Author: Johnny Green

German Cannabis Business Week – Global Industry To Converge In Berlin

Written by Johnny Green on February 23, 2025. Posted in Business.

Germany’s legal cannabis industry is experiencing an unprecedented revolution. Thanks to last year’s adoption of the CanG policy modernization measure, every major sector of the nation’s emerging cannabis industry is experiencing growth.

The German Cannabis Business Week will take place during this pivotal moment, bringing together leaders from across the global cannabis industry to Berlin, Germany, beginning on April 28th, 2025. The week will commence with The Talman House’s exclusive investor gathering, held at the prestigious Hotel Adlon Kempinski, an internationally renowned venue recognized for its historic significance and unmatched hospitality.

This private investor event, reserved for The Talman House members, will serve as a strategic forum where key investors and industry experts will examine evolving market dynamics, investment trends, and regulatory shifts shaping the European cannabis sector. Discussions will center on the economic implications of Germany’s legalization model, the expansion of regulated cannabis markets across the EU, and how investors can navigate the rapidly changing landscape.

Following the Talman House event in Berlin, the International Cannabis Business Conference will once again bring its flagship two-day conference to the iconic Estrel Berlin Hotel on April 29th-30th. International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin is Europe’s largest and longest-running cannabis B2B event, and this year’s installment will be bigger and better than ever.

Several important and timely topics will be covered at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, including Germany’s cultivation associations. As of July 1st, 2024, aspiring cultivation association operators can apply with their local regulatory authorities in Germany. Many association applications are being processed across Germany, with dozens of associations already receiving approval and having launched operations.

Additionally, regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot projects are expected to launch soon in Germany, and it is sure to be a popular topic at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin. Associations and pilots are expected to proliferate many parts of Germany. Competition is going to increase significantly within Germany’s industry, and a great way to learn how to maximize your opportunities and network with industry leaders is at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin. Register now and save $200 before ticket prices go up on April 2nd at midnight.

Part of the new German CanG law involves permitting adults to cultivate up to three plants in their private residences. Home cultivation legalization is creating a thriving industry sector in Germany. Companies specializing in home cultivation equipment and cannabis genetics are experiencing exponential sales growth within the German market.

Germany’s emerging medical cannabis industry was already the largest in Europe before the nation’s new CanG law took effect. However, since April 1st, 2024, when the first provisions of adult-use legalization became effective in Germany, the nation’s medical cannabis industry has already grown exponentially.

A main contributing factor to the recent growth of Germany’s medical cannabis industry was the removal of cannabis from the nation’s Narcotics List, which was a key component of the new CanG law. The removal of cannabis from the list made it easier for doctors to prescribe cannabis in Germany, in addition to improving the medical cannabis supply chain and boosting domestic medical cannabis production.

Medical cannabis is arguably the biggest winner of Germany’s adult-use policy modernization effort so far, and the boost in patient numbers is still very much in the early stages. Prior to April 1st, researchers estimated that Germany had between 200k and 300k active medical cannabis patients. That number is projected to increase to as much as 5 million in the not-so-distant future. According to a recent report by the Bloomwell Group, prescriptions for medical cannabis in Germany increased by roughly 1,000% between March 2024 and December 2024. Medical cannabis in Germany will be thoroughly discussed throughout German Cannabis Business Week in April.

Over 5,000 cannabis leaders from over 80 countries are expected to be represented at the International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin 2025 and that includes representatives from every sector of the industry, as well as leading international cannabis policymakers and industry service providers. Bring your company to the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin to network with the best and take your industry pursuits to the next level. Register now and save $200 before ticket prices go up on April 2nd at midnight. Make sure to secure your spot before the event sells out.

Additionally, serious entrepreneurs and investors looking to gain a footprint in Europe’s emerging legal cannabis industry should join The Talman House network. The Talman House is private and exclusive, with dozens of leading cannabis companies already serving as members. It is the largest private network of cannabis investors and executives in Europe and has helped established cannabis companies secure funding.

Membership in The Talman House provides numerous benefits, including gaining access to ongoing investor events in Europe such as the April 28th event in Berlin that kicks off German Cannabis Business Week. Joining The Talman House is an effective and efficient way to maximize your company’s potential in both Europe and abroad. You can find out more about how to become a member by contacting the Talman team.

How Does Proposed Swiss Legalization Compare To Other EU Countries?

