issues that it causes for consumers and patients. Unfortunately, the situation in the United Kingdom and beyond will likely get more murky before better clarity and consistency are achieved.

Morocco’s King Appoints General Director Of National Cannabis Agency

Written by Hazel Norman on October 29, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Back in mid-2021, Morocco passed a key measure that has helped pave the way for the nation’s emerging legal cannabis industry. Morocco has long served as a top source for unregulated cannabis, particularly for the European continent.

Now, thanks to the nation modernizing its cannabis policies, legal cannabis is cultivated in multiple Moroccan provinces. Roughly one year ago, Morocco issued ten permits for legal medical cannabis cultivation. Farmer cooperatives in the northern mountain areas of Al Houceima, Taounat, and Chefchaouen received the permits.

The agency that oversees the nation’s emerging legal industry is the National Agency for Regulating Cannabis Related Activities, which met for the first time in June 2022. The agency recently received a new general director. Per Morocco World News:

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI appointed Mohamed El Guerrouj as general director of the National Agency for Regulating Cannabis Related Activities (ANRAC).

The appointment was announced during the Council of Ministers meeting held in Rabat on Thursday.

Prior to the new appointment, El Guerrouj has been serving as an interim director for ANRAC since September 2022.

It will be some time before Morocco’s legal industry expands to a point that it can compete in any meaningful way with the nation’s unregulated market. Just as the unregulated market still exists in other legal jurisdictions, the same will always be true in Morocco to some extent.

With that being said, any economic stimulus that the emerging industry can provide is presumably very much welcomed in Morocco where per capita income is low and jobs are often hard to come by.

Malta Issues First Noncommercial Cannabis Club Licenses

Written by Hazel Norman on October 29, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

Malta became the third nation on earth, and the first in Europe, to pass a national adult-use legalization measure back in late 2021. Since that time, Luxembourg has also passed a national measure. However, unlike Luxembourg, Malta’s legalization model includes the permitting of noncommercial cannabis clubs. The EU nation recently issued its first licenses for such clubs.

According to domestic reporting, Executive Chairperson of the Authority for The Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) Leonid McKay announced during a recent press conference that “operational licenses” were issued to two different entities.

The recipients of the noncommercial cannabis licenses are KDD Society and Ta’ Zelli. The entities cannot start distributing cannabis until they receive tested products. All testing will reportedly be handled by Malta’s Authority for The Responsible Use of Cannabis.

It’s not entirely clear when products will officially go on sale, however, it’s speculated that the first legal sales via noncommercial clubs will begin early next spring. Four more entities have received “in-principle licenses” and are continuing to work through the licensing process.

Per our prior reporting, regulations for noncommercial clubs in Malta include (but are not limited to):

A maximum of 500 club members
Cannot be located within 250 meters of a school or ‘youth center’
No advertising
Cannot use the word ‘cannabis’ in the club’s name, or anything that would ‘incite use’
At least two club founders with no prior convictions of money laundering
Clubs must have a legal representative
Club administrators have to be residents for at least 5 years
All cannabis has to be cultivated by the club itself (out of public view)
Registration fee of €1,000
License fee starting at €8,750
Initial licenses valid for 1 year, with 3 year renewals
Labeling requirements
Ongoing government auditing
Product testing
THC percentage caps for consumers 18-20 years old
Consumers can only have a membership at 1 club at a time
Revenue dispersal requirements

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Medical Cannabis Trial In France To Receive Extension

Written by Hazel Norman on October 23, 2023. Posted in Policy.

France’s current 2,540 registered medical cannabis patients received good news in recent days via comments made by the nation’s Minister for Health Aurélien Rousseau. Minister Rousseau reportedly indicated that his nation’s medical cannabis experiment will receive an extension.

France’s government recently indicated that it would refrain from recommending national medical cannabis legalization after the European nation’s medical cannabis experiment was over. The recently announced extension provides some reassurance to registered patients, albeit only temporarily.

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. Cannabis producer LaFleur was eventually selected as the cultivator for the program and has supplied participating patients since the launch of the experiment.

Initially slated for a two-year period, France’s medical cannabis experiment was eventually granted a one-year extension and was set to end in 2024. The program is now expected to end in 2025. Per Business of Cannabis:

Despite pressure from cross-party parliamentarians, elected officials, scientists and doctors, Mr Rousseau refused to commit to rolling medical cannabis out generally across France this year.

The minister suggested that the lack of commitment to a fully fledged medical cannabis programme was due to a lack of ‘European marketing authorisation’, which he suggested could be ready by 2025.

Medical cannabis is becoming more common in Europe, with no less than 17 European Union member nations having passed a national medical cannabis measure. Just as other nations have modernized their medical cannabis policies to help more suffering patients, nothing is stopping France from doing the same aside from stigma and special interests.

France has one of the largest cannabis consumption rates on the European continent with an estimated 10.6% of adults having consumed cannabis at least one time in the last year according to recent survey data. It’s unclear how many of those adults were using cannabis for medical purposes.

Bundestag Holds First Debate On German Legalization Measure

Written by Hazel Norman on October 22, 2023. Posted in Policy.

A long-awaited initial legalization measure debate was finally held in Germany’s Bundestag earlier this week after a reading scheduled for earlier in the week was delayed. The initial reading was scheduled for Monday, however, it was rescheduled for Wednesday due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The process behind the measure currently being considered by members of the Bundestag essentially started after the dust settled on the 2021 German election. A new governing coalition was elected during that year, commonly referred to as the Traffic Light Coalition, and members of the coalition made it abundantly clear that they wished to pass a national legalization measure.

For over a year, Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach then worked behind the scenes to craft a measure for lawmakers to consider, incorporating feedback he reportedly received from the European Union. The European Union has consistently taken the position that national sales, such as what many lawmakers in Germany want, are prohibited in Europe.

Eventually, in October 2022, Minister Lauterbach finally provided public insight into some of the general provisions he planned to include in his measure. Below is Health Minister Lauterbach’s presentation in full (broadcast in German):

After the public presentation, Minister Lauterbach then further lobbied the European Union, and eventually formally introduced his legalization measure in Germany. It was approved by the Federal Cabinet and recently avoided being derailed by opponents in the Bundesrat.

It is widely expected that the measure will evolve from its current form, however, it’s unclear exactly how much evolution could occur.

Cannabis opponents in the Bundestag have tried to further the efforts of opponents in the Bundesrat by filing motions to prevent the legalization measure from proceeding, but as Minister Lauterbach pointed out on social media, opponents are short on viable alternatives:

Hier die Zusammenfassung der Cannabisdebatte. Was mir auffällt: von den Kritikern hatte kein einziger einen Gegenvorschlag. Es bliebe also alles beim alten. Mehr Konsum, toxische Ware, kaum Jugendschutz, Schwarzmarkt, Vorstrafen. Kurz: Weiter scheitern… https://t.co/WeEpnd7pSF

— Prof. Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach) October 18, 2023

If the measure does proceed in its current form, it would legalize personal cultivation, possession, and use by adults of legal age. The measure would also permit noncommercial cannabis clubs to launch in Germany, similar to what is being launched in Malta, but it’s expected to be on a much larger scale compared to what is reportedly planned in Malta.

The measure now heads to the committee stage for further debate. The Bundestag’s Health Committee is scheduled to review the measure on November 6th. A final reading of the measure is currently scheduled for November 16th.

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CBD Decree In Italy Is Temporarily Suspended

Written by Hazel Norman on October 16, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Regulating cannabidiol (CBD) products has proven to be a difficult task for most of the world, and Italy is no exception. An August decree in Italy would have classified CBD as a narcotic substance, however, this month a court in Italy temporarily suspended the change.

The suspension is reportedly in effect until October 24th. Local activists with the Sativa Hemp Association Italy had the following to say about the court decision (translated from Italian to English):

Today we celebrate an important success thanks to the unwavering commitment and constant work of the associations at the supply chain table and to the precious intervention of the ICI association which has dedicated itself to this appeal since 2020 and which we have supported by making available all the material relating to recent unjustified seizures to support the precautionary measure and therefore obtaining the immediate suspension of the decree. Together for an important victory.

Mattia Cusani, general secretary of the CSI Association confirmed this news, indicating that the suspension could undergo further developments depending on the interpretations and future applications of the decree.

A request for immediate suspension of the Ministerial Decree of 7 August 2023 was made through a precautionary application. This move was made necessary following inspections and seizures of goods in the CBD, with allegations of violation of the art. 73 of Presidential Decree 304/1990, linked to narcotic substances. The TAR accepted this request, pushing the effectiveness of the Ministerial Decree until the council chamber on 24 October 2023.

This represents just the beginning of a long struggle, but it demonstrates the importance of unity and commitment to protecting the legal cannabis industry.

Italy’s Ministry of Health is reportedly set to argue in favor of the decree when afforded the opportunity in court, and the situation is worth monitoring. To echo what local activists are saying in Italy, this is likely the start of a marathon versus the start of a sprint. Italy is not alone in that regard, and entrepreneurs will have to continue to do their best to navigate the shifting landscape.

How Long Have Humans Used Cannabis?

Written by Hazel Norman on October 15, 2023. Posted in Policy, Science.

The cannabis plant is arguably the most versatile plant on earth and humans have a long history of harnessing its properties for a myriad of purposes. That fact is at the heart of a recent paper published in the European Journal for Chemistry, as first reported by Marijuana Moment.

At the core of the research paper is the history of humankind’s contact with the cannabis plant and how humans have used parts of it as a source of fiber for things such as rope and clothing, for medical and wellness benefits, as part of religious practices, and for recreational use. Few, if any, other plants can boast such a wide array of uses.

“Along with rice, soy, barley, and millet, Cannabis is considered one of the five main grains by ancient people. The seeds found in Cannabis achenes, rich in proteins (such as albumin and edestin) and essential unsaturated fatty acids (such as linoleic and linolenic acids) served as food, input for other culinary purposes, and even soap production.” the paper’s authors stated.

Hemp-based nutrition products, including products designed for elite athletes, are very popular today, particularly protein products. During the 1900s the cannabis plant was subjected to a significant amount of negative propaganda, and as a result, many members of society falsely assumed that it was bad for human health. That perception has evolved a lot in recent years.

“To exemplify the long co-existence with hemp, ancestral archaeological relics date the use of this plant fiber as a fabric to approximately 8000 years before the common era (BCE) as a
material in ancient Mesopotamia (present-day Iran and Iraq), and to 4000 years BCE and 3000 years BCE as a material for ropes in China and Kazakhstan, respectively. Impressively, until
the beginning of the nineteenth century, it was estimated that around 80% of fabrics, candles, ropes, among other items, were produced from hemp.” the paper’s authors pointed out.

Using the cannabis plant’s fibers for textiles is not as common now as it was in previous eras, however, as more products are made from extracting cannabinoids from cannabis plants innovators are exploring ways to maximize the use of the fiber tissue left behind. In addition to using plant fiber for textiles, they can also be used as biomass fuel.

