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Ten New German Government Positions For Cannabis Legalization Announced

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Policy.

The government has budgeted ten new positions to oversee the legalization of cannabis

If there is a “sure thing” in the world of German politics, it is when budgets are involved in pending policy. That is why, given all such signs this spring, cannabis legalization is pretty much assured – even if the details are not.

Earlier this spring, the Bundestag budget committee threatened the Ministry of Health that it would withhold its PR budget if a passable bill were not introduced by this summer. Now it appears there is even more movement on the fiscal side of things. Namely, during federal budget discussions, ten positions have been funded to oversee the process of legalization. Two are within BfArM – the medicines and medical devices agency that currently oversees the medical market – and eight are within the Ministry of Health.

In doing so, Germany seems to be taking a page out of the Canadian model to date. Currently the government’s “Cannabis Agency” is located within BfArM. However, this agency is an “independent authority” within the Ministry of Health’s “portfolio.” The Cannabis Agency was set up in 2017 as the government authorized the cultivation of medical cannabis domestically and then launched a tender bid for licenses for the same.

The process was also an almost complete disaster. The issued bid was for a tender that was too small for demand, and lawsuits dragged the selection process out for almost two years.

At least this time, the government is not making noises about excluding German citizens and firms from the process.

What To Expect

While details so far have been missing in action, there are a few developments which seem assured. The first is that private dispensaries will be licensed – and the people who run them trained in basic narcotics handling techniques. Whether dispensary employees will have to go through some kind of pharmacy training does not seem so outlandish.

The second thing to expect is that this process is going to be highly bureaucratic – and if the medical tender was any indication – may end up in court. There are several reasons for this, starting with the possibility that the first domestic cultivators and distributors for the recreational market will be drawn from the ranks of those who already have licenses.

If this is the case, there is also every possibility that the entire process will be sued again – starting with challenges under anti-monopoly legislation.

Regardless, there is perhaps one sure thing in all of this. Expect the unexpected. More developments soon.

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CBD-Rich Cannabis Extracts Are Safe For Pediatric Autism Patients According To Brazilian Study

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the subject of a growing number of studies as researchers and medical professionals continue to work to unlock the healing properties of the cannabinoid.

One condition that researchers seem to be focusing on more and more is autism. CBD is thought to be able to effectively treat autism, including among younger patients.

Researchers in Brazil recently conducted a study that looked specifically at CBD’s safety as it pertains to pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

João Pessoa, Brazil: The administration of CBD-rich cannabis extracts is safe and effective in mitigating symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial data published in the journal Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.

Brazilian researchers evaluated the use of CBD extracts versus placebo in 60 children (ages 5 to 11) with ASD over a 12-week period.

Compared to the placebo group, subjects receiving CBD extracts experienced significant improvements in their ability to engage in social interactions. They also experienced reduced anxiety and agitation. Only a minority of subjects administered CBD exhibited adverse events, namely dizziness and insomnia.

The study’s findings are consistent with those of other trials similarly reporting improvements in patients’ ASD symptoms following their use of cannabinoid products. Survey data published in October by the publication Autism Parenting Magazine reported that 22 percent of US caregivers or parents have provided CBD to an autistic child. Survey data from the United Kingdom recently reported that autistic adults were nearly four times as likely as controls to report having used CBD within the past year.

Full text of the study, “Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of cannabidiol-rich cannabis extract in children with autism spectrum disorder: Randomized, double-blind and controlled placebo clinical trial,” appears inTrends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. Additional information on cannabis and ASD is available from NORML.

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One In Five Canadian Arthritis Patients Acknowledge Using Medical Cannabis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

It is estimated that as many as 350 million people around the globe suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is defined as painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints.

The condition is particularly prevalent in North America. In the United States alone it is estimated that 1 out of every 4 adults suffers from arthritis to some degree, with some cases being extreme.

More and more arthritis patients are turning to the cannabis plant for relief, as demonstrated by the results of a recent study in Canada. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Ontario: Arthritis patients frequently reported consuming cannabis for symptomatic relief, according to survey data published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.

