Author: Johnny Green

Italy Would Obviously Benefit From Cannabis Legalization

Written by Johnny Green on February 2, 2023. Posted in Policy.

A bit of a metaphorical political food fight occurred last week on social media with two lawmakers in Italy having, shall we say, a ‘debate’ about the merits of cannabis legalization and prohibition. According to local media coverage, the back and forth between Elly Schlein and Matteo Salvini began with Salvini posting an image of Schlein with a sticker on her forehead, and the caption (translated to English), “More taxes and more joints, the priorities of the Pd to help Italians. Do we laugh or cry?”

Elly Schlein, a candidate for the secretariat of the Democratic Party, previously expressed support for legalization. Matteo Salvini, who currently serves as Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and appears to be a devout prohibitionist, clearly took issue with that expressed support and used it to take a passive aggressive jab at Schlein. Schlein then stated (translated to English), “In the meantime, we are concerned not to make the mafias laugh. The legalization of cannabis takes away ground from organized crime, while raising the ceiling on cash and dismantling the procurement code makes it easier. They are choices. #BetterLegal”

Putting the pros and cons of each individual as a lawmaker aside, the communications about each other’s position on cannabis policy highlights the ongoing need to reform Italy’s cannabis laws. Just as cannabis prohibition does not work anywhere else on earth, so too is it an abject failure in Italy. Lawmakers in Italy would be wise to join a growing chorus of lawmakers in other countries that are calling for legalization in order to boost public health outcomes.

Prohibition Is Bad For Public Health

Over the weekend I reported on a recommendation by France’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council which called for France to pass an adult-use legalization measure, with part of the recommended measure involving the launch of regulated adult-use cannabis sales. To paraphrase the stated the position of the Council, essentially, cannabis prohibition is more harmful to public health than cannabis legalization would be.

The Council has a point. France has one of the greatest cannabis consumption rates on the planet, with data from 2020 indicating that 46% of adults in France have tried cannabis at least once, and 11% consuming cannabis annually. Nearly all of that cannabis comes from the unregulated market being that France only permits very limited use of medical cannabis, although it is worth mentioning that France did recently lift a ban on CBD products and it’s quite possible that some survey respondents were referring to that type of cannabis, often referred to as ‘cannabis light.’ Regardless, consumers would clearly benefit from products being tested prior to being sold which would occur in a regulated industry.

France is not alone in weighing the public health impacts of prohibition versus legalization. Germany is currently pursuing a similar approach, and in a more meaningful way compared to France. Whereas the Council recommendation in France is not legally binding and is merely just a suggestion, lawmakers in Germany are actively pursuing a legalization model that is geared towards boosting public health outcomes via a regulated system. Leaders in the Czech Republic have also indicated a desire to pursue a similar approach, and leaders in Italy should join them.

An Evidence-Based Approach

At best, when cannabis opponents are challenged they will offer up statistics and studies that, when put into proper context, highlight how little proof there actually is that cannabis prohibition works. Those talking points are big on scare tactics, but little on actual applicability. Cannabis prohibition does not lower consumption rates, nor does it prevent youth access. All it does is ensure that products are less safe compared to products in a regulated system, it helps organized crime profit from unregulated sales, and it diverts limited public resources away from effective public health strategies towards forcing people into the criminal justice system.

One thing that is often lost in the discussion about cannabis policy is the opportunity cost of prohibition. Enforcing failed cannabis prohibition is not free, and, in fact, is very expensive. According to Statista, the average daily cost of incarcerating someone (including for cannabis) is roughly 143 euros, which is up from 2019 when the estimated cost was 131 euros a day. That, of course, does not include the cost of the officers patrolling, the cost of the investigation, the cost of any forensic lab work, and the cost of the court proceedings. Now, multiply all of that times the number of people arrested and prosecuted for cannabis offenses in Italy and the numbers quickly add up. Obviously, not every case involves every component that I mentioned, however, at the macro level it’s still a tremendous sum when all combined together.