“Used for millennia as a food, fiber production and religious, therapeutic, and recreational instrument, a source of phytocompounds with proven efficacy for clinical conditions of difficult management, its planting, cultivation, use and acquisition are today prohibited – even for researchers who intend to work with this plant! – in the vast majority of countries. Recent efforts try to decriminalize the use of the drug and to expand the medical use and access to patients of Cannabis-based drugs through legislation, but despite successes around the world, it still finds its hindrances.” the paper’s authors stated.

“Cannabis is perhaps one of the greatest controversies in contemporary humanity.” the authors concluded.

‘Expert Panel’ Releases Cannabis Engagement Report In Canada

Written by Hazel Norman on October 15, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Canada became the first G-7 nation to pass an adult-use national cannabis legalization measure roughly five years ago. It still remains the only G-7 nation to do so and provides the best insight into the effects of implementing a robust national legalization measure.

As part of the ongoing cannabis public policy modernization research effort in Canada an ‘expert panel’ was created to obtain feedback from the public. This week the panel released some of its findings. Below is more information about it via a news release from Health Canada:

Today, the Expert Panel conducting the legislative review of the Cannabis Act published its report entitled Legislative Review of the Cannabis Act – What we Heard Report. The report is a summary of what the Expert Panel heard during its engagement activities conducted between December 2022 and June 2023.

“We want to thank everyone who generously gave us their time and energy in sharing their perspectives and answering our questions,” said Morris Rosenberg, Chair of the Expert Panel. “We have heard a wide variety of perspectives throughout the consultations. A very rich and broad scientific literature was shared with us, as well as diverse lived and living experiences. We hope that we have captured the breadth and nuances of perspectives.”

The Expert Panel was established with a mandate to provide independent, expert advice to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health on progress made towards achieving the Cannabis Act’s objectives and on the identification of areas to improve the functioning of the framework.

The Expert Panel engaged with almost 500 stakeholders in nearly 90 meetings as part of its first phase of work.

The next phase of the Expert Panel’s work includes the development of its final report for the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, which will continue to be informed by engagement activities throughout the fall. This report will provide advice and recommendations on areas of the legislative framework or its implementation that could be improved or reformed.

The final report is to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament by March 2024.

The Expert Panel continues to welcome written submissions as it develops the final report. Submissions can be sent to legreview-examenleg@hc-sc.gc.ca or to the following mailing address:

Cannabis Act Legislative Review Secretariat
Health Canada
Address locator 0302I
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)

Court In Brazil Determines Cannabis Smell Does Not Justify Home Search

Written by Hazel Norman on October 9, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Cannabis prohibition enforcement involves various tactics, including the reliance on ‘smelling’ cannabis to ‘justify’ searching people, their personal property, their vehicle, and sometimes their homes. The latter was at the heart of a recent court case in Brazil that went all the way to the nation’s Superior Court of Justice.

A lower court previously determined that if law enforcement smelled cannabis from a person “who is already being investigated on suspicion of drug trafficking,” that law enforcement has just cause to search the person. However, that just cause does not extend to the suspect’s home and a judicial warrant is required, even if a different resident of the home authorizes entry.

The case involved an individual being investigated for suspected drug trafficking. After searching the suspect outside of their home and reportedly finding nothing, law enforcement then searched the individual’s home despite not having a warrant to do so. Cannabis and other illegal items were discovered during the search.

Law enforcement indicated that they had received permission to enter the residence from a different resident other than the suspect, however, the Superior Court of Justice determined that the search was illegal and that anything found during the search was inadmissible. Per Newsendip:

Minister Reynaldo Soares da Fonseca of the SCJ granted habeas corpus, a constitutional right for someone who is imprisoned to report wrongful detention or abuse of power.

Minister Reynaldo Soares da Fonseca recognized the illegality of the evidence and acquitted the defendant of any charges. He explains in his decision that there is a necessity for concrete evidence that would justify entering a home and invading the right to privacy.

“I reiterate that nothing illegal was found with the personal search, therefore not justifying entry into the person’s home,” concluded the judge.

The recent decision in Brazil obviously does not extend beyond Brazil’s borders. Furthermore, the scope of the decision is fairly narrow and still permits people to be searched outside their homes for simply smelling like cannabis.

What Brazil truly needs is a modernization of its national cannabis policies. Cannabis prohibition is a failed public policy that has harmed too many lives, and it’s beyond time that Brazil started taking a more sensible approach.

Why Is Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer Concerned About Cannabis Usage Rates?

Written by Hazel Norman on October 9, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Ireland is a cannabis prohibition nation. Not only is adult-use cannabis prohibited in Ireland, but medical cannabis is also technically prohibited in Ireland. There is a program in Ireland in which a limited number of medical cannabis patients are permitted to travel to the Netherlands for medical cannabis treatments.

As of July 2020, only 30 patients were approved for the program. Considering that Ireland has a population of over 5 million people, the low patient count speaks for itself.

Personal cannabis possession in Ireland is a violation of the Misuse of Drugs Acts (1977-2016), and carries a penalty of up to €1,000 for the first and second offense. The fine can be increased to €1,270 for a first offense, and €2,540 for a second offense, if the amount of cannabis involved is deemed to be ‘excessive.’

The penalty for a third personal possession offense is one to three years in prison depending on the case. It is worth noting that the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act 2011 mandates that courts consider community service in place of a prison sentence when possible.

Needless to say, Ireland’s cannabis policies are terrible and in desperate need of improvement. No patient should have to face fines, mandated community service, and/or incarceration for possessing their medicine.

And yet, against that backdrop, Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer’s reported concern is not the plight of patients, but rather, that people are consuming cannabis. Per excerpts from The Journal:

THE USE OF cannabis in Ireland is “of great concern”, the Chief Medical Officer has expressed to the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use.

“Cannabis can cause addiction,” she said. “We have 45,000 people with cannabis-use disorders in the latest data.”

Under-18s account for 80% of new presentations to cannabis addiction treatment services.

The excerpts from the article need context. For starters, what constitutes a ‘cannabis-use disorder’ is often determined by courts, law enforcement, and entities that profit from forcing people into treatment. Clearly, there is a bias involved in those instances.

Regarding ‘under-18s,’ many youth who are caught with cannabis, either by law enforcement or their parents, are forced into rehabilitation programs as part of their punishment. Statistics are reflective of that, and not reflective of ‘teen addiction’ per se.

Ireland does not have a cannabis use problem. Rather, it has a cannabis prohibition problem, and that problem is particularly terrible for suffering patients.

French Medical Cannabis Legalization Is Not Expected In 2024

Written by Hazel Norman on October 1, 2023. Posted in Policy.

France’s government is expected to refrain from recommending national medical cannabis legalization after the European nation’s medical cannabis experiment is over.

In March 2021, France launched a limited medical cannabis experiment involving between 2,000 and 3,000 suffering patients with the goal of gaining insight to possibly craft national medical cannabis policies and regulations. Initially slated for a two-year period, France’s medical cannabis experiment was eventually granted a one-year extension and is set to end in 2024.

According to domestic reporting, the 2024 Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) will not include provisions to legalize medical cannabis nationwide due to a lack of support by the Macron administration.

Limited cannabis access is not a new public policy concept in Europe, with limited adult use cannabis commerce now permitted in parts of Switzerland, and soon, the Netherlands. Germany is another jurisdiction that is working towards launching adult-use pilot programs.

France is somewhat rare in that most European nations now permit medical cannabis access. France, on the other hand, has historically been much more hesitant to reform its medical cannabis policies.

If the French government does not adopt national medical cannabis reform at the conclusion of the experiment, and the pilot program does not receive another extension, medical cannabis patients will have no safe access to their medications. Instead, they will be forced to either go without medical cannabis or obtain their medical cannabis from unregulated sources.

CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC are legal in France, however, many suffering cannabis patients require treatment regimens involving products that have higher levels of THC.

According to data analyzed by the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Tendencies, roughly 10.6% of France’s adult population has consumed cannabis within the last year, and 47.3% have reported using cannabis at least once in their lifetimes.

Slowing Down Legalization In Germany Is The Wrong Move

Written by Hazel Norman on September 25, 2023. Posted in Policy.

A coalition of SPD ministers from Hamburg, Thuringia, and Lower Saxony are trying to slow down cannabis policy modernization efforts in Germany. Germany’s current legalization effort was historically led by Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD). If the coalition of SPD state ministers have their way, Minister Lauterbach’s bill will never become law.

What is currently being proposed is a multi-phase plan to modernize Germany’s adult-use cannabis policies. The first phase, which was approved this year by Germany’s federal cabinet, would legalize the personal cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis.

Additionally, the first phase would eventually permit noncommercial cannabis clubs to operate. The clubs would be subject to a host of regulations, including caps on the number of members they can have. Individual consumers would also be restricted to only possessing one membership at a time.

While Germany’s federal cabinet approved the first phase measure, it is now being considered by members of the Bundestag and it’s very likely that provisions of the bill will evolve, and not in a manner that the coalition of SPD state ministers are hoping for.

Unlike the SPD state ministers, who feel that the current measure being considered is too liberal, many members of the Bundestag have expressed publicly that they feel the current measure is too restrictive.

The second phase of legalization according to Minister Lauterbach’s proposal would involve permitting regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot programs, similar to what is in operation in Switzerland and being considered in the Netherlands. Although, Germany’s pilot programs are expected to be conducted on a larger scale than compared to its European counterparts’ programs.

A cannabis pilot program, in theory, provides national lawmakers the opportunity to collect data at a local level in order to be better suited to craft national cannabis laws and regulations. Full national sales are not within the scope of the current legalization effort in Germany, although there’s a lot of the process left to be completed and anything is possible.

Germany’s Health Minister participated in ongoing discussions with the European Union regarding cannabis policy, and Minister Lauterbach indicated that national sales would run afoul of EU agreements. Malta and Luxembourg have passed national legalization measures, however, they do not include provisions for national sales.

Slowing down the process in Germany is unacceptable. If anything, it needs to be sped up. Cannabis prohibition is a failed public policy, and regulation is a more sensible approach. Canada is proving that right now, and it would be wise for Germany and every other country to modernize their own cannabis policies.

European Parliament Member Shares Pictures Of His Cannabis Plants On Social Media

Written by Hazel Norman on September 20, 2023. Posted in Policy.

A member of the European Parliament (MEP) recently posted pictures of cannabis he is cultivating for personal use. Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, MEP for Ireland Midlands North West, shared the following image and message to X/Twitter:

I’ve grown two! This is the Shogun (sativa dominant) feminised plant. It’s a funny one. Over 6 foot tall. Over 4 foot wide. Spindly. Topped it in attempt to thicken it up. Made no difference. Just wants to reach for the sky. Can’t water it enough. They’ve a mind of their own! pic.twitter.com/bFtp5mtNxc

— Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan (@lukeming) September 16, 2023

The social media post was overwhelmingly well received based on the replies to the tweet, although there were a handful of comments from people asking why the MEP was posting the content. MEP Flanagan is a long-time proponent of cannabis reform.

Some of the comments questioned how the MEP was not facing charges for the cultivation, however, as other platform users pointed out, MEP Flanagan is based out of Brussels where limited personal cannabis cultivation is not a criminal offense.