A team of Canadian investigators surveyed 799 patients at eight rheumatology clinics in Ontario. (Cannabis is legal in Canada for both medical purposes and for adults.)

Just over 20 percent of those surveyed acknowledged either having consumed cannabis within the past two years or being current users of cannabis products. Compared to non-users, those who consumed cannabis were more likely to be younger and were more likely to report suffering from severe pain.

Cannabis consumers reported using it to treat pain, anxiety, and to promote sleep. Seventy-eight percent of them reported medical cannabis to be “at least somewhat effective” at mitigating their symptoms.

The study’s findings are consistent with French survey data, published in 2021, which reported that “nearly 20 percent of patients suffering from rheumatologic diseases actively consume cannabis.”

Longitudinal data published in April reported that osteoarthritis patients decrease their daily opioid intake and experience improvements in their overall quality of life following the initiation of medical cannabis therapy. Authors of the study concluded: “Our findings indicate that providing access to MC [medical cannabis], helps patients with chronic pain due to OA [osteoarthritis] reduce their levels of opioid usage in addition to improving pain and QoL [quality of life]. Furthermore, a majority of patients did not feel intoxicated or high from MC, and of those who did, only a small percentage said it interfered with their daily activities. … Our findings support the literature in that MC reduces the use of opioids for the treatment of chronic pain.”

Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis use by rheumatology patients in routine clinical care: Results from the Ontario Best Practices Research Initiative,” appears in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. Additional information on cannabis and rheumatoid arthritis is available from NORML.

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The Pending Spanish Paradox

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Policy.

The Spanish government is finally voting to legalize medical cannabis at the end of June – but only for exporting cultivators

The land of the cannabis club is moving forward, albeit frustratingly, on medical cannabis reform. Namely, if everything goes as planned, the Spanish government will finally vote to legalize the cultivation of medical cannabis at the end of June. Further, they will also issue (more) licenses for EU GMP cultivation. There are currently four – and the Spanish authorities have steadfastly refused to issue any more for the past five years (at least in the past) citing concerns that they will just be resold.

It would appear those days are over. However, the basic rules for the market will remain the same. Firms may be able to gain cultivation licenses more easily, but everything they grow they must export.

That is not a real change from the status quo now. In fact, it could be argued that this is just a federal vote to preserve the status quo.

Patient access will not be any easier – and presumably could be worse – because patients will have to go through the formal medical system – or the clubs. Cost will remain a major impediment.

Just Like Holland and Greece Used to Be

No matter how far the now pending proposals push the conversation, it is an inherently limited one. Namely, this is a cynical proposal to pass legislation that won’t change what already exists now. Cultivation licenses might be more available – but they will still only be accessible to those with the budgets to set up EU GMP facilities. And as Greece found out, setting up an infrastructure to attract foreign investment in cultivation and extraction only goes so far when the sole business model is to supply those out of the country.

In fact, it appears that Spain is currently on track to have a two-tiered production model. The pharma grade one – and the grey market one that services the clubs. This also did not work in Holland.

Why Is Spain Lagging Behind on Reform?

There is only one answer for why the Spanish government has consistently failed to forward the industry in an environment where approximately 90% of the population believes that at least medical cannabis should be legal. And that is that the government has not learned the lessons seen in other legalizing countries (even though they will be establishing a panel to explore that specifically as of the end of this month).

It is also obvious that the country is in a holding pattern – waiting for Germany to flip the switch to recreational. Once that happens, given the amount of German money in the Spanish economy, it may be that Spain will follow. They are certainly not leading.

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Ukraine Moves Closer To Legalizing Medical Cannabis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Policy.

Days ago Ukraine’s cabinet approved a draft medical cannabis bill, sending it to Parliament for consideration. Compared to other countries in the region, Ukraine has been very slow to reform its medical cannabis policies.

“The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported the bill that will regulate the circulation of cannabis plants for medical, industrial purposes, scientific and scientific-technical activities. This bill will expand patients’ access to the necessary treatment for a number of diseases, including cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder.” Ukraine’s Ministry of Health stated in a news release.