Meanwhile, none of those dollars go towards actual public health strategies, such as education. Regulated sales coupled with funding ongoing education campaigns helps mitigate youth consumption rates better than threating youth with possible criminal justice ramifications, as proven by the statistics in some legal jurisdictions like the State of Oregon where I live. The funds saved by no longer enforcing failed prohibition, coupled with the revenues generated by a taxed and regulated industry, can provide governments with funding levels for public health strategies that they currently can only dream about. That would obviously include Italy, but only when lawmakers like Matteo Salvini refrain from making prohibitionist quips, and instead focus their energy on pursuing a sensible approach towards cannabis public policy.

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Cannabis Smoke Not Associated With Impaired Lung Function According To Australia Study

Written by Johnny Green on January 29, 2023. Posted in Science.

Cannabis opponents do their best to try to lump cannabis smoke and tobacco smoke into the same category, and to be fair, it’s something that many people accept unless they have looked at the body of research on the topic.

Anyone that has researched cannabis smoke versus tobacco smoke knows that they are not the same, and that tobacco smoke is demonstrably worse for consumers compared to cannabis smoke for various reasons.

A recent study conducted in Australia found that cannabis smoke exposure is not associated with impaired lung function among consumers. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

South Brisbane, Australia: The long-term inhalation of cannabis smoke does not impact lung function in the same manner as inhaling tobacco, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Respiratory Medicine.

A team of Australian researchers evaluated the impact of tobacco smoking and cannabis smoking on lung function in a cohort of 30-year-old subjects. Study participants began smoking cannabis, tobacco, or both as young adults. Pulmonary performance was evaluated at age 21 and at age 30 via a spirometry assessment.

Researchers reported that cigarette-only smokers “already showed evidence of impaired lung function” at age 30. By contrast, “those who have [only] used cannabis ever since the adolescent period do not appear to have evidence of impairment of lung function.” Specifically, investigators identified airflow obstructions in the lungs of cigarette-only smokers, but they observed no such obstructions in cannabis-only subjects.

Authors further acknowledged, “Co-use of tobacco and cannabis does not appear to predict lung function beyond the effects of tobacco use alone.”

They concluded, “Cannabis use does not appear to be related to lung function even after years of use.”

The findings are consistent with those of numerous other studies reporting that cannabis smoke exposure, even long-term, is not predictive of the sort of significant adverse pulmonary effects that are consistently associated with tobacco.

Consumers who wish to mitigate or eliminate their exposure to combustive smoke may do so via an herbal vaporizer, which heats cannabinoids to the point of vaporization but below the point of combustion. In clinical trials, herbal vaporizers have been found to be a “safe and effective” cannabinoid delivery device.

Full text of the study, “Do tobacco and cannabis use and co-use predict lung function: A longitudinal study,” appears in Respiratory Medicine. Additional information is available from NORML’s Fact Sheet, ‘Cannabis Exposure and Lung Health.’

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France Council Proposes Cannabis Legalization To Boost Public Health

Written by Johnny Green on January 28, 2023. Posted in Policy.

France is one of the most popular places for cannabis consumption on the entire planet, which may shock some people given the fact that France’s public cannabis policies are not as favorable as policies in many other countries, including countries in Europe. However, France has one of the highest cannabis consumption rates on earth. Per data from 2020, 46% of adults in France have tried cannabis at least once, with 11% consuming cannabis annually. Cannabis remains illegal in France with very few exceptions, and the consumption of unregulated cannabis products is a public health concern according to the nation’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council. That public health concern is why they are now recommending that France legalize cannabis for adult use.

The Economic, Social and Environmental Council is chaired by Jean-François Naton, CGT confederal adviser, and its recommendation to pass an adult-use legalization measure comes after a year of the entity conducting research. The research reportedly involved extensive interviews, including in the southern region of France where unregulated cannabis activity seems to be particularly popular. The Council’s recommendation is not legally binding, however, it does make a very compelling argument for legalization, and the theme of the argument seems to be part of a growing trend on the continent.

