Author: Johnny Green

Nearly 90% Of Thailand Cannabis Stores Expected To Close

Written by Johnny Green on July 12, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

At the start of this year, Thailand was one of the top legal cannabis markets on the planet, becoming so after a landmark policy change a few years ago. In 2022, Thailand made history by becoming the first country in the Southeast Asia region to modernize its cannabis policies and remove cannabis from its narcotics list.

Unfortunately, the glory days of Thailand’s modern cannabis industry appear to be over, at least for now.

“The new regulations – set to be enforced by the end of the year – would leave about 2,000 of Thailand’s estimated 18,000 cannabis shops in operation, a Ministry of Public Health official said on Tuesday.” reported South China Morning Post this week in its original coverage.

“Cannabis was officially designated a “controlled herb” in June, under an order signed by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. The reclassification means the plant can now only be used with a licensed medical prescription, and all professionals authorised to prescribe it must undergo training approved by the health ministry.” the outlet also reported.

Some international cannabis media coverage has framed the recent public policy changes in Thailand as ‘proof that Thailand’s cannabis industry experiment did not work as designed.’ However, a basic review of Thailand’s approach in the last few years demonstrates that the industry did work as designed by the last government, and that recent changes are actually the result of a new government taking control of the country.

Thailand’s historic cannabis policy shift in 2022 was designed to pave the way for the nation’s emerging cannabis industry to become a regional and international cannabis industry leader. Every household in the entire country could sign up initially to legally cultivate low-THC cannabis plants, which a reported 1.1 million citizens of Thailand had done at one point.

During Thailand’s historic change in 2022, the nation’s Public Health Minister indicated that there would be no plant limit for the government’s cannabis cultivation program. Thailand’s government also gave away over 1 million cannabis seeds directly to households that signed up for the program.

A broad spectrum of government agencies in Thailand agreed to do their part to push the nation’s emerging cannabis industry forward. Researchers estimated at the time that Thailand’s 2022 policy change would result in roughly 12,000 cannabis dispensaries opening nationwide. As we now know, the number ended up being around 18,000 dispensaries by 2025.

All cannabis sales in Thailand will eventually require a medical prescription, and retailers will be required to have an on-site licensed medical professional at every location. All cannabis products in Thailand will be required to be sourced from licensed suppliers and undergo rigorous testing for contaminants.

In addition to requiring tailored training for all cannabis-prescribing medical professionals, all staffers at the nation’s remaining cannabis dispensaries will also have to complete a required training. An estimated 100,000 dispensary staffers are expected to take the necessary training once it is offered.

Study Finds Hemp Flour May Be Good For Gluten-Free Baking

Written by Johnny Green on July 11, 2025. Posted in Science.

Multiple conditions can contribute to a person being gluten intolerant, with a common one being celiac disease. Gluten sensitivity and wheat intolerance are two other contributing health factors resulting in a person needing to avoid consuming gluten.

Celiac disease is a serious digestive and immune disorder that damages the small intestine of people who suffer from it. International researchers estimate that as much as 1% of the world’s population has been diagnosed with celiac disease, although it often goes untreated around the globe, particularly in developing countries.

Gluten intolerance has given rise to an international industry for gluten-free foods, particularly baked goods. Grand View Research estimates that “the global gluten-free products market size was estimated at USD 7.75 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 13.67 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.0% from 2025 to 2030.”

Hemp flour is naturally gluten-free, and according to the results of a recent study, it may be a great ingredient for baked goods. Italian researchers affiliated with the University of Calabria examined hemp flour in baked goods, and their findings were published in the academic journal Molecules.

“This study focused on optimizing CBD oil extraction from hemp inflorescences and its incorporation into a gluten-free bakery product for functionalization. Dynamic maceration (DME), assisted by ultrasound and microwave irradiation, was used.” the researchers wrote.

“Our study explored the impact of varying sonication times (three distinct durations) and microwave powers (three levels, applied for two different irradiation times) on the resulting extracts. HPLC analysis was performed on these extracts. Subsequently, we used hemp flour and hemp oil to bake gluten-free cupcakes, which were fortified with the extracted CBD oil.” the researchers also wrote.

“The most effective extraction parameters identified were 30 s of microwave irradiation at 700 W, yielding 45.2 ± 2.0 g of CBD extract, and 15 min of sonication, which resulted in 53.2 ± 2.5 g. Subsequent rheological characterization indicated that the product exhibited mechanical properties and a temperature profile comparable to a benchmark, evidenced by a height of 4.1 ± 0.2 cm and a hardness of 1.9 ± 0.2 N.” the researchers found.