Written by Johnny Green on February 16, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Currently, national adult-use cannabis legalization measures have been adopted by three European Union member nations. Malta was the first to do so, adopting recreational legalization in 2021, followed by Luxembourg in 2023.

Germany has adopted the most robust form of adult-use legalization in the EU so far. Whereas Malta and Luxembourg have both adopted cultivation and possession by adults, and Malta cultivation associations, Germany has legalized cultivation, associations, and will also eventually launch commerce pilot trials. Germany also has the largest legal medical cannabis industry in Europe.

If current trends persist, Switzerland may become the fourth EU country to adopt a national legalization measure. On Friday, Switzerland’s Social Security and Health Committee of the National Council gave preliminary approval to a recreational legalization plan by a 14-9 vote.

“Public health and youth protection must be placed at the heart of a renewed cannabis policy. Adults must be granted strictly regulated access to cannabis. In addition, to ensure that consumption is not encouraged, cannabis products must not be sold for profit and must be subject to an incentive tax. This is what is provided for in the draft drawn up by the National Council’s Social Security and Public Health Committee (CSSS-N).” the committee stated in a translated press release.

“The committee is unanimous in its view that cannabis consumption is a social reality. The majority of the committee considers that the current situation is unsatisfactory and that the prohibitive approach is wrong. In its view, strictly regulated access to cannabis and a controlled market better protect public health, strengthen youth protection and improve safety.” the press release also stated.

Below are the key points of the proposal being considered in Switzerland:

Cannabis will remain classified as a narcotic.
Adult residents can cultivate up to three plants in their private residences.
Eventual sales will be subject to a state monopoly. Sales must not be for profit. Any profits are allocated to prevention, harm reduction and addiction support.
Vertical integration is prohibited.
Advertising is prohibited, including for cannabis seeds and cuttings and accessories related to the consumption of cannabis.
Cannabis products will be subject to an incentive tax “in order to limit consumption and direct it towards less risky forms.” The tax rate will be tied to “THC content and the type of consumption.” Cantons may levy “a monitoring tax and fees.”
Penalties will be increased for “people who evade the legal market.”
A “zero tolerance” approach to driving under the influence will be instituted, with anyone proven to “have consumed cannabis” being “considered unfit to drive.”

“The next step will be to draw up an explanatory report on the preliminary draft, so that the committee can examine these documents during the summer. Interested parties and stakeholders will then have the opportunity to take a position as part of the consultation procedure.” the committee stated about the next steps for the Swiss legalization approval process.

The legalization proposal being considered involves permitting adults to possess a personal amount of cannabis, however, a specific possession limit does not appear to be identified yet. According to the committee press release, “Maximum quantities for private and public possession apply” but quantities were ultimately not specified.

By comparison, what was preliminarily approved in Switzerland is better than what is in place in Luxembourg in some ways and less favorable in other ways. In Luxembourg adults can cultivate up to four plants in private residences, which is better than the three plant proposal in Switzerland, but there is no recreational commerce allowed in any manner in Luxembourg. The possession limit in Luxembourg is 3 grams.

In Malta, adults can also cultivate up to four plants in their private residences, but the possession limit is considerably greater compared to Luxembourg’s possession limit. Adults in Malta can possess up to 7 grams when away from their homes and up to 50 grams within their homes. The previously mentioned cultivation associations operating in Malta are not subjected to as many limitations as what is being proposed for retail outlets in Switzerland, and are not subject to a state monopoly.

If/when Switzerland’s proposal is approved, it will not eclipse Germany’s legalization model. Germany’s legalization model involves a three plant home cultivation limit, which is the same as the Swiss plan. German adults can possess up to 25 grams when away from their residences and 50 grams in their residences. Germany is already home to dozens of approved cultivation associations, and hundreds more have applications pending. Eventually, thousands of associations are expected to be approved across Germany, and they will not be subject to a state monopoly, nor the level of restrictions being proposed in Switzerland.

Switzerland has multiple regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials operating right now, and it is unclear how current and future trials will be handled if/when the Swiss legalization plan is enacted. Germany’s legalization model involves permitting trials, and it is expected that they will eventually be located throughout most parts of Germany. Over two dozen municipalities in Germany have already expressed interest in launching pilot trials.