Ending Prohibition For Public Health Reasons

A very interesting public policy evolution is underway on the European continent, whether many people realize it or not. For several decades prohibition was ‘justified’ by its supporters via arguments that ‘cannabis use was bad for public health.’ The whole reefer madness movement that yielded cannabis prohibition was largely predicated on claims that ‘cannabis use harmed mental health, made people lazy, and caused people to exhibit extreme behavior and poor decision-making.’

Of course, all of those reefer madness talking points have since proven to be false and/or overblown, and according to the arguments currently being made by a growing number of public health leaders in Europe, it’s cannabis prohibition that is the true danger to public health for various reasons. For example, one of the main arguments being made by the Council in France is that a regulated industry would help prevent sales to minors since part of the Council’s proposal is to prohibit such sales, in addition to banning cannabis advertising.

Some cannabis opponents have scoffed at the claim that a regulated industry would reduce youth consumption rates, with those same opponents often trying to simultaneously make the claim that legalization would create a doomsday scenario for youth consumption. Unfortunately for those opponents, there is now data from legal jurisdictions that demonstrates what actually happens to youth consumption in a regulated system.

Per government data from the Oregon Health Authority (USA), not only was there no spike in youth consumption following the launch of legal adult-use sales and outright possession legalization in 2015; youth consumption rates actually went down from 2012 to 2018 in Oregon. A broader study conducted by researchers at Michigan State University, which involved consumption survey data from over 800,000 respondents in U.S. states where cannabis sales were permitted, also found no spike in youth cannabis usage rates. A study in 2021 conducted by researchers in Canada found ‘no significant differences’ in cannabis consumption rates before and after cannabis legalization in Canada. As of May 2022, data out of Uruguay also demonstrated no sustained changes in youth consumption rates post-legalization.

‘The German Model’

Days ago a report surfaced regarding the ongoing legalization effort in Germany, with possible movement occurring in the next two months. According to the report, Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach believes that a formal introduction of an adult-use legalization measure will happen ‘in the first quarter of 2023’ and that he ‘has no reason to doubt this schedule.’ If that timeline proves to be accurate, 2023 could be a very big year for cannabis reform in Europe.

At the heart of the Health Minister’s plan for legalization in Germany is a ‘legalization to improve public health’ strategy. Much like what is being recommended in France, the Minister is making the case that a regulated cannabis industry is better for overall public health compared to cannabis prohibition. That argument could prove to be effective at both winning the approval of the public as well as the approval of the European Union. It’s worth noting that if the European Union gives its approval to Germany, that is not to say that the European Union is pro-legalization per se, but rather, that the European Union is not going to stand in the way of legalization proceeding in Germany.

The reasoning behind the EU refraining from stepping in would be that while treaty provisions limit adult-use cannabis commerce, other provisions also permit individual nations to pursue public health strategies that make sense for the particular nation. By framing legalization as a public health matter versus an economic one, as Germany is currently doing, it could put countries on a stronger legal foundation if/when they pursue legalization. Germany could quite possibly be building the blueprint for modern national adult-use legalization in Europe, and France is one of the many countries that could benefit from copying such a model.

Germany Health Minister Karl Lauterbach Germany Health Minister Karl Lauterbach

Report: German Health Minister Confirms Timetable For Cannabis Legalization

Written by Johnny Green on January 26, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Over the weekend a potentially significant report surfaced regarding cannabis legalization in Germany. To quickly recap how we got to where we are now, Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach presented an adult-use legalization plan to the federal cabinet back in October. Since that time, Lauterbach has lobbied the European Union for its permission to proceed with formally introducing the plan for consideration by German lawmakers. According to the report, Lauterbach is ‘certain’ that the European Union will grant its approval and that a formal introduction of the legalization measure will occur ‘in the first quarter of this year.’ Minister Lauterbach added, according to the report, that he ‘has no reason to doubt this schedule.’

Given that the better part of January 2023 is already in the history books, that means that if Minster Lauterbach’s schedule indeed proves to be accurate then Germany’s lawmakers could be considering a national adult-use legalization measure by the end of March (or sooner). Looking at it from a perspective beyond Germany’s borders, if Lauterbach is going to proceed with a formal introduction of a legalization measure with the EU’s blessing, then that logically means that other nations will presumably be able to do the same. If so, we could see the opening of the European legalization floodgates with other nations copying Germany’s model.