The discussion surrounding the social media post by a sitting MEP touches on a larger ongoing continental discussion regarding the need for cannabis policy modernization. What MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan is doing on his balcony is something that every responsible adult should be able to do, regardless of which European nation they are based in at the time.

Currently, only Malta and Luxembourg have passed national adult-use measures that expressly permit personal cannabis cultivation, possession, and consumption. Germany is currently working to pass a national measure, and regional pilot programs are being launched in Switzerland and the Netherlands.

European cannabis reform is taking on a different form in Europe compared to the Western hemisphere. Canada and Uruguay have passed national legalization measures with robust consumer options, whereas European reform is largely based on personal cultivation.

‘Cannabis light,’ which is cannabis containing a low amount of THC, is legal in many parts of Europe, however, those products are considerably different compared to what is available in truly legal markets such as Canada.

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Limited Legal Cannabis Sales Expected To Launch In The Netherlands This December

Written by Hazel Norman on September 18, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

A long-awaited cannabis public policy experiment is reportedly set to launch on December 15th in two different municipalities in the Netherlands. Limited cannabis sales will be permitted at certain coffee shops in both Tilburg and Breda this winter according to the nation’s cabinet.

Health Minister Kuipers previously announced back in February that Tilburg and Breda would likely be the first of what will eventually be ten municipalities to participate in what is essentially an adult-use cannabis commerce pilot program, similar to what is already underway at the local level in Switzerland.

Germany is also expected to incorporate regional pilot programs into its legalization model. It’s a concept that is gaining in popularity in many European countries that are ramping up cannabis policy modernization efforts.

In theory, permitting local adult-use sales will provide government policymakers and regulators data to examine in order to be better suited to craft eventual national cannabis policies and industry rules and regulations. The concept is in line with continental and international agreements.

The launch of pilot programs in the Netherlands comes after a series of delays, and it wasn’t until the recent announcement that the nation’s government appeared to have backed off of its hardline stance that pilots could not begin until there were at least three cultivators.

Currently, only two cultivators are ready to supply the coffee shops in Tilburg and Breda, yet an exception was made to prevent further delays. Two more licensed cultivators are expected to start providing cannabis to the nation’s pilot program in February 2024. If everything goes as expected with the pilots in Tilburg and Breda, at least eight more municipalities will also launch pilot programs.

Additionally, at least one district in Amsterdam is expected to also become part of the cannabis public policy experiment which will permit coffee shop owners to sell a limited amount of cannabis to adults, although during the ‘start-up phase’ coffee shops are also allowed to sell ‘tolerated products’ from their unregulated suppliers.

Officials in the Netherlands have the authority to shut down the cannabis public policy experiment at any time if ‘abuses’ are found, which is a subjective measure. However, the cultivation facilities and outlets will be watched closely and local officials are optimistic that the experiment will succeed.

“With this start-up phase in Brabant we can gain first experiences, detect teething problems and gather the knowledge to perfect the experiment. In this way, we can make a flying start with the large-scale experiment.” stated Breda Mayor Dr. Paul Depla back in February (translated from Dutch to English).

International Cannabis Business Conference Bled Slovenia

Cannabis History Is Made In Slovenia At International Event

Written by Hazel Norman on September 11, 2023. Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy, Science.

The International Cannabis Business Conference was held in Bled, Slovenia last week on September 7th and 8th, with a VIP reception held the night before the event. The two-day event was dedicated to emerging international cannabis science and technology.

Among the speakers at the conference, which is part of a series of cannabis events held around the world, was Dr. Metka Paragi, the current Secretary for Health of the Slovenian Prime Minister’s cabinet. Dr. Paragi, a leading international microbiologist, welcomed attendees of the first-ever International Cannabis Business Conference held in Slovenia.

She provided a brief overview of current usage rates in Slovenia, as well as discussed the level of support for policy modernization efforts in the region. Dr. Paragi also provided an update on the current state of cannabis policy and research in Slovenia. It marked the first-ever presentation at an international cannabis conference by a current officeholder at that level of government.

In addition to Dr. Paragi, presentations at the two-day science and technology conference were made by:

Lumír Hanuš – Chief Scientist, Lumir Lab, Asana Bio Group LTD
Prof Dr. Tamara Lah Turmšek – Biochemist, Researcher, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana
Peter Homberg – Partner, Dentons, Head of European Cannabis Group
Ngaio Bealum – Conference Master of Ceremonies
Alex Rogers – CEO & Executive Producer, International Cannabis Business Conference
Božidar Radišič – Project Manager and Founder, Research Nature Institute

At the conclusion of the event, the International Cannabis Business Conference hosted one of its infamous after-parties, which was headlined by none other than Slovenia’s most famous and loved artist, Magnifico.

Below are links to media coverage of the event:

Delo

SI21

Dnevnik

RTV Slovenia

24UR

STAznanost

Jutro na Planetu

Make sure to check out the upcoming event at the University of Ljubljana titled ‘Hemp and its Active Ingredients in Healthcare III’ on October 11th and 18th, 2023. The event is co-organized by the Research Nature Institute and is the third education seminary of a series involving doctors and nurses from the faculty at the University of Ljubljana.

To find out more, please visit: https://www.zf.uni-lj.si/si/arhiv-obvestil-cvu/1295-konoplja-in-njene-ucinkovine-v-zdravstvu-iii

Himachal Pradesh Inches Closer To Permitting Cannabis Cultivation

Written by Hazel Norman on September 11, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Himachal Pradesh is the northernmost state of India. Host to the Dalai Lama, it is known for its scenic towns and resorts and is the second largest producer of apples in India only behind Kashmir. Soon, farmers will likely get the chance to cultivate a new crop – cannabis hemp.

India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 prohibits cannabis. However, individual states in India have set their own cannabis policies in some cases, and lawmakers in Himachal Pradesh are in the process of legalizing hemp production. Hemp cannabis, from a legal standpoint, is distinguished from what is considered to be non-hemp cannabis by a THC-content threshold.

The THC threshold for what constitutes hemp and what does not varies around the world, typically within the range of .2-1%. Comparatively, THC in cannabis products widely sold in countries like Uruguay, Canada, and the United States ranges from 15-30%+.

Still, what is being pursued in India is still significant for local farmers who are looking to cultivate a new crop. Per excerpts from The Hindu:

A committee comprising lawmakers that explored the possibility of legal cultivation of cannabis has recently recommended cultivation of ‘non-narcotic use of cannabis for medicinal, industrial, and scientific use’.

An approval from the State Cabinet is awaited after which a policy is expected to be framed soon by the State government on cannabis cultivation keeping in view the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985, and NDPS Rules, 1989.

Unfortunately, the previously cited article dedicates a considerable amount of time to discussing unfounded ‘concerns’ about the reform being pursued. What lawmakers are pursuing is the legalization of low-THC, high-CBD industrial hemp, sometimes referred to as ‘floral hemp’ or ‘cannabis light.’

Numerous peer-reviewed studies on our website demonstrate that regulated CBD products are safe, and a study we published earlier this month found that inhaled floral hemp doesn’t negatively impact driving performance. It’s a largely benign substance that people should not be concerned about and that the farmers of Himachal Pradesh should absolutely be permitted to cultivate.

Zurich Launches Cannabis Pilot Trial

Written by Hazel Norman on August 28, 2023. Posted in Policy.

With a population of roughly 400,000 people, Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. Zurich also serves as the capital of the canton of Zurich, and as of this month, is now home to Switzerland’s largest regional cannabis commerce pilot trial.

Switzerland approved adult-use cannabis pilot trials in recent years, although the concept is still largely in its infancy. Back in February, Switzerland’s first pilot trial launched in Basel. The Basel pilot involves a total of 374 people.

By comparison, the pilot in Zurich will involve roughly 2,100 people. Participants will be able to sign up with one of the 21 outlets that are part of the recently launched Zurich pilot.

Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot projects are, in theory, designed to give national governments the ability to permit commerce on a small scale in order to gain insight and data to be better suited to implement laws and regulations at the national level. Switzerland’s pilots are slated to last for five years, and similar pilots are being considered in other European nations.

One of those nations is obviously Germany, which is pursuing a multi-phased legalization plan. The first phase involves legalizing personal cultivation, possession, and consumption along with permitting noncommercial cannabis clubs. The second phase would involve the launch of regional pilot programs.

While it will be a while before we know for sure, Germany’s pilot program is expected to be much larger and more widespread compared to what is going on right now in Switzerland. Still, Switzerland beat many European nations to the punch so to speak, and for participants of the pilots in Basel and Zurich, cannabis is essentially legal.

The speed at which cannabis laws are being modernized in Switzerland is understandably frustrating for advocates. With that being said, cannabis politics is often a game of incremental gains, and successful pilot trials will do wonders to build momentum for national reform. It’s important to keep things in context.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Supports Cannabis Reform Despite Not Being A Consumer

Written by Hazel Norman on August 28, 2023. Posted in Policy.

People do not need to be cannabis consumers in order to recognize the harms of cannabis prohibition and the benefits of cannabis policy modernization. An example of that can be found in recent comments made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Chancellor Scholz made it clear that he has “never” consumed cannabis, “not even a single puff.”

Yet, despite refraining from consuming cannabis, Chancellor Scholz expressed his direct support for Germany’s current cannabis policy modernization effort, describing it as “doing exactly the right thing.” Chancellor Scholz’s comments were made during an interview with the German TV stations Sat.1 and ProSieben.

Chancellor Scholz’s position on cannabis reform highlights that modernizing cannabis policies does not just benefit cannabis consumers and entrepreneurs. Cannabis prohibition is a failed public policy that wastes enormous amounts of limited public resources; resources that would be better allocated to many other things such as schools and infrastructure.

The recent comments made by Chancellor Scholz are not unique. At least one other policymaker, United States Congressman Earl Blumenauer, proudly supports cannabis reform despite having never consumed cannabis during his lifetime. Cannabis legalization is sensible public policy, and it’s refreshing to hear sitting lawmakers stating as much.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s comments come in the midst of a historic push in Germany to update the nation’s cannabis policies. Medical cannabis is already permitted in Germany, however, many suffering patients still do not have safe access for various reasons.

The German plan in its current form involves essentially three phases for legalization. The first, which was recently approved by Germany’s federal cabinet as previously mentioned, would legalize personal cultivation, possession, and use along with permitting noncommercial cannabis clubs.

Components of the first phase, which were largely driven by restrictive conversations at the European Union level, have received pushback from advocates inside and outside of Germany. Members of the Bundestag have already expressed a strong desire to make changes to the phase one plan, and only time will tell if they are successful in doing so.

cannabis genetics panel international cannabis business conference berlin 2023

Big Opportunities In The Cannabis Genetics Sector

Written by Hazel Norman on August 22, 2023. Posted in Business, Science.

Cannabis breeding is an essential part of the industry, as it allows for the development of new strains and products that can be tailored to meet the needs of different consumers and patients. As the cannabis market continues to grow and evolve, so does the potential for genetics to play an even greater role in the industry.