“These promising values demonstrate that hemp oil and hemp flour are viable ingredients for traditional cakes and desserts, notably contributing increased nutritional value through the CBD-enriched hemp oil and the beneficial profile of hemp flour.” the researchers concluded.

Kazakhstan Passports To Be Made From Industrial Hemp

Written by Johnny Green on July 11, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Humans making useful materials that incorporated the hemp plant was a very common practice by humans for thousands of years. For example, ancient Mesopotamian society used hemp as an input for fabric, going as far back as 8,000 BCE.

Hemp was also used for making rope in Kazakhstan in 3,000 BCE, based on archeological research, and hemp will reportedly be used for making passports in modern-day Kazakhstan. A draft industrial hemp law was submitted to the nation’s parliament earlier this year and eventually signed into law by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

“Kazakhstan will begin producing high-security paper from domestically cultivated industrial hemp, which will be used in the manufacture of passports and national ID cards, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has announced.” reported The Times of Central Asia in its original reporting.

“The main product will be high-security paper, which is a valuable export commodity used for the production of identification documents such as passports and other special forms,” Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov said, according to the reporting. “The range of products being considered by the investor is wide. Market demand will be taken into account, and we believe all the output will go for export.”

Hemp can be cultivated easily in the Kazakhstan region, although what will be produced according to the new law must meet a THC harvest threshold of .3%. THC threshold standards for industrial hemp vary around the world, ranging from .3% to 2%.

According to a recent market analysis conducted by Fact.MR, “worldwide sales of industrial hemp are estimated to reach US$ 25.7 billion by 2034. The market is analyzed to further expand at a CAGR of 14.5% from 2024 to 2034.” Although it is worth noting that many other projections place the global value of the industrial hemp market at an even greater total.

The government in Kazakhstan has reportedly already issued industrial hemp production licenses, with the North Kazakhstan Region being identified as the top area of the country for such activity.

Members Of European Parliament Push For Hemp Legal Framework

Written by Johnny Green on July 11, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Hemp policies and regulations in Europe have historically been a patchwork of sorts, and that patchwork has resulted in a considerable amount of confusion and conflict. Arguably, the most noteworthy example of that can be found in Italy, where domestic lawmakers have adopted hemp policies that directly conflict with European Union policies.

Last month, lawmakers in Italy passed a ‘security decree’ measure that bans all processing, distribution, trade, and transport of ‘cultivated hemp inflorescences.’ Italy’s cannabis light sector currently employs an estimated 22,000 people.

The lack of harmonized continental hemp rules and regulations has created a lot of headaches for Europe’s industry members, including Europe’s farmers who want to cultivate a crop that is experiencing increased demand in Europe and around the world. A group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is pushing for a legal framework to provide farmers with more certainty.

“Agriculture-focused MEPs are throwing their weight behind a push to secure EU rules on the cultivation of non-intoxicating cannabis – a move aimed at bypassing national restrictions on the taboo crop.” reported Euractiv in its original coverage.

“The European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee (AGRI) backed the move in its position on the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), adopted on Monday. Even though the demand on the European Commission isn’t binding, the text urges the executive to set an EU-wide classification for industrial hemp limiting tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive component in cannabis – to a maximum of 0.5%.” the outlet also reported.

Maximum THC thresholds for hemp production vary around the globe, ranging from .2% THC to 2%. Exceeding a THC threshold for hemp harvests can result in farmers losing entire crops, which is obviously not optimal.

A better regulatory concept that was proposed by leading hemp expert Morris Beagle, President of We Are For Better Alternatives, during a panel discussion at the recent International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin is to enforce a THC limit at the product level.

Rather than place the burden of meeting a THC limit on farmers, which is not an easy standard to meet given all of the variables involved, the burden to meet a THC threshold limit would instead be placed on product makers, which is considerably easier for them to do comparatively.

The push by members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee may not be binding, but it is still a welcome endorsement for an industry that is trying to strike the right balance between addressing reasonable concerns and being able to operate in an environment that isn’t constantly shifting.

Switzerland To Open Consultation On Cannabis Legalization

Written by Johnny Green on July 9, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Back in February of this year, Switzerland’s Social Security and Health Committee of the National Council gave preliminary approval to an adult-use cannabis legalization plan by a 14-9 vote. The successful committee vote started Switzerland on a path to modernize its national recreational cannabis laws, potentially.

