Author: Hazel Norman

Germany Finalizes Recreational Cannabis Pilot Projects

Written by Hazel Norman on December 11, 2024. Posted in Policy, Science.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Malta Cannabis Legalization Has Not Led To Increased Consumption Rates

Written by Hazel Norman on December 10, 2024. Posted in Policy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written by Hazel Norman on December 7, 2024. Posted in Business, Policy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written by Hazel Norman on December 2, 2024. Posted in Policy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

laptop teleworking computer zoom teams online

German Hospitals Want Greater Medical Cannabis Telemedicine Integration

Written by Hazel Norman on November 30, 2024. Posted in Policy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uruguay’s Legal Cannabis Exports Continue To Increase

Written by Hazel Norman on November 25, 2024. Posted in Business.

Uruguay will forever hold the title of being the first country to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. Lawmakers in Uruguay adopted recreational cannabis legalization in 2013, with legal domestic sales beginning in the nation’s pharmacies in 2017.

The South American nation is rapidly becoming a top source of legal medical cannabis products for other countries. Uruguay’s legal cannabis companies exported over $3 million worth of medical cannabis products in the last year to such nations as Germany, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Uruguay’s export data is part of a new report published by the Uruguay XXI Institute.

“In 2023, Uruguayan companies exported about 25 tons of cannabis, of which 83% corresponded to medicinal flowers, with sales of USD 1.5 million.” El Planteo reported about the previous year’s statistics for contextual purposes.

The report by the Uruguay XXI Institute also determined the following:

Uruguay’s domestic adult-use consumer base is an estimated 250,000 people
The Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries has issued cultivation licenses to 36 companies
Annual consumption of recreational cannabis in Uruguay is between 44 and 50 tons

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

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

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

“Currently, 71,843 Uruguayan citizens are legally registered to purchase cannabis in pharmacies, 11,708 have received permission to grow it at home, and 13,687 are members of cannabis clubs.” the outlet also reported.

Denmark Announces Plan To Make Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Permanent

Written by Hazel Norman on November 23, 2024. Posted in Policy.

The government in Denmark recently announced its plans to make its medical cannabis pilot program permanent. The pilot program, first introduced in 2018, was originally designed to help federal lawmakers and regulators gather data and other research to be better suited to craft national laws and rules. The program has issued over 20,000 prescriptions since its launch.

“The scheme was introduced in 2018 to give selected patient groups, e.g. patients with multiple sclerosis or cancer, a legal opportunity to be prescribed medical cannabis as part of their treatment.” stated the Ministry of the Interior and Health (translated from Danish to English).

“We can see that many patients who are prescribed medical cannabis by their doctor seem to benefit from the treatment. This applies, for example, to cancer patients who may suffer from severe nausea after treatment with chemotherapy, or people with multiple sclerosis who may have severe pain,” Minister of the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde stated.

“If it’s up to the government, patients must continue to have a legal option to use medical cannabis, which is why we plan to make the scheme permanent. But now we have to see how the parties to the agreement stand.” the minister also stated.

Denmark’s medical cannabis pilot trial is slated to end in 2025. The proposal to make the medical cannabis pilot program permanent still needs final approval.

“On behalf of the government, Sophie Løhde has invited the agreement parties – SF, Liberal Alliance, Enhedslisten, Dansk Folkeparti and Alternativet – to negotiations on the trial scheme on medical cannabis.” the Ministry of the Interior and Health stated about the next steps.

According to a recent study conducted by researchers from Ukraine and France, and published by the U.S. National Institute of Health, 57 countries have adopted medical cannabis legalization measures.

A recent market analysis by Introspective Market Research projects that the legal global medical cannabis industry will be worth an estimated $91.065 billion by 2032. Introspective Market Research estimates that the emerging worldwide medical cannabis industry was worth over $13 billion in 2023.

woman smelling smell cannabis plant garden outdoor sungrown terpene terpenes

Czech Cabinet Moves To Allow Cannabis Possession And Cultivation

Written by Hazel Norman on November 17, 2024. Posted in Policy.