In the embedded International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin 2023 panel video below, experts discuss the latest trends in cannabis genetics and explore the future of breeding, from identifying new traits to using CRISPR technology. Panelists also delve into the question of how human DNA and cannabis DNA might be connected, and what implications this could have for the future of the industry. Panelists include:

Marcus Richardson (moderator) – Hashish aficionado and creator of Bubblebags
Dave Auger – Commissioner, Big League Genetics
Manny Dasilva – COO, Green Boyz Craft Israel
Jameson Welbourn – Founder and Managing Director, The Banyan Tree
Steven Tan – Principal Consultant, 4Plant

We look forward to seeing you in Berlin in 2024, as well as at our upcoming science and technology event in Slovenia this September!

Cannabis Policy Reform History Made In Australia

Written by Hazel Norman on August 13, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Australian cannabis reform efforts reached a historic milestone this week with Greens Senator David Shoebridge introducing the Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023. The measure would permit the “adult recreational use of cannabis across the country.”

Senator Shoebridge’s legalization measure marks the first time that a bill has ever been introduced to Australia’s Federal Parliament that would, if approved by both chambers, legalize adult-use home cultivation and commerce across the nation.

“With just a sprinkling of political courage and collaboration mixed with a truckload of common sense we can make this law and end the war on cannabis.” Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson Senator Shoebridge stated about the measure in a press release.

“It’s time to stop pretending that consumption of this plant, consumed each year by literally millions of Australians, should still be seen as a crime. Everyone knows that it is not a matter of if we legalise cannabis in Australia, it’s a matter of when, and today we’re taking a huge step forward. The Greens are here to get this done, and we’ll be working hard to get the numbers to make this law.” Senator Shoebridge also stated.

“It’s time to seize the many opportunities that legalisation poses. This includes the $28 billion in public revenue that legalisation can bring in in the first 9 years of operation. This is the chance for tens of thousands of quality green jobs, new small businesses, enriched regional economies and the boon for tourism that will come with establishing a totally new legal industry.” Senator Shoebridge added.

“It is the opportunity to regulate the quality, strength and safety of a product that millions of Australians are already using, and it’s the chance to radically reduce harm, by stopping 80,000 Australians a year from being caught up in the criminal justice system for possession of cannabis. Using the collective wisdom of thousands of contributors who shared their knowledge and experience with us, we are introducing a solidly founded bill that maps out the way to legalise cannabis across Australia.” Senator Shoebridge concluded.

The formal introduction of the measure comes on the heels of the Greens announcing “unprecedented engagement” for a public survey the party conducted focused on the legalization measure.

“A total of 8,916 individual responses on our survey were received and we received 38 detailed submissions in response to our consultation paper. This is in addition to thousands of calls, social media messages and real life conversations.” the Greens stated in a press release about the survey.

“The results show an extremely strong level of support for legalising cannabis with a single national cannabis market that allows for home grow and prioritises co-ops and small business involvement. Respondents told us they don’t want an overly corporatised scheme and how it is important to ensure any tax rate doesn’t force up prices and drive people back into the illicit market.” the press release also stated.

Below are “improvements” made to the bill during the public consultation process:

Quality and labelling to set out labelling requirements for cannabis and cannabis products including safety and dosage information, strength and chemical composition
Penalties – we will amend the bill to provide a clear requirement for serious or repeated breaches of licence conditions to result in serious consequences for the licence holder – not just employees.
Home grow and production – we will amend the bill to explicitly allow people to make products like brownies or gummies at home for personal use, we will also explicitly require that grow at home cannabis not be accessible to the public.
Young people – we’ll add a new requirement to store cannabis where it’s not readily available to minors and give the regulator the capacity to impose other safe storage if needed like child safe containers for edibles for example.
Advertising – we will make clear that the ban on advertising won’t stop cafes and dispensaries from point of sale advertising or having an authorised online presence.

“Using the collective wisdom of almost ten thousand respondents we know the Greens will be tabling the most popular and effective bill possible to legalise cannabis for the whole country. We have made improvements around labelling, storage, manufacture, advertising, penalties and more as a result of this consultation process.” Greens Senator David Shoebridge stated about the consultation.

Regulatory Changes In Israel Will Expand Patients’ Medical Cannabis Access

Written by Hazel Norman on August 11, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Israel is home to arguably the best cannabis research community on earth, serving as the longtime base for legendary cannabis researcher (and International Cannabis Business Conference alumni) Raphael Mechoulam.

Mechoulam first isolated tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) while conducting his research in Israel in the mid-1960s, and the nation’s scientists built on that research ever since. Unfortunately, Israel’s medical cannabis policies have not always kept up with the nation’s research.

Thankfully, new regulatory changes should help improve the level of safe access for suffering patients in Israel. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Jerusalem, Israel: Regulators are further easing restrictions on patients’ access to medical cannabis products.

Regulatory reforms approved by the Ministry of Health will allow physicians to prescribe cannabis to patients as a first-line treatment rather than as an option of last resort. (Under current law, doctors must attest that their patients have been unresponsive to other conventional treatments, including opioids, prior to granting them access to medical cannabis products.)

About 100,000 Israelis are currently authorized to use medical cannabis.

Another regulatory change eases legal restrictions on patients’ access to hemp-derived CBD products.

Regulators are also seeking to further facilitate clinical trial research involving cannabis products.

The regulatory changes are anticipated to go into effect this December.

Global Investment Forum Berlin 2023 Jim Belushi

One Global Cannabis Industry: Who Will Be The Winners And Losers?

Written by Hazel Norman on August 11, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

The global cannabis industry is still emerging. The commodity cannabis is becoming more and more relevant for conventional industries, from food and health care via fashion to luxury niche segments. With adult-use reform coming across several nations, the opportunity for other industries in those countries has been unlocked. The biggest question today is: where are global cannabis sectors going and where will the best investments be? Panelists recently discussed this at the International Cannabis Business Conference’s Global Investment Forum in Berlin, as seen in the embedded video below. Panelists include:

David Traylor – Senior Managing Director, Golden Eagle Partners
Oliver Lamb – Co-Founder and Investment Manager, Óskare Capital
Trenton Birch – Co-Founder and CEO, Cheeba Africa
Bret Worley – CEO and President, MC Global Holdings

This panel also includes a guest appearance by legendary entertainer Jim Belushi. We look forward to seeing you in Berlin in 2024, as well as at our upcoming science and technology event in Slovenia this September!

UK Court Of Appeal: Low-THC Hemp Flower Is Not A ‘Narcotic Drug’

Written by Hazel Norman on August 11, 2023. Posted in Policy.

For many years, hemp flower was largely considered to be an undesirable commodity to cannabis consumers. The hemp plant was almost always associated with paper, rope, and various textiles, and not something that cannabis consumers actually combusted and inhaled.

However, that has changed in recent years. Hemp flower that is low in THC, often referred to as ‘floral hemp,’ is a hot item in many markets these days due to various reasons. While it will never completely supplant cannabis products that are high in THC, low-THC floral hemp is legal in far more jurisdictions right now compared to high-THC products, and the increased access is something that many consumers are taking advantage of.

The floral hemp sector of the emerging cannabis industry is still very young, and it is causing legal headaches for entrepreneurs and investors that have to navigate laws, rules, and regulations that are either shifting, incomplete, or entirely nonexistent.

One jurisdiction that has struggled is the United Kingdom where low-THC cannabis products are widely available, yet, not necessarily legal according to some authorities. The UK Court of Appeal recently ruled that some low-THC products are not a ‘narcotic drug’ which is a designation that should help clear up some of the confusion. Per Cannabis Health News:

A ‘landmark’ Court of Appeal ruling in the UK has set a new legal precedent for businesses in the UK importing and selling CBD or low-THC hemp flower.

Crucially, the Court of Appeal has made it clear that it does not consider hemp flower with a THC content below 0.2% as ‘a narcotic drug’.

The case stemmed from the arrest of the owners of UK-based CBD retailer Uncle Herb, with the owners being charged with ‘violating the Misuse of Drugs Act.’ The owners were able to successfully argue that under EU law floral hemp products with less than .2% THC are not a narcotic and that EU law superseded UK law.

It’s ironic that EU law has hindered so many domestic THC policy modernization efforts in recent years, just to simultaneously be used to advance low-THC policy in the UK. It will be interesting to see if the same legal strategy is used in other European countries that have historically dragged their feet on low-THC reform.

This case out of the UK serves as yet another reminder that cannabis policies are harmful, outdated, and often contradictory throughout the European continent and that an EU-wide overhaul of cannabis policies is well overdue.

Overcoming International Cannabis Logistical Challenges

Written by Hazel Norman on August 5, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

The emerging international cannabis industry is currently governed by a complex web of laws, rules, and regulations that are constantly shifting and evolving. With more countries reforming their cannabis policies and regulations, the regulatory layers will continue to increase in volume for the foreseeable future.

Yoram Eshel, CEO of Cannabilog, recently presented tips and insight regarding how to navigate the ‘regulatory maze’ in an effective way as part of his presentation at the recent International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin. Eshel analyzes current international supply chain trends, provides an update on regulatory requirements in various markets, and discusses what to anticipate soon. He also discusses the ‘do’s and don’ts’ when shipping cannabis products worldwide.

We look forward to seeing you in Berlin in 2024, as well as at our upcoming science and technology event in Slovenia this September!

New Zealand Ministry Of Health Approves Medical Cannabis Changes

Written by Hazel Norman on August 2, 2023. Posted in Policy.

New Zealand’s medical cannabis industry and research efforts are set to receive a boost in the near future after the nation’s Ministry of Health approved several changes. The changes to the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 aim to “better support economic and research opportunities for the medicinal cannabis industry sector.”

New Zealand’s medical cannabis law is still young compared to many other nations. While the nation’s industry is growing every year, many suffering patients are still going without proper safe access. The following changes should help:

broadening the types of cannabis plant forms that can be considered ‘starting material’ and ‘cannabis-based ingredient’
enabling the export of cannabis seed under the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme
enabling export of starting material, cannabis-based ingredients and medicinal cannabis products (without needing to meet the minimum quality standard) for the purposes of testing, analysis or research
enabling import of cannabis-based ingredients and medicinal cannabis products (without needing to meet the minimum quality standard) for the purposes of testing, analysis or research
removing the requirement for consignments of starting material to meet the minimum quality standard before export
removing the requirement for cannabis-based ingredients and medicinal cannabis products to meet the minimum quality standard before export if they are manufactured to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and meet the quality requirements of the importing country
allowing a licence to possess controlled drugs (issued under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977) to authorise non-therapeutic research activities using medicinal cannabis or industrial hemp.

Additionally, “a number of minor technical changes to update and clarify the minimum quality standard” were also made. Examples provided by the Ministry of Health include updated pesticide requirements, broadening the “permitted pharmacopeial tests, excipients and container material requirements,” broadening lab accreditation for certain tests, and reducing duplicative testing.

The new changes are expected to come into effect by the end of the year. While the changes are significant, only time will tell how much they impact New Zealand’s medical cannabis industry and patient base.