“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 at the time.

The Swiss government is reportedly continuing to move forward with the proposal, recently announcing that it is set to open up a public consultation period to allow people and entities to weigh in on the proposal.

“The legalization of cannabis in Switzerland has reached a new milestone. Last Friday, the Health Committee of the Swiss National Council (SGK-N) approved a bill that provides for strictly regulated access to cannabis for adults. This lays the foundation for a possible legalization of cannabis, with a focus on public health and youth prevention.” reported Cannabis Industrie in its original coverage (translated to English).

“The legalization of cannabis plays a central role in this bill, which will be submitted for consultation at the end of August. Civil society organizations, government bodies, and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to voice their opinions until November.” the outlet also wrote.

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

Currently, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Czech Republic have all approved national adult-use cannabis legalization measures in Europe, with Czechia’s legalization law set to take effect on January 1st, 2026. Additionally, Uruguay, Canada, and South Africa have also adopted national recreational cannabis legalization measures.

Accessing Financial Services In The Emerging Global Cannabis Industry

Written by Johnny Green on July 6, 2025. Posted in Business.

As the emerging global cannabis industry continues to expand in size and scope, the need for sufficient access to international financial services continues to grow with it. Cannabis companies at all levels need access to financial services to effectively operate, including access to banking, payment processing, and investment services.

The legal cannabis industry has made some strides on the financial services front in recent years. However, many hurdles and challenges remain, and entrepreneurs, investors, and industry service providers need to know the best practices and strategies for overcoming the unique financial system obstacles involved.

At the recent International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, a team of leading industry experts discussed this topic on a panel titled ‘The High Cost of Compliance.’ The panel was moderated by attorney Daniel Haymann of MME Legal. Mr. Haymann was joined by:

Gašper Friškovec, CCO of The Talman Group
John Fowler, President of Muskoka Grown Limited
Erin Butler, CFO of Global Cannabis Exchange LTD
Ricardo Geada, Director of Regulatory Solutions at Lawrence Stephens
Sigfried Legeay, CFO and Co-Founder of Canxchange

You can view the panel discussion via this link here.

Study Determines Best Practices For Cannabis Oil Production

Written by Johnny Green on July 6, 2025. Posted in Business, Science.

Cannabis products and consumption methods come in many forms these days, with cannabis oil being a particularly popular one. Cannabis oil is versatile in several ways, not the least of which is its versatility from the perspective of international transportation.

Oil typically has a longer shelf life compared to raw flower and takes up much less space when being transported. At the most basic level, cannabis in oil form allows companies to ship far more cannabinoids to far-off destinations than if they were to ship raw flower to be processed at their final destination. That is an important factor for an industry that continues to go global.

Additionally, many governments seem to prefer cannabis oil products over other medical cannabis products for various reasons, as reflected by the rules and regulations currently in place in many legal medical cannabis markets. Patient testimonials highlight that cannabis oil is an effective form of consumption.

Earlier this week, SOMAÍ, a leading EU-GMP-certified vertically integrated Multi-Country Operator (MCO) specializing in cannabinoid-based medicines, in collaboration with Lusófona University, the largest Portuguese private university and the main institution of Grupo Lusófona, published a groundbreaking peer-reviewed paper titled “Process Development for GMP-Grade Full Extract Cannabis Oil: Towards Standardized Medicinal Use.”

Key findings from the collaborative study, which showcases the best practices for cannabis oil production, include:

Deep-cooled ethanol extraction and purification preserve the native cannabinoid and terpene profile of the plant throughout the production process
Improvements in taste, color, and overall appearance make these preparations more tolerable and effective for patients
Terpene fingerprint from the flower is remarkably preserved and can be controlled for reintroduction, emphasizing that terpene formulation is a science, not guesswork

“This paper underscores SOMAÍ’s scientific leadership in the cannabis pharmaceutical industry,” said Michael Sassano, Founder and Interim CEO of SOMAÍ. “Our study demonstrates that full-spectrum cannabis formulations can be scientifically structured, reproducible, and pharmaceutically precise—dispelling the misconception that full-spectrum must mean uncontrolled or inconsistent.”

“This research is a step forward in establishing scientific rigor within the medical cannabis field,” said Professor Maria do Céu Costa of Lusófona University. “Our findings show that with the right methodology, it is possible to preserve the integrity of the plant while achieving consistency, safety, and improved patient acceptance. It’s a meaningful contribution to both science and therapeutic innovation.”