The Czech Republic’s cabinet recently approved a plan that would permit adults in the European nation to cultivate multiple plants in their private residences and possess a personal amount of cannabis.

The plan, which would legalize the cultivation of up to three cannabis plants and set a maximum possession limit of 50 grams of cannabis, was originally introduced by the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Justice back in September 2024. The plan does not go far enough according to members of the Czech Pirate Party.

“Instead of legalization and money in the budget, today the government presents pasquil. You can grow cannabis, but you can’t harvest it. To be able to grow three cannabis plants and at the same time have a limit of 50 grams that you can have at home is absurd. It’s like you could raise three hens, but they could lay a maximum of one egg, otherwise you’ll be fined or go to jail,” said former Deputy Prime Minister and former head of the Pirates Ivan Bartoš according to local reporting by Echo24.

Personal cannabis possession without intent to distribute was first decriminalized in the Czech Republic in 2010 and medical cannabis was legalized in 2013. Adult-use cannabis reform in the Czech Republic is part of an increasing trend in Europe where multiple countries have now adopted legalization measures to boost public health strategies.

What is being proposed in Czechia is similar to what was implemented in Germany earlier this year from cultivation plant limit and possession limit standpoints, however, the proposed legal age of 21 years old would differ from what Germany adopted and is similar to what is in place in two dozens states in the U.S.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The Czech government “believes it will manage to push through the changes by the end of its term in October 2025” per local reporting by TVP World.

According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), nearly 30% of Czech adults have consumed cannabis at least once in their lifetimes and 11.1% report having consumed cannabis within the last year. The average rate for once-a-year consumption across Europe is 8% according to EMCDDA data.

Advocates Urge German Government To Prioritize Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act

Written by Hazel Norman on November 12, 2024. Posted in Policy.

Last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the firing of Finance Minister Christian Lindner, effectively ending the ruling government’s coalition of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), Lindner’s Free Democratic Party (FDP), and the Greens. The coalition was often referred to as the ‘traffic light coalition.’

Chancellor Scholz also announced that Germany’s Parliament will hold a confidence vote in January which could move the next Bundestag elections to March 2025. The collapse of the traffic light coalition is resulting in industrial hemp industry advocates urging the nation’s lawmakers to ensure that the Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act is prioritized.

“Following the upheaval in the federal government, important legislative projects are to be brought through the parliamentary process by the end of the year so that they can come into force before the early elections. The Cannabis Industry Association (BvCW) is calling on the federal government and the parties represented in the Bundestag to put the Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act (NLG) on the priority list.” stated BvCW in a press release.

The Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act was previously approved by German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir last month and includes the removal of the ‘intoxication clause,’ although the law is not yet finalized and still needs to be approved via the parliamentary process. The measure would also legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp indoors.

“Germany is lagging far behind in Europe and the world in the cultivation, research and use of industrial hemp. We cannot wait another few years . The Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act must therefore be passed by the Bundestag as soon as possible in order to finally give farmers and the industry legal certainty and to make Germany competitive again,” warns Dirk Heitepriem, President of the Cannabis Industry Association.

“We ask the legislator to give this law priority. For many agricultural businesses, processing companies and traders, it is essential that the removal of the intoxication clause is finally finalized and thus the considerable – in some cases livelihood-threatening – economic damage is put to an end. This will quickly strengthen the industrial hemp industry and at the same time reduce bureaucracy, costs and risks,” said Michael Greif, interim managing director of the BvCW.

The push for industrial hemp policy and regulatory modernization in Germany comes at a time when much of Europe is doing the same. Market analysts associated with Research and Markets project that the global industrial hemp market will reach $25.33 billion in value by 2032.

“Industrial hemp has enormous potential for the German economy. From renewable, climate-friendly building materials, in vehicle construction or as a regional alternative protein source for humans and animals. At the same time, it offers agriculture great potential, for example in the regeneration of weak and contaminated soils. That is why we need the law now to simplify the cultivation of industrial hemp, create legal clarifications and thus growth impulses for our economy,” explains Marijn Roersch van der Hoogte, Vice President and Department Coordinator for Industrial Hemp.