Opening Your Mind to the Future of Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on August 2, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

To truly understand the future of cannabis, it’s important to approach it from different angles and challenge existing perceptions and stigmas. This presentation from the recent International Cannabis Business Conference’s Global Investment Forum in Berlin by international cannabis expert Lisa Haag (founder of MJ_Universe) offers a fresh perspective on the cannabis industry, exploring its potential from a variety of viewpoints and shedding light on untapped opportunities. By breaking down barriers and opening our minds to new ideas, we can pave the way for a more innovative, inclusive, and successful cannabis industry.

We look forward to seeing you in Berlin in 2024, as well as at our upcoming science and technology event in Slovenia this September!

Mastering The Challenge Of European Cannabis Market Saturation And Oversupply

Written by Hazel Norman on August 1, 2023. Posted in Business.

Different nations across Europe allow for the cultivation, manufacturing, and processing of medical cannabis. Few of the facilities are truly EU-GMP compliant and able to deliver what was promised. Europe’s markets are competing and not collaborating. Few real sales markets other than Germany are established. Some countries like the Czech Republic, France, or Poland show tendencies with a rising number of prescriptions and new regulations for patient access. The German market itself is oversaturated and has many regulatory hurdles to consider. All in all, investors should understand the complexity of market dynamics, especially in regard to timeline and planning of such complex ventures. Below is an embedded video of a panel discussion about this topic that was recently held at the International Cannabis Business Conference’s Global Investment Forum in Berlin. Panelists include:

Lisa Haag – Founder, MJ_Universe (moderator)
David Engel – CEO/President, Full Moon Real Estate Investments And Ondara Directorship SLU
Dr. rer. nat. Adrian Fischer – Co-Founder and Managing Director, DEMECAN
Vera Broder – CEO, MHI Cultivo Medicinal SA.
Alexander Rieg – Founder, AR Pharma Consulting

We look forward to seeing you in Berlin in 2024, as well as at our upcoming science and technology event in Slovenia this September!

Albanian Parliament Approves Medical Cannabis Legalization Measure

Written by Hazel Norman on July 24, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Albania’s Parliament recently approved a medical cannabis legalization measure. The bill, which appears to be a fairly general piece of legislation that is short on a lot of granular details, was approved by a 69-23 vote.

The successful medical cannabis legalization vote came amidst strong pushback from domestic cannabis opponents in Albania. The European nation has long served as a fairly difficult place to achieve reform due to the stigma surrounding the nation’s unregulated drug trade. Historically, Albania was a popular route for smuggling unregulated drugs, including unregulated cannabis.

Limited cultivation was approved as part of the measure, and that specific provision was subject to a particularly heavy focus by cannabis opponents who wished to keep full cannabis cultivation prohibition in place, regardless of the purpose of the proposed cultivation.

According to the Associated Press, when the left-wing Socialist Party government of Prime Minister Edi Rama took power in 2013 Albania’s government spent the next two years destroying illegal cannabis plants with “an estimated market value of 7 billion euros ($8.5 billion), more than two-thirds of the country’s annual gross domestic product at that time.”

While Albania remains a popular route for smugglers, and unregulated cannabis is still cultivated domestically, the war on cannabis is not at the fevered pitch that it was at roughly a decade ago. Albania would be wise to continue to work to modernize its medical cannabis policies, and hopefully, its adult-use cannabis policies as well.

Albania is home to a thriving cannabis community, albeit an unregulated one, and that is far from a new thing. That was very apparent in Season 3 of the hit cannabis reality show Growing Belushi in which famed entertainer and International Cannabis Business Conference speaker alumni Jim Belushi visited the country to discuss cannabis policy and industry.

Albania’s new law creates the ‘National Agency for the Control of Cannabis’ which will be tasked with overseeing the nation’s eventual legal medical cannabis industry.

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Where Does Colombia Export Legal Cannabis Flower To?

Written by Hazel Norman on July 23, 2023. Posted in Business.

A new report is out in Colombia that provides insight into the South American country’s emerging legal medical cannabis export industry. Last year marked the first time in Colombia’s history that regulated medical cannabis flower was exported to another nation. Since that time, over five dozen permitted shipments have occurred or are in the process of occurring.

Colombia is home to one of the most ideal climates for cultivating cannabis on the entire planet and has long served as a top international source for unregulated cannabis flower. In recent years, policymakers and regulators in Colombia have increased efforts to transition the country’s cannabis industry from being controlled by cartels to being operated by licensed and regulated entities.

Legal medical cannabis imports and exports are a relatively new thing at the global level, and multiple countries are now trying to gain a foothold in the emerging area of the global cannabis industry. According to domestic reporting, Colombia has shipped low-THC cannabis to several countries. Per Bloomberg:

According to information provided to Bloomberg Linea by the Colombia Agricultural Institute (ICA), there have been reports, to date, of 65 exports of this type, some of which are close to materializing.

Of that total, the largest shipment was one of 186,000 grams of dried cannabis flower, with a maximum THC (psychoactive component) content of 0.01%. The dat of export was from June 23 to July 7 of this year and the destination: Switzerland.

ICA also reported a May shipment of 102,500 grams that also went to Switzerland, which was the second largest export. That batch of cannabis flower contained 0.574% THC content. Another 65,000 grams were exported to Australia, with a reported 24.01% THC content.

In total, 18 shipments went to Australia, 16 to Switzerland, 12 to Germany, 8 to the United States, 4 to Israel, 2 to Portugal, Ecuador, and Brazil, and 1 to the Czech Republic.

Ghana Approves Historic Cannabis Bill

Written by Hazel Norman on July 17, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Ghana recently became the latest country to pass a national medical cannabis legalization measure. The African nation’s parliament approved the ‘Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2023’ mere days ago. The measure tasks Ghana’s Ministry of Interior with issuing cannabis cultivation licenses.

In 2020, Ghana’s parliament passed a measure authorizing the production of low-THC cannabis for medical and research purposes. However, the nation’s Supreme Court later deemed the measure to be unconstitutional, and as a result, kept prohibition in place. The measure that was approved in recent days in Ghana seemed to directly address the reported legal insufficiencies.

Ghana’s economy currently ranks 10th among African nations, however, it ranks 74th globally. The average salary in Ghana is roughly 60,340 GHS, which converts to about 5,292 USD. Needless to say, a robust, thriving medical cannabis industry would greatly benefit the citizens of Ghana via a boost in economic development and job creation.

The economic benefit to Ghana comes in addition to the wellness benefits that will be afforded to suffering patients under the new law. As is the case in every country, Ghana is home to countless suffering patients that could benefit from cannabis therapies.

The new law will not result in every suffering patient receiving safe access, however, it will be a welcomed policy change for the suffering patients that are able to be helped by the recently approved measure.

The African nation joins a growing list of other countries on the continent such as Morocco and South Africa that have taken steps to modernize their medical cannabis policies. No country in Africa has a medical cannabis policy as robust and progressive as can be found in North America, including Ghana, however, the continent is at least trending in the right direction at a macro level.

Africa is still home to some of the strictest cannabis policies on earth, and international cannabis observers need to be mindful of that fact. What African nations such as Ghana are implementing may not be the best medical cannabis policies at the global level, however, they are considerably better than outright prohibition.

Ukrainian Health Ministry Backs Medical Cannabis Bill

Written by Hazel Norman on July 11, 2023. Posted in Policy.

In recent days the Ukrainian Health Ministry expressed its support for backing a medical cannabis bill originally proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The recent endorsement from the nation’s Health Ministry provides a much-needed boost for Ukrainian medical cannabis policy modernization efforts, which have languished in recent years.

According to international reporting, Deputy Health Minister Ihor Kuzin announced support for President Zelenskyy’s plan to legalize cannabis-based medicines in some instances late last week.

“The health ministry supports this legislative initiative. Drugs in healthcare are used to treat chronic pain … A large number of countries have already made changes in their legislation. They have recognized it and use it for treatment purposes,” Kuzin stated according to UrduPoint Network (translated to English).

President Zelenskyy pledged to reform Ukraine’s medical cannabis policies during his 2019 presidential campaign, although a measure failed to gain enough votes in 2021. The Ukrainian cabinet later endorsed President Zelenskyy’s effort to permit cannabis cultivation for medical use and scientific research purposes in June 2022.

What the Ukrainian cabinet approved was a draft law, and in order for the measure to be officially adopted it will still require approval by Ukraine’s Parliament. Roughly two weeks ago, President Zelenskyy made an additional call to action.

“In particular, we must finally fairly legalize cannabis-based medicines for all those who need them, with appropriate scientific research and controlled Ukrainian production,” Zelenskyy said, as Ukrainska Pravda first reported.

A growing number of countries around the world are modernizing their cannabis policies, with medical cannabis reform being particularly widespread now. Compared to other nations with medical cannabis programs in operation, what is being proposed in Ukraine is fairly limited.

Women Report Using Cannabis To Mitigate Symptoms Of Menopause Per Canadian Study

Written by Hazel Norman on July 9, 2023. Posted in Science.

A natural part of biological aging for every woman involves experiencing menopause. Most women experience menopause when they are between the ages of 45 and 55 years old. The menopausal transition is typically gradual.

For many years women have turned to the cannabis plant for relief for all types of conditions, including dealing with menopause. A recent study in Canada examined the reported frequency of use by middle-aged women experiencing menopause. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Edmonton, Canada: Canadian women frequently report consuming cannabis products to ease symptoms related to menopause, according to survey data published in the journal BMJ Open.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Alberta surveyed cannabis use trends in a cohort of nearly 1,500 women aged 35 or older.

Among those respondents who reported being current cannabis users, many indicated that they consumed marijuana products to improve menopause-related symptoms, such as joint achiness and sleep disturbances. Most women said that they had not discussed their use with their health care providers.

“Our survey established that women are using cannabis for symptoms during the menopause transition,” authors concluded. “Information about cannabis was more frequently accessed through online searches and personal contacts, with limited involvement of healthcare providers. … In general, many women in our survey reported cannabis was helpful for their symptoms. … Further research is required to investigate the efficacy and safety of cannabis on menopause symptoms and foster the development of clinical resources for women to use in making informed decisions around cannabis for medical purposes.”

The findings are consistent with those of prior surveys from the United States estimating that nearly 30 percent of middle-aged women who use cannabis do so to mitigate menopause-related symptoms.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use for menopause in women aged 35 and over: A cross-sectional survey on usage patterns and perceptions in Alberta, Canada,” appears in BMJ Open.

German Cannabis Legalization Bill Expected To Be In Cabinet By August

Written by Hazel Norman on July 3, 2023. Posted in Policy.

As Germany continues its high-profile quest to become the largest nation so far to pass a comprehensive, nationwide adult-use legalization bill, it is being reported that there is finally an estimated cabinet time-of-arrival for such a measure. A legalization measure is expected to be officially submitted to Germany’s cabinet by mid-August.

The announcement of an ETA for the measure comes after roughly two years of lawmakers in Germany haggling and negotiating over what the measure should include, with much of the discussion occurring behind closed doors.