What Will Be Legalized In Germany?

The plan that Minister Lauterbach presented to the federal cabinet in Germany back in October was not the first version of the plan. In the days leading up to the formal presentation a reported previous version was leaked, and due to various provisions contained in the leaked plan, public outcry was swift. The outcry was largely directed at the initial possession limit (20 grams), an age-tiered THC percentage cap (10-15% depending on age), and the initial cultivation limit (2 plants).

What was ultimately presented to the federal cabinet involved somewhat vague language, in that the possession limit was raised to ’20-30 grams’ and that there would be ‘further examination’ as to whether there would at least be THC percentage caps for consumers 18-20 years old. The home cultivation limit was raised in the federal cabinet presentation compared to the leaked version of the plan, from 2 plants up to 3 plants per adult household.

One of the most significant components of the plan presented to the federal cabinet was the intention to launch a legal national adult-use cannabis industry in Germany. Right now, the only country that permits sales of non-THC capped cannabis products nationwide to anyone of legal age, including nonresidents, is Canada. Uruguay allows sales to residents, and Malta is in the process of setting up regulated non-profit clubs. No other country permits legal sales of non-THC capped cannabis products nationwide, and given how much larger Germany’s population, economy, and level of tourism is compared to Canada’s, the launch of a regulated national adult-use market in Germany will be a very big deal.

Limitations Of Germany’s Model

Germany’s legalization model is not perfect for various reasons, not the least of which is that it is yet to be approved, codified, and implemented. After all, politics can be full of twists and turns, and until a legalization measure becomes the law of the land in Germany there’s always the possibility that provisions could be changed and/or that the process itself could stall. We have already witnessed Lauterbach’s legalization plan evolve, and technically he has yet to reveal what, if any, changes were made as part of gaining approval from the European Union.

Part of the report that surfaced over the weekend described Minister Lauterbach as planning to present a ‘very good solution’ for German lawmakers to consider. Obviously, that is not the same as saying outright that the European Union didn’t demand any changes to Germany’s previously presented approach. If the changes are seen as regressive to some lawmakers in Germany, it’s virtually guaranteed that there will be pushback.

One huge limitation that seems to already be agreed upon by Minister Lauterbach and the EU is that all cannabis for Germany’s eventual adult-use market has to be produced domestically in order for Germany to be in compliance with treaties. While we will all have to wait and see how it plays out, I am of the opinion that supply shortages are going to be common due to this limitation. I have no doubt that German cultivators will do their best to produce as much cannabis as legally possible, however, they won’t just be supplying Germany. People from all over the world are going to flock to Germany to partake in the new freedoms. How great the demand for legal cannabis will be in Germany once sales are permitted is tough to say, but I think it’s a safe bet that it’s going to be enormous, and that may create issues.

5 Reasons To Attend An International Cannabis Business Conference Event In Europe

Written by Johnny Green on January 26, 2023. Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy, Science.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is the world’s leading cannabis industry and policy event series. Below is a list of reasons why you should attend an upcoming event, including our B2B event in Barcelona in March, and our series’ flagship event in Berlin in June.

1. A Truly Global Following

The legal cannabis industry is spreading across the world which is creating unique business opportunities at the continental and global levels. It also creates many additional hurdles, not the least of which is effectively networking with people that are often located on the other side of the planet. The International Cannabis Business Conference makes effective networking significantly easier for attendees, with entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and industry service providers from over 80 different countries having attended past events.

2. Timely Information

The emerging cannabis industry is evolving at a faster pace and in more significant ways than any other large industry on earth. Just as laws are being reformed on a seemingly rolling basis in many parts of the world, so too are the regulations that govern the legal cannabis industry. Knowing the right information, and equally important knowing it in a timely fashion, can literally be the difference between a company succeeding or failing in the cannabis space. The International Cannabis Business Conference gathers true experts and leaders from around the globe so that attendees can learn the best and latest information straight from the individuals and entities that are on the frontlines of cannabis policy and industry.