“We understand the negative consequences of war on the state of mental health. We understand the number of people who will need medical treatment as a result of this impact. And we understand that there is no time to wait. Therefore, we have already prepared a legislative basis to ensure a full cycle of cannabis-based drug production in Ukraine: from cultivation and processing to full-fledged production.” Minister of Healthcare Viktor Liashko wrote in a Facebook post about the measure.

“At the same time, we still propose to establish strict control over the cultivation, production and implementation of drugs, understanding the sensitivity of this issue in society and are ready to gradually develop this industry, showing the results of treatment and help oh to Ukrainian patients. Not to import, but to do ours, Ukrainian! Historically, cannabis-based drugs have been used to reduce pain, spasms and muscle strains, treat anorexia, PTSD, and anxiety disorders. In addition, they are used in the treatment of individual types of epilepsy, glaucoma, psoriasis, parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis. An important purpose of this medication is to alleviate the pain and suffering of seriously ill and palliative patients, including cancer patients and HIV patients.” Liashko went on to write.

According to the Ukraine Ministry of Health’s news release, the measure would ‘License economic activities for the cultivation of varieties of plants of the genus Cannabis for medical purposes’ as well as ‘authorize the cultivation of varieties of plants of the genus Cannabis for medical, industrial purposes, in scientific and scientific-technical activities.’

The measure now moves to Ukraine’s Parliament for consideration.

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The Top 10 Cannabis Economies In Europe

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Business.

Things are starting to change in a hurry on the cannabis front across the EU. Here is a brief overview of the leading cannabis countries across the region as it experiences a European “summer of cannabis love”

Things are definitely moving in Europe on the cannabis front this summer. Countries are beginning to see a post-Covid wave of enthusiasm if not continual reminders from the industry as it exists so far, to finally address lingering cannabis prohibition of both the medical and recreational kind.

Just as in the United States, where conservative states (like North Carolina) cannot deny at least medical efficacy anymore, there is a certain logic that is driving reform across Europe right now.

There has already been a raft of interesting announcements this spring – starting of course with Germany. But things are not just moving aus Deutschland.

Read on for a brief overview of the top ten cannabis countries in Europe

Germany

If there was a tipping point, it would be Germany’s to claim. The largest economy in Europe is going recreational – at least legislatively – this year. This is going to be a very interesting waterfall moment. Come 2024, at the latest, the cannabis map of Europe is going to look very different. Germany currently has three cultivators of EU GMP cannabis, scores of hemp farmers, multiple narcotics distributors, and a growing ecosystem of a country just pre-reform. Think a much higher regulated Colorado circa 2012 but with a very different sprache. It will also be in a position to rival London for fundraising – and not in Berlin but in Frankfurt. When Deutschland goes green, expect a tidal wave of reform to follow across Europe.

Holland

The land that created the eponymous symbol of reform – the coffee shop, is certainly in the heavy hitter column, no matter how many threats keep popping up to shut out tourists in Amsterdam. In the meantime, a national cultivation system that supplies such establishments outside of major cities is setting up to finally get going next year. And do not count out the country when it comes to medical cultivation – even if it is just for export.

Portugal

It looks like recreational reform is back on the national agenda after the Left Bloc raised the topic recently. The country whose world-famous laissez-faire approach to decriminalization (and copied by Oregon) is shaping up to be a major feeder market for the European medical biz. In the meantime, the calls for full reform, which were stymied last year with the fall of the old government, are clearly back on the table this summer.

Greece

Unlike their Dutch neighbours to the north, the Greeks are opening up the country to the cannabis industry because of foreign investment. It is also clear that medical tourism is going to be high on the agenda as things continue to cook. In the meantime, the country is beginning to export medical cannabis, but it is still not living up to its full potential. Give it a few summers, however, and the ability to travel, as a patient, to a warm, inviting climate where a new doctor will issue a prescription, will be understandably enticing – and to a global clientele.