The European Union’s mandatory inclusion in domestic German cannabis policy discussions increased the number of hurdles involved, and with it, increased the duration of the legalization process. However, the light at the end of the tunnel appears to be growing brighter.

At this point, it seems like a lifetime ago when the current governing coalition was elected in Germany back in the summer of 2021, mere weeks after a historic cannabis policy discussion was held at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin.

At the 2021 conference in Berlin, German lawmakers discussed their intent to legalize cannabis in detail if/when the election results were favorable. As we now know, the election results did indeed prove to be favorable for legalization.

The next major milestone came in October 2022 when Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach presented his initial plan for German legalization, a plan that would later evolve after a series of meetings and discussions between the European Union and Minister Lauterbach.

The evolved plan would eventually be provided by Minister Lauterbach to German lawmakers earlier this year, and it has worked its way around closed political circles ever since. Although, the following provisions have surfaced:

All club properties where cannabis is cultivated and/or stored have to be tightly secured
Every club has to have a ‘trained addiction and prevention officer’
Must comply with residue limits for pesticides and fertilizers
Must track cannabis from seed
Annual reporting of crop amounts, including cannabinoid percentage (THC and CBD)
Club members only
50 grams per month limit for over 21 years old
30 grams per month limit for 18-20 years old
THC percentage cap for 18-20 years old (ten percent THC)
Neutral packaging
Labeled with specific harvest information

Much of what was leaked and reported on in Germany seems to surround noncommercial cannabis clubs, which will be strictly regulated and purely “cultivation associations.” According to domestic reporting, no cannabis can be consumed “within the clubs and within a radius of 250 meters.”

In addition to club provisions, items pertaining to individuals are also reportedly included in the current draft. Consumption is prohibited “within a radius of 250 meters from schools, daycare centers, playgrounds, youth facilities or sports facilities.” Also, consumption “should also not be permitted in pedestrian zones between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.”

Consumers will be limited to one club membership at a time and permitted to cultivate up to 3 plants. Pharmacies are not allowed to cultivate or sell adult-use cannabis under the current plan, and medical cannabis “is to be removed from the scope of the Narcotics Act.”

In fact, medical cannabis reportedly has its own separate chapter in the latest draft law, which will hopefully provide a boost in safe access for patients, as well as help streamline cannabis research project approvals.

With all of that being said, until a final measure is officially adopted, nothing is ever a sure thing in Germany, and it is vital that advocates inside and outside of elected circles keep up the pressure to help ensure that laws and regulations are as sensible as possible and that whatever is adopted is seen as being a step in the right direction rather than a final destination.

A Missed Opportunity To Modernize Colombia’s Cannabis Policies

Written by Hazel Norman on June 26, 2023. Posted in Policy.

In Colombia, all constitutional amendments must undergo a two-year process, and since adult-use legalization requires a constitutional amendment, all such measures must undergo the multi-year process. An adult-use legalization measure sponsored by Rep. Juan Carlos Losada was successfully working its way through that process, however, the measure came up short this month.

Both chambers of Colombia’s Congress previously approved Rep. Losada’s measure last year, but due to the multi-year process, the bill still required a series of successful votes this year.

The Chamber of Deputies approved the legalization measure again last month, but despite a Senate committee approving the measure this year, the bill failed to receive the necessary 54 votes when receiving full floor consideration. Although, it is worth noting that the bill did receive a majority of votes (47-43).

Rep. Juan Carlos Losada made it clear in a tweet after the bill stalled that he will be back to introduce the measure again next month:

¡No vamos a bajar los brazos!

Seguimos firmes porque estamos seguros que llegar a 8vo. debate es histórico.

Con @PizarroMariaJo nuevamente radicaremos el próximo 20 de Julio el proyecto para regular el mercado del #CannabisDeUsoAdulto.#EsHoraDeRegular pic.twitter.com/K2GkxKBhqK

— Juan Carlos Losada (@JuanKarloslos) June 22, 2023

The tweet’s text auto-translates to, “We are not going to give up! We remain firm because we are sure that reaching 8th. debate is historic. With @PizarroMariaJo we will once again file the project to regulate the #CannabisDeUsoAdulto market on July 20.”

It’s unfortunate that the measure has to go back to the starting line and undergo, once again, a two-year process. Hopefully, this next time is a success, as there is clearly a significant level of support for Colombia to modernize its cannabis policies.

Jim Belushi Talks Cannabis Ahead Of Fireside Chat In Berlin

Written by Hazel Norman on June 19, 2023. Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy.

This year’s International Cannabis Business Conference event in Berlin will feature a one-on-one fireside chat with acclaimed entertainer Jim Belushi. Jim Belushi is a man of many talents – actor, singer, comedian, dancer, and now a legal cannabis farmer. We asked Belushi a series of cannabis questions ahead of his appearance in Berlin and below is what he had to say:

ICBC: How does farming cannabis compare to your other pursuits?

Belushi: They both are on a mission to make people feel good, whether you’re making them laugh in a comedy or performing the Blues Brothers and filling their souls with music, or giving them cannabis to heal their anxieties, hopelessness, pain…. or just making them feel good and euphoric. The entertainment industry and the cannabis industry don’t hurt anybody. You can’t overdose if you laugh too much and you can’t overdose if you smoke too much pot. You may pass out if you eat too much of an edible, and I may have peed my pants from laughing too hard (especially at John Candy movies). But all in all, I’ve been at my business for 40 years and cannabis for 7 and they both have the same purpose — making people feel a little bit better. So I feel like I’m on track. They’re the same medicine.

ICBC: Belushi’s Farm is located in Southern Oregon. What made you decide to choose that region?

Belushi: Southern Oregon chose me. My friend has a beautiful ranch down the Rogue River that I used to visit with my family twice a year. I went into the river naked one time and came out baptized, with a new spiritual release. I said to my friend, “Do you know of any other properties around here?” And that was it. I didn’t know Southern Oregon was the premiere spot to grow cannabis at the time… I was brought to Southern Oregon.

ICBC: What types of products does your company make?

Belushi: Belushi’s Farm is home to a range of offerings including The Blues Brothers, Captain Jack’s Gulzar Afghanica (a rare strain from the Hindu Kush region that became known in the ’70s as “The Smell of SNL”), Good Ugly Weed, Belushi’s Farm premium brand. We’ve got a variety of products including flower, ice cream, hash and vape pens.

ICBC: What markets are they available in? Do you have plans to expand to other continents?

Belushi: We’re currently available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota. As for other continents, watch Season 3 of GROWING BELUSHI to see where we may take the adventure next!

ICBC: What is your personal cannabis consumption regimen?

Belushi: I’m a microdoser. It’s medicine to me. I take 2.5-5mg of the Blues Brothers Bhang Chocolate to help me sleep. I’ll smoke a little Cherry Pie at the end of the day to help me with the transition into the evening. It’s medicine to me…“This medicine is so good, people take it FOR the side effects.”

ICBC: What was your experience like making your hit show ‘Growing Belushi’ on the Discovery Channel? How did that cannabis-focused project compare to other projects you have worked on?

Belushi: This is a big question and deserves its own essay. But in short, all the other projects I’ve been involved with in show business have been scripted. Growing Belushi was all improvised, every scene, every moment. That takes a lot of concentration, a lot of wit, a lot of trust in your own ability, and a lot of overshooting to pull together an hour show each week. But that being said, it’s rewarding and joyous and fun when you’re able to create everything in the show. I love it.

ICBC: What have you learned from visiting dispensaries in Oregon and beyond?

Belushi: I visit a lot of dispensaries. In Oregon, I actually deliver to dispensaries and I do personal appearances and meet & greets. I have learned 85% of what I know about cannabis from these visits and experiences, which has changed this from a business to a journey to the pathway to healing. There are people, so many people, in need of medicine. From the veterans with PTSD, quadriplegics with spasms, people with shattered bones from car accidents, people with MS, dementia, sleeplessness, cancer on chemotherapy…the list goes on and on. In the dispensaries, I realized this was no longer just a business, it was necessary for the health of our community, for the people who suffer, the people who struggle, the people who are screaming inside the cavity of their bodies. I personally don’t use Ambien or Xanax for anxiety or even Advil. And I don’t really drink. Cannabis has replaced all these needs. I see a community growing larger in the pursuit of using cannabis as a substitute for medications and alcohol and opiates. I have been moved to tears many times.

ICBC: What advice do you have for aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs?

Belushi: My advice to aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs is to stay out. The margins aren’t there yet. Between the fluctuation of the pricing of the pounds, the taxing, the banking, and the amount of initial capital, I would say don’t do it. Unless your passion overrides your pocketbook.

ICBC: What is the biggest challenge facing the emerging cannabis industry today, in your opinion?

Belushi: The tens of thousands of nonviolent cannabis prisoners that are still in jail for the plant. That’s why I support Last Prisoner Project.

What do you have coming up that people should have on their radars?

Belushi: I have a lot of exciting stuff on the horizon. Follow me, my cannabis show ‘Growing Belushi,’ and my farm on social media and check out my website to keep up on all things Belushi. And, of course, join me in Berlin at the end of this month at the International Cannabis Business Conference where I will be doing a fireside chat, followed by a performance at the conference after-party. See you there!

ICBC: What is the best way for folks to keep up on all of your cannabis industry pursuits?

Belushi: Through Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and the website.

Medical Cannabis Safe Access To Expand In Israel

Written by Hazel Norman on June 18, 2023. Posted in Policy.

When it comes to medical cannabis research, Israel has long served as an international leader. After all, it is where International Cannabis Business Conference speaker alumni Raphael Mechoulam became the first person in history to isolate tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in addition to numerous other cannabis research breakthroughs.

Unfortunately, general medical cannabis policy and safe access for domestic patients have never seemed to receive the same level of embrace and consideration in Israel for some reason, with many patients reporting gaps in being able to acquire their medicine.

Israel currently serves as the top importer of medical cannabis products, which doesn’t make a lot of sense since the country obviously knows how to harness the cannabis plant and maximize its potential. The only logical explanation is that the nation’s laws are holding the domestic medical cannabis sector back.

Thankfully, there appear to be meaningful changes on the way, with it being reported that Israeli medical cannabis patients will soon no longer be required to obtain a special license for medical cannabis, per a recently approved reform measure. Per YNetNews:

The Knesset’s Health Committee decided on Tuesday that access to medical cannabis will be significantly expanded, with many more patients qualifying – without the need to obtain a special license to use the drug.

The decision is part of a reform led by the Health Ministry in recent months. Within the reform’s framework, patients with a wide range of diseases and medical conditions will no longer be required to obtain a license in order to receive medical cannabis.

The reduced hurdles for obtaining medical cannabis are surely welcomed. With that being said, medical cannabis patients in Israel still are at the mercy of whatever supply they can access. As more patients presumably enter the medical cannabis sector as a result of the change, it will need to be met with boosts in domestic supply.

As is the case with any country, the only real way to ensure that every patient has safe access to medical cannabis is to legalize it for adult use, in addition to medical cannabis policies, and to afford every patient the right to cultivate their own medicine and/or join a noncommercial cannabis club.