3. Emerging Technologies

The International Cannabis Business Conference has debuted a number of emerging cannabis technologies, including technology related to cultivation and consumption. Every event for several years has featured exhibitors and speakers that are innovating the cannabis world for consumers, patients, and businesses. Being that the International Cannabis Business Conference has a truly global following, inventors and researchers from around the planet know that the best way to get their idea, concept, and/or findings on the world stage is to bring it to an International Cannabis Business Conference event.

4. Amazing Venues

Part of what makes the International Cannabis Business Conference events so special is where they are held. With people traveling to the events from the far reaches of the planet, International Cannabis Business Conference events double as a world class travel experience for many attendees, with the conference locations being recognized internationally as some of the top venues on earth. It’s one of the many reasons why the International Cannabis Business Conference experience is unparalleled.

5. Entertainment in Addition to Education

Anyone that has ever attended an International Cannabis Business Conference event will likely be quick to tell you how amazing the conference after-parties are. In addition to bringing in world class speakers and exhibitors, the International Cannabis Business Conference events also provide attendees with an opportunity to be entertained by renowned international musicians. Attendees can use the opportunity to unwind after listening to presentations and networking all day, or they can continue their conversations in a more relaxed setting. No other cannabis conference series provides the same level of entertainment value as the International Cannabis Business Conference.

Another UK Study Finds THC/CBD Reduces Seizure Frequency In Children With Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy

Written by Johnny Green on January 23, 2023. Posted in Science.

Making healthcare decisions for a child is not an easy thing, as many factors have to be weighed and considered, not the least of which is the safety of the medicine/treatment. Being that children are still developing, special safety considerations have to be made.

Another major factor is the efficacy of the medicine and/or treatment. Many treatment regimens are perfectly safe in certain conditions, however, some parents experience cases in which their child’s condition is treatment-resistant. When that happens, parents have few places to turn, particularly from a safety standpoint.

One condition that results in cases of treatment-resistance in children is epilepsy. Fortunately, studies are finding that the cannabis plant may be able to help, including a recent study out of the United Kingdom. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: The daily administration of cannabis products is associated with reductions in seizure frequency among children with treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE), according to observational trial data published in the journal Neuropediatrics.

British investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of cannabis-derived products in 35 patients diagnosed with pediatric epilepsy. Study subjects were participants in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, and each of them possessed a doctor’s authorization to consume cannabis. Study participants consumed either CBD-dominant extract oils or a combination therapy containing both CBD and THC.

Researchers reported that over 90 percent of subjects treated with the combination therapy experienced a ≥50 percent reduction in seizure frequency at six months, whereas fewer than one-third of patients receiving CBD-only products did so. Investigators said that cannabis products exhibited an acceptable short-term safety profile in this patient cohort.

“The results show a promising signal toward the effectiveness of CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products] in children with TRE, particularly in the cohort of patients treated with delta-9-THC,” the authors concluded. They added: “The short term adverse effects appear well tolerated, but the long-term effects of CBMPs on neurodevelopment are still unknown. The results from this study could be utilized in the design of future phase II randomized controlled trials, particularly for dosing regimens.”

Subjects enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry who were diagnosed with a variety of other conditions, including post-traumatic stress, depression, and inflammatory bowel disease, have also demonstrated symptomatic improvements following cannabis therapy.

Survey data from Canada estimates that as many as one-third of epileptic patients consume cannabis products therapeutically.

In 2018, regulators with the United States Food and Drug Administration granted market approval for the plant-derived CBD prescription drug Epidiolex in the treatment of two rare forms of pediatric epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Dravet syndrome. The drug is categorized as a Schedule V controlled substance. In 2020, FDA regulators expanded the prescription use of Epidiolex to patients with the genetic disorder tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Full text of the study, “Clinical outcomes of children treated with cannabis based medicinal products for treatment resistant epilepsy: Analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry,” appears in Neuropediatrics. Additional information on cannabis and epilepsy is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

Legalization Delays Are Causing Confusion In Luxembourg

Written by Johnny Green on January 23, 2023. Posted in Policy.

