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German Cannabis Pharmacy Association Debuts At Dusseldorf’s ExpoPharm 2019

Written by Marguerite Arnold on October 8, 2019. Posted in Business.

International Cannabis Business Conference veterans are showing up at all sorts of interesting conferences and expos these days auf Deutschland. Most notably last week Tobias Loder of Luxe 99 Apotheke joined Markus Fischer (also a pharmacist and the titular head of the new German Cannabis Pharmacy Association VCA) plus a host of familiar faces at a first of its kind expo.

Expopharm is not new of course. It is one of the largest pharmacy conferences in Europe, if not the largest. However, this year in Dusseldorf cannabis was featured for the first time as medicine.

The big firms showed up (of course), but what was notable, beyond the VCA, were the indie specialist distributors out in force.

Cannabis as medicine is now accepted in Germany, regardless of the fights that still remain on the ground. On the ground, those who are dealing with “last mile” issues that include everything from finding a doctor and a suitable pharmacist to approvals are in the room.

Beyond activists and patients in other words, the business community is coming together to face its own cannabis future.

Big Changes and Challenges Are Underway For German Pharmacists

German pharmacists are caught in a dilemma that nobody else is at present when it comes to the cannabis question. There are no chains larger than three (and in some cases four) brick and mortar outlets. Online sales are verboten.

Patients must interact with pharmacists to obtain their medications. Most patients must also obtain preauthorization from their health insurers to be able to afford their meds. On top of this, there is a new defacto fee structure in place – namely health insurers are forcing pharmacists to lower their mark-up costs. That pressure used to come 100% from distributors.

That is now changing, and so are other rules and norms.

As Peter Homberg of Denton’s law firm explained in Berlin last week at his firm’s medical cannabis conference, patients can now obtain a full three-month prescription for 100 grams of flower from their doctors. That means that pharmacies will be handling higher bulks, larger orders, and greater logistical challenges on getting the product on a regular basis.

Also, against all of this, the market is now opening for new products to enter the country.

What Makes This Cool

Producers who want to enter the German market with properly certified product are beginning to find that the market is opening up in an interesting way. Personal relationships and guaranteed delivery, as well as pricing, are the name of the game.

German pharmacists themselves are in the middle of a changing regulatory landscape that will continue to prove interesting for years to come.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars now for the fourth International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin April 1-3, 2020!

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Polish Cannabis Market Appears On Track Before National Election

Written by Marguerite Arnold on October 8, 2019. Posted in Business.

Despite rumours, strangely timed documents, and temporary difficulties reported by canna hopefuls on the ground in Poland, things appear to be shaking out in an interesting if not positive direction right as the country heads into a national election.

Product registrations for medical products appear to be back on track, albeit with lingering issues around Novel Food registrations.

Nevertheless, while perhaps lagging other countries in the EU on the topic of cannabis reform, Poland appears to be (at least) entering the cannabusiness “green” room – certainly when it comes to imports of medical (including THC) cannabis and domestically produced CBD products.

That being said, in a nod to evolving political discussions in Europe (from Austria and Germany to Italy and Sweden), Novel Food is going to be in the room here from the beginning of the conversation. That, including issues of cost and license fees, is far from popular.

Cannabiz Sovereign Economic Development Rights?

Much like in Spain and Germany (although perhaps from the more conservative perspective) Polish producers are eager to participate in a market where all things being equal, farmers can grow a crop which brings in, even in raw form, a bit more “green” than say, tomatoes.

However, cultivation is not the only discussion in the room, especially in “emerging markets” like in Eastern Europe. Many people are beginning to question the conventional wisdom about only entering the first rung of the production cycle (i.e. farming the plant) without also seeking the investment and gaining the backing of the government to complete a full cannabis production industry in Poland. Local medicine for local folks.

In general, certainly in European countries like Poland, it will be far cheaper to produce product domestically than import it across a border, no matter where it is coming from. When national health insurances are on the line to pay, these questions are going to be even more important.

Look for serious discussion about the Polish bid coming soon.

Organizing For An Authentic, Eurocentric Industry Voice

There are several organizations now advocating for change on a fairly significant basis now both in individual countries and at the EU level. These include of course the lobbyists in the employ of individual companies, but it also now includes advocates, patients, and those in the business community who want a regularized, normalized, legal market that speaks for all players, not just the biggest companies.

During an upcoming business conference in Poland leaders from across the industry, and from an international base, will also be conferring on how to launch an industry-focused, patient inclusive non-profit industry association serving the industry across Europe.