French Town Wants To Launch Cannabis Pilot Program

Written by Hazel Norman on June 17, 2023. Posted in Policy.

By many measures, the concept of a cannabis commerce pilot program is a relatively new thing. While they are already in existence in Europe, it is only in recent years that they seem to have entered the mainstream policy reform conversation on the continent.

Switzerland has embraced the cannabis commerce pilot program more than any other nation so far. A cannabis commerce pilot program involves a jurisdiction being permitted to allow limited cannabis sales as part of ongoing government social science research.

In theory, by allowing limited cannabis sales, data can be collected, and the analysis of that local data can then help lawmakers and regulators be better suited to craft national cannabis policies. Cannabis commerce pilot programs have their limitations to be sure, however, for participants, it effectively results in legalized cannabis and the freedoms that go with it. Additionally, the concept is EU-approved and does not run afoul of EU agreements (unlike national legalization).

France has historically moved much slower on cannabis reform compared to some of its European counterparts, but if one small town has its way, it will launch its own cannabis commerce pilot program sooner rather than later. Per Newsweed:

The mayor of Bègles, a small town of 30,000 inhabitants close to Bordeaux, wants to make his city a territory for experimenting with the supervised legalization of cannabis.

Mayor Clément Rossignol Puech’s proposal to experiment with the production, sale and consumption of cannabis in Bègles has its origins in two recent reports: one from the Information Mission on the Uses of Cannabis, held to the National Assembly in 2021, and the other to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) in 2023. These two reports came out in favor of a supervised legalization of cannabis.

While it is never easy to guarantee anything in the cannabis world, it does seem in increasing fashion that the cannabis commerce pilot program model is here to stay in Europe. Pilot programs are the focus of ‘phase 2’ of legalization in Germany according to the current plan, and pilot discussions in other countries appear to be heating up as well.

Pilot programs are clearly not as good as national legalization, such as what is found in Canada. However, when coupled with noncommercial clubs and home cultivation, such as what is being proposed in Germany, it can provide a significant amount of freedom to cannabis consumers. Hopefully other lawmakers join Mayor Clément Rossignol Puech’s push for pilot programs in France.

SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals Signs Supply Contract With Cosma Poland

Written by Hazel Norman on June 17, 2023. Posted in Business.

LISBON, Portugal (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals Unipessoal LDA (“SOMAÍ”) has entered into a two-year supply agreement with a well-respected Polish distributor Cosma Cannabis. Cosma produces medical-grade cannabis products for importation and distribution across Poland. The contract represents 1,000,000 euros in sales for SOMAÍ’s 2024 goals to develop the fast-emerging medical cannabis markets of Poland.

“We are very proud that Cosma has chosen SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals as their preferred manufacturer to penetrate the Polish market with our extract formulations,” said SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals CEO and Chairman Michael Sassano. “Being one of the first manufacturers in a large market with positive regulatory reforms must have good partners like Cosma that can effectively educate and represent our current and future product offerings.”

By the terms of the agreement, SOMAÍ has agreed to supply medical cannabis products to Cosma for distribution in Poland under the trademark of Cosma. Additionally, Cosma will be granted Marketing Authorization to supply, market, and distribute the products within the designated territory. It has been stipulated in the agreement that Cosma will carry out the distribution of the products in compliance with the agreed-upon terms and conditions.

The medical cannabis products distributed under the Agreement consist of oil drops in various ratios of THC/CBD, including 25:1, 10:10, 2.5:25, and 20:1.

The Polish market for medical cannabis products has grown rapidly in recent years, with a number of patients seeking alternative treatments for conditions such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. The demand for high-quality medical cannabis products in Poland is exceptionally high. SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals’ products are especially needed in the Polish market due to their high quality and effectiveness in treating various medical conditions, such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and epilepsy.

“Initiation cooperation with SOMAÍ has allowed us to offer innovative medicinal substances in the Polish market. We plan to develop products dedicated to Eastern Europe patients jointly. Due to the unique composition and the use of particular ingredients in these products, their absorption by the human body will be much greater than that of competitor’s products.” – said Lukasz Kreski, CHAIRMAN and Co-Founder of COSMA. “We also plan to begin joint clinical research and studies in pain management, inflammatory conditions, neurodegenerative diseases, and oncology.”

About SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals is an international company focused on the extraction of the cannabis plant and manufacturing pharmaceutic formulations for the EU market. The company invests in the extraction, research, development, and distribution of EU GMP-pharmaceutical market-authorized cannabinoid products. For more information, please visit SOMAÍ’s website. You can read SOMAÍ’s and CEO Michael Sassano’s articles here.

Press Contacts:
Nataliia Garnina
Marketing Manager
+351 963 551 216
ng@somaipharma.eu

Commercial Contact:
Geroge Bellow
Chief Operational Officer
George@somaipharma.eu

ABOUT COSMA

Cosma Cannabis is a Polish cannabis company. Cosma offers natural and safe dietary supplements that are based solely on high-quality, natural herbal extracts and free of synthetic additives. By incorporating traditional herbal extracts such as chamomile, mint, and hops, Cosma’s products cater to the specific needs of patients. The key advantages of Cosma products include proven and consistent composition, easy dosing, and the absence of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol. For more information, please visit https://cosmacannabis.com/.

Commercial Contact:
Lukasz Kreski
Chairman/Co-Founder
lukasz.kreski@cosma.pl

Source: GlobeNewswire

What Is Next For The Cannabis Industry?

Written by Hazel Norman on June 12, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

The emerging legal cannabis industry is continuing to undergo a dramatic evolution, particularly in Europe. The momentum for global reform is greater now than at any other time since the dawn of prohibition, and the biggest domino to date is teetering and getting closer to toppling with every passing day. That domino is, of course, Germany.

Cannabis advocates have fought for reform in Germany for many years, however, the legalization effort picked up considerable steam in mid-2021 when the results of the federal election that year yielded a governing coalition that quickly expressed its desire to modernize Europe’s cannabis policies.

Germany was already home to the largest legal medical cannabis industry in Europe at the time, and initially, it seemed that Germany would launch legal national adult-use cannabis sales in a quick fashion. Then, for over a year, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach worked behind the scenes, with details of his legalization plan leaking every once in a while.

Eventually, Minister Lauterbach held a press conference in October 2022 to announce some of the provisions he would be seeking but made it abundantly clear that his next stop was the European Union to try to get its permission to proceed.

Unfortunately, the effort hit some turbulence once Germany’s Health Minister started negotiating with the European Union, with Minister Lauterbach providing an update in April 2023 in which he indicated that the European Union would allow parts of the previously outlined legalization plan to proceed and prohibit other parts.

The main component that the European Union stated it would not permit was nationwide adult-use cannabis sales to anyone of legal age. The blocking of that robust provision seemed to send many newer industry members into a bit of a spiral. The fact of the matter is that cannabis reform rarely, if ever, follows a linear path. It is full of twists and turns, and Germany is the latest example of that.

With those twists and turns comes opportunity, as not everyone is able to navigate the shifting landscape. People who are able to navigate the shifting landscape, that can identify trends, and maximize windows of opportunity, will reap significant rewards.

What legalization will ultimately look like in Germany once it is finally implemented is something that we will have to wait and see, however, the basic provisions are already known – personal cultivation, possession, and consumption will be legal and noncommercial clubs will be permitted.

Eventually, regional adult-use commerce pilot programs will launch as well. All of that creates opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry service providers if they know what to anticipate and where to focus on developing innovative ideas.

The best way to learn what is next for the emerging cannabis industry, both in Germany and beyond, is to hear from true international cannabis experts that spend every day on the frontlines of cannabis reform and industry. Fortunately, the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, Germany later this month provides that exact opportunity.

Following yet another successful cannabis super-event in Barcelona, the International Cannabis Business Conference is once again bringing its flagship B2B event and tradeshow back to Berlin, Germany on June 29th-30th, 2023. In addition to the B2B event, which is the largest of its type in Europe, the International Cannabis Business Conference will also hold a Global Investment Forum in Berlin on June 27^th.

Both events will feature leading cannabis industry experts, and the B2B event has a panel specifically dedicated to discussing what is next for the international cannabis industry now that the curtain dropped in Germany. The panel will feature:

Moderator Kai-Friedrich Niermann, Founder, KFN+ Law Office
Dr. Philipp Goebel, Managing Director, DEMECAN
Sita Schubert, General Secretary, EUMCA
Daniel Haymann, Legal Counsel, MME Legal
Robert T. Hoban, Member, Co-Chair of the Cannabis Industry Group, & Member-in-Charge of the Clark Hill Law Office

Over 5,000 cannabis leaders from over 80 countries will be represented at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin and that includes representatives from every sector of the industry as well as leading international cannabis policymakers and industry service providers.

Attend the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin to network with investors, entrepreneurs, industry regulators, and international policymakers and take your industry pursuits to the next level. Secure your tickets now before the event sells out!

Hemp Leaves No Longer A Novel Food Under EU Law

Written by Hazel Norman on June 7, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

Cannabinoid-based products are increasing in popularity across the globe, and particularly so in Europe. ‘Cannabis light’ products are widely available in Europe, although they are not always completely legal.

Part of the problem is the patchwork of laws, rules, and regulations in Europe, with individual countries often having their own set of policies, with the European Union having sometimes conflicting policies. What is legal in one country may not be legal in another country, and all of it may be illegal in the eyes of the European Union depending on the situation.

To further complicate things, hemp and cannabis are treated differently by the governments of Europe (and elsewhere on earth), even though they are ultimately the same plant. If the THC content of a plant is under a threshold, typically .3-1%, then it is hemp. If it is above the threshold, then it is cannabis according to various governments.

It may seem like a big game of semantics to some, however, when it comes to public policy in Europe and the emerging industries that are governed by such policies, words matter. Thankfully, there is now reportedly clarification for hemp leaves at the European Union level, with the EU recently indicating that hemp leaves are no longer considered to be a ‘Novel Food.’ Per Cannabis Health News:

Hemp leaves, when separate from the flower, are now no longer classed as a Novel Food under EU law, permitting the sale of hemp-infused tea and tea-like products in member states.

An agreement to modify the Novel Food Catalogue was reached by EU members as part of a European Commission (EC) working group on Friday 2 June.

It’s now over four years since the EC made the controversial decision to classify all parts of the plants as Novel, meaning companies would need to apply for Novel Food status in order to legally sell cannabinoid-based products containing less than 0.3% THC in the EU.

The recent decision is obviously significant for people that sell cannabis teas and other products derived from hemp leaves. However, the decision clearly does not go far enough, and anything that is not derived from hemp leaves still faces a considerable amount of bureaucratic hurdles.

Europe’s emerging cannabis industry is increasing in size despite the playing field being far from level for cannabis companies compared to companies in many other major industries. Hopefully the governments of Europe, and the European Union itself, moves faster to modernize the continent’s cannabis policies.

Medical Cannabis Pilot Project Proposed In Iceland

Written by Hazel Norman on May 28, 2023. Posted in Policy.