At one point in time, towards the end of the last decade, Luxembourg seemed to be a sure bet to become the first country in Europe to pass a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. After all, a coalition agreement included the reform.

Unfortunately, time has proven that agreement’s legalization provision to be essentially worthless, as it’s now the year 2023 and Luxembourg doesn’t appear to be trending towards legalization any time soon. While other countries on the continent are moving in the right direction, particularly Germany, Luxembourg’s reform efforts seem to be frozen in time.

Being that the government previously touted its legalization plans to such a significant degree, delays in legalization actually happening is resulting in confusion among the nation’s citizens, and recently the nation’s Minister of Health expressed doubts that legalization would happen at all under the current legislature. Per L’Essentiel (translated to English):

On Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Paulette Lenert, admitted that everything may not be voted on under this legislature . Three stages are planned: personal cultivation (four plants authorized), professional production and finally sale of recreational cannabis. “For now, I see this legislation as a total failure. It’s legal, no it’s not… People are all confused,” says Flo, who points out that four plants, depending on the THC level (with psychoactive effects) or the size of the pot used, “that means everything and nothing”.

That is far from an encouraging tone from Luxembourg’s Health Minister. There appears to be no timetable for consideration for any of the three stages mentioned, let alone implementation. Meanwhile, Luxembourg’s neighbor Germany is expected to see a legalization measure formally introduced this year, with sales possibly beginning in 2024.

Malta has already passed an adult-use legalization measure, and applications for non-profit cannabis clubs are expected to start rolling in next month. As legalization continues to spread across the continent, the pressure will continue to build around Luxembourg’s lawmakers, and it’s a safe assumption that their continued foot-dragging will becoming increasingly scrutinized by the citizenry.

What’s Really Going On With Cannabis In Spain?

Written by Johnny Green on January 23, 2023. Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy, Science.

Cannabis consumers and patients live in some truly amazing times in many parts of the world thanks to the tireless efforts of cannabis activists in those jurisdictions. The hard work and sacrifice of activists has helped topple cannabis prohibition policies in many areas across the globe, and consumers and patients are benefitting from freedoms that should have never been taken away in the first place.

When it comes to the consumer experience in particular, Spain likely tops the list of ‘best places on earth to consume cannabis.’ Part of that is due to the quality of cannabis that can be fairly easy to obtain in many cities in Spain, particularly in Barcelona. The Moroccan hash that is for sale at nearly every reputable club in Barcelona is as good or better than anything you will find anywhere else on earth, other than in Morocco, obviously.

The other major factor contributing to Spain’s unparalleled consumer experience is the nation’s clubs. When most people outside of Spain think of the nation’s cannabis scene, clubs are likely the first thing that comes to mind, and rightfully so. Whereas cannabis communities in many other countries are just starting to explore the concept of social cannabis use, Spain seems to have already largely perfected it.

Very few things yield as much of a ‘fear of missing out’ reaction from cannabis enthusiasts as seeing images and videos from a Spanish club on a busy day. To say that it looks like everyone is having a good time is a major understatement.

With all of that being said, Spain still has a lot of roadblocks and hurdles to overcome on the public policy side of the equation, as there’s a fairly substantial disconnect between the nation’s cannabis policies and the reality of what is actually occurring on the ground.

That disconnect can make it tough to know what is really going on in Spain right now, and equally important, where things are likely headed in the near future. To get the real scoop we reached out to Bernardo Soriano Guzmán of S & F Abogados. S & F Abogados is Spain’s leading law firm specializing in cannabis.

Bernardo explained that there are three fronts in the effort to reform the nation’s cannabis laws in ways that will help ensure that the nation’s industry will thrive – adult-use cannabis, medicinal cannabis, and industrial cannabis.

“During this legislative term, four laws have been presented in the Congress and Senate to regulate adult-use cannabis. One of them has been drafted by S&F Lawyers along with other collaborators. A law that fully regulates the production and distribution cycle of cannabis and non-psychoactive cannabis.” Bernardo Soriano Guzmán explained.