Arguably the most significant difference between what is being proposed in Switzerland versus what is already approved in Germany is how cannabis is classified. The Switzerland plan involves keeping cannabis classified as a narcotic, which is a nuanced policy that has a dramatic impact on what can and cannot happen when it comes to cannabis. Conversely, Germany removed cannabis from the nation’s Narcotics List as part of the CanG law’s approval, which has dramatically improved the nation’s medical cannabis program and removed many barriers to cannabis research.

Spain Cannabis Regulatory Measure Amended To Address CBD Products

Written by Johnny Green on February 16, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

Lawmakers and regulators in Spain are making what appears to be a final push to finally approve and implement a long-awaited medical cannabis regulatory measure. Spain has long been home to a thriving medical cannabis community and market, however, regulations for the nation’s domestic medical cannabis industry have proved to be elusive for years.

The effort to bring Spain’s medical cannabis policies into the modern age passed a major milestone back in October 2024 when the nation’s Ministry of Health published a draft royal decree focused on medical cannabis. The measure is reportedly moving forward, and was recently amended to address concerns over how it would potentially impact CBD products.

“Thanks to the coordinated lobbying efforts of EIHA, alongside other associations and manufacturers, the Spanish government has amended the draft Royal Decree on cannabis regulation from October 2024.” the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) stated about the amendment.

“The risky sentence “regardless of its cannabinoid content”, which posed a serious threat by potentially classifying CBD as a narcotic, has been replaced with: “preparations with a THC content equal to or greater than 0.2% by weight will be considered psychotropic and will be subject to the control measures.”” EIHA also stated.

“This draft Royal Decree establishes the conditions for the prescription, preparation, dispensing, and use of standardised master formulas for cannabis preparations. Likewise, it establishes a register for standardised cannabis preparations used in the elaboration of these master formulas, in order to guarantee their quality.” the official language of the Royal Decree states (translated from Spanish to English).

“In the preparation of this draft, the different normative regulations on the regulation of medical cannabis in countries of the European Union (France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Germany…) and in third countries (Switzerland, Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada…) have been considered. The review has been carried out considering its scientific basis, based on evidence published in scientific literature, the available information on the functioning of the different systems and their health effects, and the possibility its adaptation to the Spanish regulatory framework.” the Decree also states.

Despite the lack of proper regulations in Spain, the nation’s cannabis industry is thriving, albeit not within a regulated system. Suffering patients deserve to have safe access to safe medical cannabis therapies, and entrepreneurs and investors deserve to operate in a business environment that is built on a strong foundation of certainty.

An Important Upcoming Election For German Cannabis

Written by Johnny Green on February 15, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Germany is currently home to the most exciting legal cannabis industry in Europe. In addition to adult-use cannabis being legal and sectors involved with recreational home cultivation, consumption, and cultivation associations increasing in size every month, Germany’s medical cannabis industry is booming by every measure.

Against that backdrop, the upcoming federal election in Germany is set for February 23, 2025. Germany’s president previously announced the dissolution of the lower house of parliament, and with Chancellor Olaf Scholz also losing a confidence vote in December, it paved the way for an early election. The stakes for cannabis policy in Germany could not be higher.

As the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) pointed out in a recent newsletter, the upcoming federal election in Germany could prove to be “decisive for the future of cannabis legalization in Germany.” Will the country continue its push for policy and regulatory modernization, will the current status quo remain, or will Germany regress on cannabis policy? It all depends on who gets elected.

BvCW provided a roundup of where political parties stand this week, stating (translated from German to English) that “while the SPD , the Greens , the FDP and the Left are in favor of a continuation or expansion of the current partial legalization, the CDU and AfD want to repeal the cannabis law and are taking a restrictive line.”

“The SPD is planning legalization in line with European law, the Greens are calling for specialist shops and international reform. The FDP is remaining vague and sticking to the current law, while the Left is the only party calling for complete decriminalization of all drug users and regulated access for other substances as well.” BvCW also stated. “The CDU and AfD argue that partial legalization has not reduced the black market and see it as a failure. Experts disagree and criticize that a return to prohibition would criminalize millions of people again. The BSW does not comment on drug policy.”

The German Hemp Association (DHV) also issued its own election analysis, urging German voters to select candidates from the Left party, stating (translated from German to English) “The Left, freed from the hesitant Wagenknecht fans, can really take off and take a clear stance.”