Switzerland

The trial is on! Cities are continuing to announce their cannabis plans. Switzerland may be proceeding slowly and cautiously, with few participants, but right now they are the leader in rolling out a regulated industry of the recreational kind – and from scratch. Cultivation is also happening here, although it will not necessarily be the most economical export. Swiss farmers are competing against those in warmer climates – and with lower labour rates.

Italy

The country’s highest court may have blocked a referendum on reform this year, but medical cannabis cultivation is expanding, as is the hemp market. Beyond this, Italy is on the list of one of the top countries in the region to allow home grow by legislative muster. Despite being more conservative in many ways than Spain, the Italians are managing to beat them to the punch on the cannabis conversation. It may be happening in stranger ways, but right now, there is definitely a regulated industry that is popping and getting stronger.

Spain

Home of the cannabis club, Spain is teetering right now on the verge of medical reform at a federal level. It is an advancement, but there is so much more bubbling just beneath the surface. The clubs are not going to go away. The hemp industry is established. The country has pharmaceutical-grade cannabis being shipped to other European countries. It is certainly ahead of other countries, but there is a great deal of resistance to full and final reform. Don’t expect Spain to be a market leader, but rather a follower.

UK

If certain members of Parliament get their way, the UK’s CBD biz could go into overtime. The reason? The proposed elimination of Novel Food applications. In the meantime, there are close to 6,000 products on, or close to, the market. Medical cannabis cultivation and extraction projects are also underway, especially on the islands surrounding the mainland. Beyond this, the mayor of London, the country’s largest city, is loudly and internationally suggesting that, at minimum, cannabis be decriminalized in certain boroughs of London and that the police might stop racially profiling minor drug offenders. The British investment market, however, is one of the hottest in the world right now. If you are looking for financing anywhere in Europe, you cannot ignore London right now.

Luxembourg

The country’s government has been dangling recreational cannabis reform like a carrot for the last four years. With time running out on fulfilling their pledge, the country is apparently moving forward with a surprisingly conservative home grow proposal at a federal level. When Germany passes reform legislation, expect Luxembourg to be close behind. This was the pattern on the medical front too. It is a rich, but small country. Major policy changes like this are best done by larger countries in the bloc.

The Czech Republic

The CR has taken forward steps on this entire conversation consistently over the last five to seven years. Right now, medical reform is in full swing. Even more interestingly, much like Thailand, the country is more concerned with treating patients than enforcing EU GMP standards. This means that when Germany goes recreational, expect the Czechs to follow shortly thereafter.

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Germany Moving Forward With Legal Cannabis Sales Plan

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Germany’s Health Ministry announced today that it will start holding hearings tomorrow to discuss various aspects of legalizing cannabis sales for adult-use nationwide. It’s a huge announcement and moves Germany one step closer to inevitably launching legal adult-use sales nationwide.

As of right now, only one country, Canada, allows legal adult-use sales nationwide to anyone of legal age. Uruguay also has legalized cannabis for adult use, however, sales are limited to the citizens of Uruguay. Malta has also passed a legalization measure, however, Malta’s current legalization model does not permit sales.

Global Economic Powerhouse

Germany is home to the fourth-largest economy on earth, and its population is more than twice the size of Canada. It appears that, at least for the time being, when Germany launches legal adult-use sales it will be a cannabis oasis of sorts, having a virtual adult-use sales monopoly on the continent.

With that in mind, Germany’s adult-use industry will be massive and unlike anything we have ever seen in the global cannabis community. The hearings that will start tomorrow will involve hundreds of representatives from various backgrounds, including representatives from the medical and legal fields.

What Will The Hearings Involve?

Much of what will be discussed will apparently revolve around quality control and limiting youth access to cannabis, and the current plan seems to involve a comprehensive evaluation four years after the launch of sales. In total, there will be five hearings and all of them are expected to be completed by the end of this month.

What is eventually discussed at the hearings will then be used to craft national rules, regulations, and laws that pertain to adult-use cannabis sales. The sales component is just one facet of Germany’s effort to legalize cannabis for adult use.