“Despite this intense legislative activity, none of the laws currently have the necessary majority for approval. So, without a doubt, this electoral year that we begin, the regulation of cannabis will be an important point in the political programs and possible electoral alliances for the formation of the next government of Spain, as has happened in Germany in 2021 with the coalition of the traffic light.” he went on to say.

” Last year 2021, a resolution in the form of a report of conclusions was approved in the Congress of Spain to give access to patients of medicinal cannabis. This report is pending to be implemented once the Spanish Medicines and Health Products Agency (AEMPS) proposes how to do it. The regulation proposed is quite restricted to strictly pharmaceutical channels, with flowers of cannabis not having a predominant role, rather finished products and magistral formulas.” Bernardo stated in regards to medical cannabis in Spain.

“Self-cultivation for medicinal use is also not allowed. Additionally in Spain for years licenses for research and production of medicinal cannabis have been granted, a total of 21 licenses having been granted to date December 2022.” he concluded about current medical cannabis policy and regulations in Spain.

“The position of the Spanish authorities is very restrictive beyond the classic industrial uses of hemp (production of fiber and seeds). The use of hemp flowers is prohibited, even for the extraction of unregulated cannabinoids (Cannabidiol, cannabigerol, cannabidiol…).” Guzmán stated about industrial cannabis in Spain.

“This situation has generated a multitude of proceedings in the courts that have made the Supreme Court recently confirm in a ruling the restrictive vision of the Spanish authorities. This situation clashes quite with the wave of positive changes regarding hemp that are taking place in Europe, especially as a result of the position of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Countries such as France which recently, in a completely contrary line to that of the Spanish authorities, has finally authorized the use of hemp flowers for all uses.” he concluded.

Bernardo Soriano Guzmán will serve as the moderator for the ‘Squaring The Circle Of Industrial Hemp In Spain’ panel at the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference in Barcelona, taking place on March 9th as part of a super-event collaboration with Spannabis.

Early bird ticket pricing expires on February 15th.

Case Series Demonstrates Cannabis’ Effectiveness At Treating Borderline Personality Disorder

Written by Johnny Green on January 23, 2023. Posted in Science.

Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health condition that significantly impacts the way sufferers think and feel about themselves and the world around them. Examples of the negative impact that the condition can have include self-esteem issues, difficulty managing feelings and actions, and a pattern of being involved in unstable relationships.

Borderline personality disorder can involve a big fear of abandonment, and patients may have difficulty being alone, which can be particularly difficult given the fact that the condition often results in people not wanting to be around the patient due to their condition.

The condition usually starts during early adulthood, although a diagnosis could happen at any time during the person’s life. Fortunately, a growing body of evidence is demonstrating that the cannabis plant may be able to help treat the condition.

Below is more information about a recent study from the United Kingdom which presents a recent example of the promising area of research per a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: The use of cannabis products containing THC and CBD are safe and effective in mitigating symptoms in patients diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), according to a case series reported in the journal Brain Sciences. Emotionally unstable personality disorder (a/k/a borderline personality disorder) is a common mental health disorder associated with a range of chronic and debilitating symptoms, including impaired social functioning, unstable mood, and risky, impulsive, or self-injurious behavior.

An international team of researchers assessed the use of cannabis products in a cohort of seven EUPD patients. Subjects consumed products containing both THC and CBD in varying ratios for one month.

Six of the seven participants reported “an improvement in symptoms,” and “none of the participants reported any adverse side effects.”

The study’s authors concluded: “To our knowledge, this case series represents the first medical evidence of the use of CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products] for the clinical management of patients with a diagnosis of EUPD. … [O]ur results suggest that, when deployed in a rigorously controlled clinical environment, CBMPs can provide substantial improvement in symptoms associated with EUPD thus warranting the need for further research on this therapeutic strategy.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabis based medicinal products in the management of emotionally unstable personality disorder: A narrative review and case series,” appears in Brain Sciences.