“With the best program and convincing answers, Die Linke is the clear winner of the election check and our clear recommendation to vote for. It is the only party that identifies a specific need for changes to the CanG.”

“We can expect all three traffic light parties to defend the Cannabis Act against the prohibition parties. However, all three parties have not made a perfect impression due to unnecessary resistance from their responsible ministers and state associations.” DHV stated about the SPD, Greens, and FDP parties.

“The CDU and AfD clearly position themselves as opponents of cannabis. Both parties want to reverse decriminalization and prosecute cannabis users again.” DHV also stated in its election analysis.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition’s (LEAP) board members in Germany have also issued election guidance. LEAP was originally started in the United States by former members of law enforcement who oppose the harms of cannabis prohibition and has since expanded internationally. While LEAP did not issue any voting endorsements in Germany, it did make its position clear that Germany must not regress on cannabis policy and voters need to ensure that doesn’t happen in the upcoming election.

“We recognize that in the current legislative period, with the Consumer Cannabis Act and the transfer of cannabis for medical and medical-scientific purposes into a separate law, significant progress has been made towards a rational decriminalization of consumers. However, we are also concerned that some parties want to reverse the progress made so far in drug policy and thus, with their statements in their election manifestos, are diametrically opposed to our goals as LEAP Germany.” the organization’s Board in Germany stated (translated from German to English).

“We are not making any election recommendations, but for us as the LEAP board, it is absolutely clear that we can only vote for a party that advocates maintaining the progress made and further developing an evidence-based drug policy and that recognizes that the prohibition of the past decades has failed and instead focuses on health policy instruments in dealing with addictive substances.” organization leadership also stated.

For further analysis of Germany’s upcoming election and how cannabis policy may be affected, check out the International Cannabis Business Conference’s recent conversation with leading international attorney Peter Homberg of gunnercooke.

German Pharmacists Oppose Reclassifying Cannabis As A Narcotic Drug

Written by Johnny Green on February 5, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

German pharmacist Florian Sedlmeier and other members of Germany’s pharmacy industry are publicly pushing back on an effort by cannabis opponents in Germany to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic drug in the European nation. Cannabis was removed from Germany’s Narcotics List last year as part of the enactment of the CanG law.

“Pharmacist Florian Sedlmeier warns against reclassifying medicinal cannabis as a narcotic drug (BtM). Such a step would increase the bureaucratic burden and make it more difficult to provide patients with rapid care, ” stated the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) in its recent newsletter, citing an article from apotheke-adhoc. “He considers the concern expressed by SPD Health Minister Clemens Hoch that medicinal cannabis can be ordered too easily online to be understandable, but stresses that pharmacies carefully check prescriptions and licenses.”

“Reclassification as a narcotic would not curb the black market, but rather limit storage and the range of products available in pharmacies. Pharmacies are currently benefiting from the fact that medicinal cannabis no longer has to be stored in safes and can be prescribed more easily using e-prescriptions or model 16 forms. Instead of returning to the narcotic prescription requirement, Sedlmeier proposes stricter control of medical prescriptions, for example by requiring doctors to submit prescriptions and possible sanctions in the event of misuse.” BvCW also reported.

Germany implemented the first provisions of its new adult-use cannabis legalization law on April 1st, 2024, legalizing the personal cultivation, possession, and consumption of cannabis by adults. Another major component of the first provisions involved the previously referenced removal of cannabis from the nation’s Narcotics List.

According to a recent report by the Bloomwell Group, prescriptions for medical cannabis in Germany increased by roughly 1,000% between March 2024 and December 2024. The report also found that prices for medical cannabis products are decreasing in Europe’s largest medical cannabis market.

Another component of Germany’s new legalization model involves permitting cultivation associations. The application process for cultivation associations started on July 1st, 2024, and to date, 83 cultivation applications have been approved, with hundreds more working their way through the process.

Germany was already home to the largest legal medical cannabis industry in Europe before the enactment of adult-use legalization, and changes in medical cannabis policies and regulations in 2024 have resulted in a domestic medical cannabis boom, as demonstrated by the data in Bloomwell’s recent report.

Legal medical cannabis imports continue to rise in Germany as well. 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.