Leaders in Germany previously indicated that home cultivation would also be a part of an eventual legalization measure that will eventually be introduced, which is expected to happen as soon as this summer. The significance of legalization in Germany cannot be overstated. It will usher in a new era for the cannabis industry, in addition to encouraging every other country in Europe to end prohibition.

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Study: CBD Does Not Impact Cognitive Function, Simulated Driving Performance

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Every responsible cannabis consumer on the planet recognizes that operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway while being intoxicated by any substance, cannabis included, is not safe.

With that being said, just because someone has cannabis in their system does not automatically mean that they are too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle.

That is demonstrated in the results of a recent study conducted in Australia. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Sydney, Australia: The oral administration of up to 1500 mg of CBD does not induce feelings of intoxication and is not associated with changes in simulated driving performance, according to data published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

A team of Australian researchers assessed the impact of varying dosages of CBD (ranging from 15 mg to 1500) versus placebo in 17 subjects. Study participants engaged in a series of simulated driving tests at approximately one hour and four hours after dosing. Investigators separately assessed subjects’ cognitive performance via their completion of a variety of computerized tasks. Participants were also asked whether they felt either “stoned” or “sedated” at any time during the trial.

Consistent with prior research, authors reported that CBD administration was not associated with either weaving or any other significant changes in simulated driving performance. Participants also failed to show any significant differences in either cognitive function or in their subjective feelings of well-being following CBD dosing.

Authors concluded: “The results of this study suggest that acute, oral CBD treatment at doses up to 1500 mg does not induce feelings of intoxication and is unlikely to impair cognitive function or driving performance. However, further research is required to confirm no effect of CBD on safety-sensitive tasks in the hours immediately post-treatment and with chronic administration.”

Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabidiol on simulated driving and cognitive performance: A dose-ranging randomized controlled trial,” appears in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Additional information is available from NORML’s fact sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.’

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European CBD Novel Food Evaluations Put On Hold

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Policy, Science.

Cannabidiol (CBD) products are extremely popular around the world, with consumers and patients buying them every day around the globe from brick and mortar stores, online, and virtually every other way that people buy any other type of product.

A vast majority of those products are either under-regulated or completely unregulated. That is not to say that every product is unsafe, however, what percentage of products are unsafe is nearly impossible to know right now.

Governments around the world are scrambling to try to implement rules and regulations for the emerging CBD industry, with many of them experiencing setbacks.

The latest example of that is in Europe, where the European Food Safety Authority announced this week that it will be putting a pause on processing CBD novel food applications. Below is more information about it via a news release from the European Food Safety Authority:

EFSA’s expert Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) has received 19 applications for CBD as a novel food, with more in the pipeline.

Chair of the NDA Panel, Prof. Dominique Turck said: “We have identified several hazards related to CBD intake and determined that the many data gaps on these health effects need filling before these evaluations can go ahead. It is important to stress at this point that we have not concluded that CBD is unsafe as food.”

There is insufficient data on the effect of CBD on the liver, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system, nervous system and on people’s psychological well-being.

Studies in animals show significant adverse effects especially in relation to reproduction. It is important to determine if these effects are also seen in humans.

This latest delay is definitely disappointing, and will likely be pointed to by cannabis opponents as ‘justification’ to abandon the CBD industry entirely.

It’s not as if there is a lack of research on this subject. A quick search on PubMed.gov, which houses peer-reviewed study results from around the globe, lists 4,881 returns for a ‘cannabidiol’ search query. A search for ‘CBD’ returns 9,727 study results.

By comparison, a search for the common sleep aid ‘Lunesta’ returns only 314 results. Obviously, it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, but it does provide context regarding the level of research that CBD has already been subjected to.

Hopefully the European Food Safety Authority gets the data that they think they need and can get back to processing applications sooner rather than later.

In addition to the growing body of peer-reviewed research, there are literally millions of people around the globe that now regularly use CBD products and the sky has yet to fall. It’s anecdotal but still worth noting.