“Unlike unrefined crude extracts or formulations created without standardized methodology, SOMAÍ’s approach is rooted in pharmaceutical science and controlled processes. This ensures a consistent cannabinoid and terpene profile that meets rigorous regulatory requirements while enhancing both the therapeutic efficacy and patient experience.” the company stated in a press release about their cannabis oil production.

A recent market analysis conducted by DataM Intelligence 4 Market Research LLP found that the “global hemp extracts market reached US$ 3.81 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 6.75 billion by 2032, growing with a CAGR of 7.41% during the forecast period 2025-2032.”

Poland Study Finds That Hemp Seed Oil Mitigates Eczema Symptoms

Written by Johnny Green on July 5, 2025. Posted in Science.

According to international health researchers, atopic dermatitis, often referred to as eczema, affects roughly 20% of children and 10% of adults worldwide. Full disclosure – I am one of those adults, and know firsthand how difficult eczema is to deal with when it flares up.

Eczema is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition, and while that may not sound like a serious condition, it can be in extreme cases. The skin condition is often associated with sleep disruption, decreased work productivity, and the development of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

A recent case study led by researchers based in Poland, in conjunction with a researcher affiliated with De Montfort University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, focused on the use of hemp seed oil as a treatment for eczema. The study’s findings were published in the journal Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences.

“Epidemiological studies conducted over the past 35 years indicate a 2-fold rise in incidence, linked to environmental factors, among others, growing atmospheric pollution, rising socioeconomic status and increasing popularity of the so called western lifestyle.” the researchers wrote. “Emollient therapy is the mainstay of proper skincare and treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) patients.”

“The subject of the study was transdermal delivery of an emulsion compounded with cholesterol ointment, Cannabis Sativa L. (hemp) seed oil, white petroleum jelly, purified water and urea to the skin of hands of a 23-year old male patient suffering atopic dermatitis (eczema) since infancy.” the researchers wrote about their methodology. “The emulsion was applied to the skin once daily before sleep and covered with cotton gloves for the night for the occlusion effect for a period of 3 months.”

“In our observational study, regular, 3-month application of the emulsion based on Cannabis Sativa L. oil considerably reduced inflammation, erythema, pruritus, xerosis and scaling of the skin, soothing excoriations and lichenification.” the researchers concluded.

A recent market analysis by Future Market Insights estimates that the global hemp seed oil market is “valued at USD 147.8 million in 2025, is expected to climb to USD 855.7 million by 2035, showcasing a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.2% during the forecast period.”

UK Announces Updates To CBD Novel Foods Approval Process

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

A growing body of peer-reviewed scientific research and consumer and patient testimonials has demonstrated that cannabidiol (CBD) is safe for human consumption, and in many cases, that CBD provides several wellness benefits.

Unfortunately, governments and public policies are often not on the same page as researchers, consumers, and patients. Various governments around the world either still prohibit CBD products or greatly hinder their legal availability.

One government that has notably moved slowly on modernizing CBD policies and regulations is the United Kingdom, although regulators in the UK did recently announce some changes and upcoming timelines pertaining to CBD products.

“The changes, published today, encourage businesses to meet a CBD provisional acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 10 mg per day of CBD (equivalent to 0.15 mg/kg of body weight per day of CBD for a 70kg adult) and the THC safe upper limit of 0.07 mg THC per day (equivalent to 1 µg/kg of body weight per day of THC for a 70kg adult).” the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency stated earlier this week in a news alert.

“The safe upper limit for THC has been agreed based on advice from our independent scientific advisory committees (Opens in a new window), also published today.” the government agency also wrote in its news release.

There are CBD companies in the United Kingdom who were in the middle of the process of gaining government approval to bring their products to the marketplace. Those companies are being afforded the opportunity to reformulate their products in an effort to bring them into compliance with the updated limits.

“The change to guidance encourages compliance with novel food regulations while prioritising public health. Allowing businesses to reformulate their products at this stage will make the authorisation process more efficient, while consumers will benefit from safer CBD products on the market.” stated the UK Food Standards Agency.

“Our pragmatic approach allows businesses to do the right thing for consumer safety while progressing towards full regulatory compliance. This flexibility creates a clearer path forward for CBD businesses while ensuring products meet our safety standards.” said Thomas Vincent of the Food Standards Agency.

A recent market analysis by The Research Insights estimates that “the global cannabidiol market size is projected to be valued at USD 9.14 billion in 2024 and reach USD 22.05 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.8%.”