Alex Rogers, founder and CEO of the International Cannabis Business Conference, recently visited Helios’ Munich pharmacy location to see their world-class operations firsthand, which can be viewed in the video embedded below. The video provides a great glimpse into Germany’s emerging legal medical cannabis industry:

german germany berlin police law enforcement german germany berlin police law enforcement

German Government: No Connection Between Cannabis Legalization And Organized Crime

Written by Johnny Green on February 4, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Since the implementation of the first provisions of adult-use cannabis legalization in Germany back on April 1st, 2024, some cannabis opponents inside and outside of the country have tried to claim that recreational legalization is causing a spike in organized crime activity.

However, in the federal government’s answer to a recent inquiry made by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group regarding the “Mocro Mafia” in North Rhine-Westphalia, it was made clear that this is not the case based on the available evidence. The question and answer was included in the German Cannabis Business Association’s (BvCW) recent newsletter.

“Does the federal government see a connection between the legalization of cannabis and the increase in organized crime? especially the “Mocro-Mafia” in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), and if not, why not?” was the question posed by the CDU/CSU faction (question #27, translated from German to English).

“The legal changes as part of the legalization of cannabis are only been in force for a few months. At present, no conclusions can be made about the impact on organized crime. Over and beyond
the events mentioned in North Rhine-Westphalia are probably not due to the partial legalization of cannabis, but rather to independent conflicts between rival criminal gangs.” the federal government stated in response to the question.

The answer from Germany’s federal government comes on the heels of the results of a peer-reviewed study being published that addressed another claim made by global cannabis opponents, this one being based on the claim that ‘legal cannabis sales lead to a spike in emergency room visits.’

“This study investigates the impact of recreational cannabis retailer allocation on emergency department (ED) visits related to cannabis, alcohol, and opioids.” the researchers in the recent study stated. The study used data from Canada’s legal recreational market which launched in 2018.

“No significant effects were found in cannabis, alcohol, or opioid-related ED visits following the allocation of cannabis retailers.” the researchers concluded. “The allocation of recreational cannabis retailer licenses did not significantly impact acute care use.”

Another common claim made by cannabis opponents is that ‘cannabis legalization harms youth and increases youth consumption rates.’ Numerous studies have looked at the data in the United States where several state-level legalization laws have been adopted going back to 2012.

“Youth marijuana use declined in 19 out of 21 states that legalized adult-use marijuana—with teen cannabis consumption down an average of 35 percent in the first states to legalize a decade ago—according to government data.” Marijuana Moment stated in its recent reporting.

Ancillary Cannabis Industry Sectors Projected To Experience Major Growth

Written by Johnny Green on February 3, 2025. Posted in Business.

When many people think of the emerging global cannabis industry, they tend to think about cultivating cannabis and selling cannabis. While those are obviously important components of the legal cannabis industry, they are only two sectors. The legal cannabis industry is much more complex and dynamic than just growing and selling cannabis and is made up of several other sectors, all of which have their own opportunities and market potential. Below are some notable examples that entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators should consider.

Cannabis Technology

Nearly every sector of the cannabis industry, including the cultivation and retail sectors, incorporates technology in one way or another. The ancillary cannabis technology sector comprises several subsectors, some of which are listed later in this article. It is arguably the most needed and promising ancillary sector of the emerging legal cannabis industry, and entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators are wise to explore the various opportunities. According to a recent market analysis by Coherent Market Insights, the “cannabis technology market is estimated to be valued at USD 4.10 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 20.01 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 25.4% by 2031.”

Consumption Devices

One constant in every legal cannabis market is that people will be consuming cannabis, and how they consume cannabis is evolving at a seemingly ever-increasing rate. While some consumers and patients continue to smoke cannabis via more rudimentary methods like joints and pipes, many are using more advanced consumption methods, such as portable vaporizers. The global portable vaporizer sector is already huge and getting bigger with every passing year. According to analysts at The Business Research Company, the portable vaporizer market is “projected to grow from $2.56 billion in 2023 to $2.90 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4%,” and is “expected to reach $4.82 billion by 2028.”

Product Testing

A standard component of every market where legal cannabis commerce is permitted is that legal products have to be tested for compliance. Cannabis testing helps consumers and patients know that the products they are consuming are safe and informs them about important information regarding the product’s contents, such as cannabinoid levels. Technavio recently estimated that the size of the global cannabis testing sector will “grow by USD 2.05 billion from 2024-2028.” The Business Research Company has also recently published a projection, estimating that the sector will reach “$6.05 billion in 2028,” and analysts with Research and Markets project a global market value of $12.37 billion by 2035.