The concept of cannabis commerce pilot projects is not a new thing and is seemingly growing in popularity among policymakers and regulators in Europe. The latest example of that can be found in Iceland, where a proposal was recently submitted to launch a medical cannabis-focused pilot project.

For those that may be unfamiliar with cannabis commerce pilot projects, medical and adult-use cannabis commerce projects allow jurisdictions to permit limited, legal cannabis commerce. The theory behind the concept is that it affords policymakers and regulators the opportunity to see how commerce works on a limited scale to be better suited to craft national policies.

Denmark currently has a medical-focused pilot program, and adult-use pilot programs are popping up in Switzerland. According to the current legalization plan in Germany, pilot programs will be part of the second phase of legalization once the details are figured out.

Iceland’s pilot project is somewhat different than what is going on in Switzerland, and eventually Germany, beyond just Iceland’s proposal being for medical versus adult use. One could easily argue that the proposal in Iceland is essentially an expansion of the nation’s medical cannabis program, albeit in a limited-duration fashion. Per Cannabis Health News:

Following a debate in Alþingi [Icelandic parliament] last week, officials have proposed a four-year pilot project to permit the use of medical cannabis, as well as the cultivation, production and distribution of cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

If approved, the Ministry of Health will work with the Minister of Culture and Trade to establish a working group to prepare a bill allowing companies to apply for licences to produce and distribute cannabis medicines.

The bill would need to be presented by the ministry by 31st December with the four-year pilot programme expected to begin on 1 January, 2024.

Currently, only the pharmaceutical product Sativex is available to suffering patients in Iceland, and even then, only in limited circumstances. Just as is the case everywhere around the globe, suffering patients in Iceland deserve to have safe, legal access to their medicine in whatever form helps them the best.

Only time will tell if the proposal in Iceland makes it to the finish line this year, and even if it does, whether or not 2024 will end up being the actual launch year. Pilot projects are notorious for experiencing delayed implementations. Hopefully that doesn’t prove to be the case in Iceland.

Spain’s Minister Of Health Says Medical Cannabis Regulations Are On The Way

Written by Hazel Norman on May 22, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Spain has long served as a unique home for cannabis public policy. Technically, medical cannabis is prohibited in many instances in Spain, with the nation’s legal medical cannabis industry largely built around research and exports.

Domestic medical cannabis patients are almost always left on the outside looking in and have to resort to unregulated sources for their medicine. Fortunately for patients, medical cannabis is fairly easy to acquire in Spain from private cannabis clubs, however, the situation highlights that Spain’s cannabis model is in desperate need of improvement.

When patients and providers have to operate in an unregulated environment, there is a considerable amount of uncertainty involved and that makes it difficult to keep things going at times. Unregulated industries are ripe for selective enforcement towards providers, and patients may end up buying untested products that are not as ‘clean’ as they could be.

Advocates have pushed for reform in Spain for many years, and yet, success has remained elusive. Medical cannabis patients and industry members were hopeful that 2022 would be the year for a regulation bill to get to the finish line just to see their hopes dashed. Fortunately, the nation’s Minister of Health is signaling that movement is on the way. Per El Planteo:

The Minister of Health of Spain, José Manuel Miñones , announced that before the end of May he will present a report that will allow the regulation of the use of medicinal cannabis in the National Health System (SNS) . The news came after some parliamentarians have claimed the delay in the analysis of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Aemps), whose term ended in 2022.

Miñones also apologized for the delay in his first appearance before the Health Commission of the Lower House. Congress had ruled in favor of regulating medical cannabis in June 2022, and the subcommittee in charge had given Aemps a period of six months to issue recommendations.

What is being proposed is instead of regulating the nation’s private cannabis clubs, patients will be able to legally acquire medical cannabis and products derived from medical cannabis via one of Spain’s licensed pharmacies.

In some countries, such as the United States, pharmacies are not used to dispense medical cannabis outside of a handful of pharmaceutical-grade products. In other countries, such as Germany, pharmacies are used to serve as the backbone of safe access for suffering patients. Whether something meaningful comes out of Spain or not is something that we will all have to wait and see.

Switzerland Cannabis Pilot Programs Set To Expand

Written by Hazel Norman on May 16, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

Switzerland is home to a cannabis commerce public policy experiment that is based on a concept which is seemingly growing in popularity in policy and regulatory circles. The concept, limited regional cannabis commerce pilot projects, is already in operation in Basel, Switzerland where 374 people between the ages of 18 and 76 can make legal adult-use cannabis purchases.

Additional pilot programs were approved for Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, and Bern, with Bern’s pilot program set to launch this fall. The pilot program in Bern ‘plans to recruit 1,091 participants, including approximately 600 in the federal city’ according to domestic reporting.

Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city with a population of roughly 400,000 people, although the overall metro area pushes that number considerably higher. Zurich’s pilot program is expected to launch at the end of the summer and will involve 3,000 participants when fully operational. Participants will be able to make legal cannabis purchases from an expected 21 regulated outlets in Zurich.

Switzerland is not the only nation pursuing plans for regional pilot programs. Officials in Denmark are pursuing their own plans, and Germany is likely to eventually become the largest embracer of such public policy efforts. German lawmakers are working right now to hammer out details that will serve as the foundation for the nation’s pilot programs.

Officials in Frankfurt and Offenbach have already declared their intentions to launch pilot programs, and they are surely not alone. Germany will not be the first place where pilot programs are launched, however, the nation that serves as home to the largest economy in Europe will likely prove to be the place where pilot programs become the most common, and on a much larger scale than what will be found in Switzerland.

The expansion of pilot programs in Switzerland is worthy of celebration to be sure, although the scope of the nation’s pilot programs needs to be kept in proper context. They are very limited in size and are not coupled with noncommercial cannabis clubs like what is being pursued in Germany and proposed in the Czech Republic.

What Switzerland really needs, and this is true for every country on earth, is a robust cannabis policy that ensures safe access to all forms of medical cannabis for suffering patients, and incorporates regulated adult-use commerce for all cannabis products, regardless of THC content, to help boost public health outcomes.

Network With International Cannabis Investors At The Berlin Global Investment Forum

Written by Hazel Norman on May 16, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

Proper timing is a vital ingredient to success in every industry, and particularly so in the emerging international cannabis industry.

The legal cannabis space is still very young, especially at the global level, and many investors, entrepreneurs, industry service providers, policymakers, and regulators are networking extensively right now to figure out who to collaborate with.

Being at the right place at the right time can literally mean the difference between crushing it in the emerging industry in the coming years or fading away.

The upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference Global Investment Forum, taking place on June 27^th in Berlin, is the best time and place to effectively network with true global cannabis leaders, including top industry investors.

It is extremely rare that this many true global cannabis experts and leaders get together in one place, and even rarer for an event to host the caliber of individuals and entities that will be speaking and/or attending this specific forum.

Below is a list of speakers that will be participating in the Global Investment Forum in Berlin:

David Traylor – Senior Managing Director, Golden Eagle Partners
Peter Homberg – Partner, Dentons Head of European Cannabis Group
Ngaio Bealum – Conference Master of Ceremonies
Jamie Pearson – International Consultant, New Holland Group
Todd Born – Co-Founder and CEO, The Alpen Group
Steve Winokur – Global Head of Cannabis Investment Banking, Canaccord Genuity Corp.
Carmen Doran – CEO of Helius Therapeutics, Board Member of the New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council
Constantin von der Groeben – Co-Founder and Managing Director, Demecan
rer. nat. Adrian Fischer – Co-Founder and Managing Director, Demecan
Vera Broder – CEO, MHI Cultivo Medicinal SA.
Joel Redelman – Founding Partner, Redfield Group, Chairman, Promethean Biopharma
Benedikt Sons – Co-Founder, Managing Director and CEO of Cansativa Group
Robert T. Hoban – Member, Co-Chair of the Cannabis Industry Group, & Member-in-Charge of the Clark Hill Denver Office
Nic Easley – CEO, 3C Consulting & Multiverse Capital Managing Director
Alex Rogers – CEO & Executive Director, International Cannabis Business Conference
Oliver Lamb – Co-Founder and Investment Manager, Oskare Capital
Hilary Black – Pionner, Founder, and Advisor
Alex Revich – Equity Partner at Hybrid Pharm, Cannabis Education & Medical Parternships at Loosh Brands
Cornelius Maurer – Co-Founder, Demecan
Kai-Friedrich Niermann – Founder, KFN+ Law Office
Lewis Koski – Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Metrc LLC
Lisa Haag – Founder, MJ_Universe
Giovanni Venturini Del Greco – Founder and CEO, Herbolea Biotech
Daniel Haymann – Legal Counsel, MME Legal
Trenton Birch – Co-Founder & CEO, Cheeba Africa
Luc Richner – CEO Founder, Cannavigia
Marcus Moser – MB & Partner, Zurich Und Moser consulting, Guglingen

The Global Investment Forum will be held at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin on June 27^th. A VIP reception will occur the night prior at the exclusive Adlon Terrace in the shadow of the iconic Brandenburg Gate.

Given the historical push to legalize cannabis in Germany right now, the setting for the Global Investment Forum VIP reception could not be better.

You can view the International Cannabis Business Conference Global Investment Forum’s full schedule at this link here. Ticket prices go up on May 17^th at 11:59 PM – register now and save!

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Colombia Needs To Improve Its Cannabis Export Regulations

Written by Hazel Norman on May 11, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

Out of all of the countries on earth, you will be hard-pressed to find a country that is better suited to benefit from international cannabis reform than Colombia, at least from a raw cannabis production standpoint.

It is no secret that for many years Colombia has produced a significant amount of unregulated cannabis, thanks in large part to where the nation is located geographically and Colombia’s climate. Colombia is literally one of the best places on the planet to cultivate cannabis on a large scale, if not the best.

Colombia has a distinct advantage over many other countries when it comes to cannabis production, and that, in turn, makes it a top potential source for legal cannabis internationally. As the South American country tries to transition from an unregulated cannabis industry to a regulated one, a major issue that it needs to address is export regulations.

According to domestic reporting, medical cannabis exporters in Colombia are complaining about lower-than-expected export sales, and they are pointing at government bureaucracy as the reason why the sales are lackluster. Per Bloomberg Linea (translated from Spanish to English):

Sales of medical cannabis products have not met the expectations that companies had in light of issues ranging from delays in registration, permits, banking mechanisms and other regulatory issues, the National Association of Foreign Trade (Analdex) reported on Monday.

Exporters point out that “external sales of cannabis for medical use have been hampered and have been considerably affected.”

Entrepreneurs in the sector occasionally refer to delays in registration with the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima).

In addition, they warn about alleged delays in the processes of the National Narcotics Fund.

If Colombia’s medical cannabis industry is ever going to reach its full potential, the process for obtaining permission from the government to export raw cannabis and cannabis products needs to be overhauled and streamlined.

It is definitely worth noting that not all of Colombia’s export issues are due solely to what is going on within the nation’s borders. International treaties, policies, and enforcement practices also make cannabis exports more difficult in general for any nation, including Colombia. As such, reform is needed at the international level as well.