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The German Cannabis Market Continues To Open For Imports

Written by Marguerite Arnold on October 7, 2019. Posted in Berlin, Business.

The shifting laws of national sovereignties along with new global treaties and a rather old global one are allowing new winds of cannatrade to enter Germany.

It’s not just Portugal, in other words, that is now on the map to import cannabis into Germany. Spain, Denmark, Malta, Greece, Australia, and South Africa are all birthing producers who are clearly putting Germany in the middle of their bullseye, if not European plans.

What does this mean in general for the average producer?

You have to have your paperwork in order, be prepared to prove cert, and plan, as of now, to spend your conference days at the next International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin networking your tail off!

Who To Look For?

When planning your Berlin trip to the International Cannabis Business Conference, here are a few things to put on your packing list of to do’s.

Top of the list? A distributor with the right papers on the ground. There are currently 19 of them – with more coming into the market. Their good relationships with pharmacies are essential. And there are thousands of them. All of them are small businesses – owning no more than three or four brick and mortar outlets. All of them are looking for reliable, clean, tested, and certified products.

If that is you, with a plan for insuring a steady supply, you will be popular in every room you show up in.

You Do Not Need The Big Guys…But It Can Sometimes Help

The biggest names in the industry are now in the German market – with one of them already set up to cultivate certified product and two hot on their heels. On top of that larger firms have already established distribution relationships in the German market that allow them to say that they have market penetration in the bag.

However, that is not the whole story – as the indies are finding out. The right relationships with the right strategic partners make all the difference. The market needs certified product – and if that is you – your future is looking very bright in Germany (and beyond) that right now.

The doors may not be fully open, but they are opening more and more with every passing month. For the right entrepreneurial canna firms, there are lucrative opportunities to be had.

Sign Up To Receive The International Cannabis Chronicle Newsletter

Written by Johnny Green on October 7, 2019. Posted in Business, Cultural, Medical, OMBC, Politics, Science, Social.

These are truly exciting times for all things cannabis. Cannabis policy reform is sweeping the globe, the cannabis industry is growing at an epic rate, and major cannabis culture news is occurring at an increasing pace.

It can be very difficult to stay up-to-date on everything that is happening in the cannabis world with so much going on at all hours of the day. Cannabis has gone mainstream, and the rise in the level of acceptance of cannabis in society has been paralleled by an increase of news coverage that touches on topics and situations that are not necessarily that important in the grand scheme of things.

For many cannabis consumers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers it can be exhausting to try to sort out the less important stories from the truly important ones due to so much cannabis media white noise. However, at the same time, it is vital for people in the cannabis community at all levels to stay on top of things. It’s a very frustrating catch-22.

To help address the problem the International Cannabis Business Conference launched a new e-mail newsletter, the International Cannabis Chronicle, which covers the most important cannabis news and developments from around the globe.

International Cannabis Chronicle is delivered straight to subscribers’ e-mail inboxes once a week. It’s an extremely convenient way to stay up to-to-date on the most important cannabis information.

If staying up to speed on the biggest cannabis stories is important to you, make sure to sign up to receive the International Cannabis Chronicle newsletter today. You will be glad that you did!

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Poll Finds That Support For Legalization In California Has Increased Since 2016

Written by Johnny Green on October 2, 2019. Posted in Business, Politics.

When it comes to cannabis in the United States, California is a pioneer. California was the first state to legalize cannabis for medical use (1996), and while it wasn’t the first to legalize cannabis for adult use, it is still the largest legal cannabis market in the country.

California voters overwhelmingly approved a cannabis legalization initiative in 2016. Nearly 3 years later, support has increased. That’s per poll results from a recent poll conducted by UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies on behalf of the Los Angeles Times. Below are a couple of excerpts from the poll’s results:

According to the poll, 68% of Californians say legalization has been a good thing for the state, an increase in support since 2016, when 57% of voters approved Proposition 64, which legalized growing, selling and possessing cannabis for recreational use…

..the poll found that 63% of California voters favored their cities giving permits to cannabis stores, with support in all areas of the state, including 69% in Los Angeles County. The lowest support for pot shops was in the Inland Empire, which includes Riverside and San Bernardino counties, at 54%.

The implementation of a regulated adult-use cannabis industry in California has been tough. That should not come as a shock to anyone considering how large California’s population is, and how long the state had a medical cannabis industry that operated within a patchwork of often-conflicting public policies and regulations.