Packaging

Cannabis product packaging is another ancillary sector that shows a lot of promise, with most legal cannabis products being stored and dispersed in some kind of required packaging. That presents significant opportunities for companies that specialize in creating effective product packaging options. As more markets become legal across the globe, the demand for cannabis packaging will increase. According to a recent cannabis packaging sector projection by Coherent Market Insights, the “global cannabis packaging market is expected to reach US$ 13.17 billion by 2030, from US$ 2.64 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 25.8% during the forecast period.”

Food And Beverages

Just as patients and consumers are increasing their use of advanced portable vaporizer technologies, they are also using other smokeless forms of cannabis consumption, most notably foods and beverages. Edibles and liquid consumables are increasing in popularity in markets where they are permitted, and that is reflected in recent market projections. For example, analysts at Allied Analytics estimate that the global cannabis food and beverage market size “was valued at $427.0 million in 2018, and is expected to reach $2,632.0 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 26.6% from 2019 to 2026.” The food and beverage sector is not limited to intoxicating products. Future Market Insights projects that the global hemp protein powder market alone will be worth over $1 billion by 2035.

Insurance

Business insurance is something that many companies need, and entities in the cannabis industry are no exception. Business insurance helps mitigate the unexpected costs that may arise as a company conducts its day-to-day operations. Insurance in the cannabis industry is not as established as it is in other legal industries. However, more insurance professionals are either working with cannabis companies now or are considering doing so compared to past years. One recent market projection for the emerging cannabis insurance sector estimates that the cannabis insurance market is expected to grow to “USD 6.7 billion by 2032” with a CAGR of “around 14.14% during the forecast period (2025 – 2032).”

Report: German Medical Cannabis Prescriptions Increased 1,000% In 9 Months

Written by Johnny Green on January 28, 2025. Posted in Business.

“Despite the rapid increase in cannabis patients, companies, doctors and pharmacies have ensured a secure supply,” explained Niklas Kouparanis, co-founder and CEO of Bloomwell, according to reporting by apotheke-adhoc.

“We are at the very beginning of a new era,” emphasized Kouparanis. “It is now the task of the next federal government to shape the regulatory framework in such a way that jobs continue to be created, investors are given security and innovation is promoted so that patients continue to benefit from cost-effective access to therapy.”

Germany adopted the first provisions of its new adult-use cannabis legalization law on April 1st, 2024. The provisions involved permitting adults to cultivate, possess, and consume personal amounts of cannabis. Additionally, cannabis was removed from Germany’s Narcotics List. The latter provision has provided a major boost to Germany’s medical cannabis industry.

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French Mayor Proposes Cannabis Legalization Referendum

Written by Johnny Green on January 28, 2025. Posted in Policy.

A mayor in France is calling for adults in his country to be able to vote on cannabis legalization. Éric Piolle, the current mayor of Grenoble, issued a public proposal to French President Emmanuel Macron to initiate a national referendum vote on recreational cannabis legalization.

“I propose the President of the Republic take the initiative to hold a referendum [on the legalization of cannabis]; it will allow us to approach the subject with seriousness, rather than getting muddled up all the time.” stated Mayor Piolle according to local reporting by The Pinnacle Gazette (translated from French to English).

“Piolle’s stance is shaped by the rising number of individuals incarcerated for drug-related offenses, counter to the persistent high levels of drug trafficking.” the outlet also stated in its coverage.

Three European nations have already adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures. Malta was the first to do so in 2021, followed by Luxembourg in 2023 and Germany in 2024. Additionally, Uruguay, Canada, and South Africa have adopted national recreational cannabis legalization measures.

According to the European Union Drugs Agency, France has the highest rate of cannabis consumption on the European continent. Mayor Piolle is not the only lawmaker in France demanding legalization. An escalation of violence linked to organized crime in France led to recent calls by a parliamentary group for the European nation to legalize cannabis for adult use. La France Insoumise (LFI) has criticized the government’s current approach to cannabis policy.

“According to the unveiled “fight plan,” the government’s repressive response is not only insufficient, but it fuels insecurity, pushing citizens and officials into a cycle of violence.” stated Newsweed in its local reporting. “LFI advocates for a comprehensive, community-based approach to combating organized crime in France, including the legalization of cannabis.”

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

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

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