Local cannabis industry bans have not helped matters at all. Local communities should be embracing the cannabis industry, not continuing to prohibit it. Prohibition never works, including at a local level. Consumers should be able to make legal purchases at regulated cannabis stores, otherwise, they often turn to an unregulated market which is undesirable for a number of reasons.

Cannabis dispensaries have been associated with lower crime rates and increased property values, and that benefits all community members, not just cannabis consumers and cannabis entrepreneurs. Why prohibit them?

California’s cannabis industry is far from having reached its full potential, however, it’s encouraging to see that support for legalization has increased since legalization was passed in 2016. Cannabis opponents claimed that California voters would regret supporting legalization. That is clearly not the case.

Hopefully local lawmakers in areas that have cannabis industry bans listen to their voters and finally allow the industry to operate in their jurisdictions, and in the process, create local jobs, boost local economies, generate local government revenue, and provide other benefits.

We will be discussing local California cannabis laws and regulations at our upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference in San Francisco on February 6-7, 2020. Come join the conversation!

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Cannabis Industry Adds $8.26B To Canada’s GDP According To Statistics Canada

Written by Johnny Green on October 2, 2019. Posted in Business.

Canada was the second country to legalize cannabis for adult use and the first to implement a regulated, open-to-all, adult-use cannabis industry. Uruguay was the first to legalize cannabis for adult use, however, Uruguay’s industry is very limited.

The rollout of a regulated adult-use cannabis industry in Canada has experienced its ups and downs, which is expected considering that Canada was the first to ever tackle such a monumental undertaking. Some opponents have claimed that Canada’s public policy change was not worth it, however, the math does not back that up.

Statistics Canada put out new information this week about the cannabis industry’s economic impact, and the numbers are huge. Per BNN Bloomberg:

Canada’s cannabis sector contributed $8.26 billion to the country’s gross domestic product as of July, a steady increase from the $7.02 billion last October when recreational cannabis was legalized, according to new data published by Statistics Canada on Tuesday. The StatsCan figures also show Canada’s legal cannabis industry has grown by a whopping 185 per cent in the first 10 months since recreational marijuana was legalized. The black market’s cannabis output has fallen by 21 per cent in that same time, according to StatsCan estimates.

A lot of discussions about measuring Canada’s cannabis industry success focus on total sales figures, the amount of cannabis cultivated, and other direct measurements. Those types of measurements are worth noting, however, they don’t capture the full picture of the cannabis industry’s economic impact on the country.

Because the cannabis industry contributes billions of dollars to Canada’s overall GDP, it’s an industry that benefits all members of Canada in one way or another whether they consume cannabis or not. Canada’s adult-use cannabis industry is still very young, so the numbers put out by Statistics Canada this week should increase well into the future.

Canada has a very rich history when it comes to cannabis, which is one of the many reasons why we choose to host an annual event in Vancouver, British Columbia. The cannabis industry rules and regulations in Canada are obviously not perfect, however, they are better than full prohibition as the available math demonstrates.

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Check Out Cultiva Hemp Expo And Congress October 11-13, 2019 In Austria

Written by ICBC Staff on October 1, 2019. Posted in Business.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is urging all of our fans and followers to check out Cultiva Hemp and Congress October 11-13 in Vösendorf, Austria. Below is more information about the event (tickets can be purchased at: https://www.cultiva.at/index.php/de/):

Here all revolves around the useful and medical plant hemp in all its fascinating facets. The usage of the cultivar ranges from food, sustainable natural resource for industries and precious super food up to medical products and cosmetic products. More than 150 exhibitors are showing the latest trends and offering numerous innovations and special expo deals. The botanical garden in the unique glass pyramid near Vienna is the ideal location for this event. On a light-flooded area of 8.000m2, surrounded by palm trees and other exotic plants in nearly natural ambience, Cultiva presents itself for the 12th time in a row.

Various exhibitors with the thematic focal points health (CBD), seeds, hemp products and accessories, head and horticulture will be represented with booths. Workshops, Live-shows, innovations and product presentations as well as special offers, will round off the program.

In addition to the companies exhibiting, once again the marvellous glass blowing show powered by ROOR will take place in the special bungalow, where you can watch international artist blowing the most spectacular artworks from glass. Of course, our traditional live cooking show and hemp-rope- workshops will also be part of Cultiva 2019.

Right next to the glass blowing show, our newly established “HempStoff” bungalow invites you to find out all about how hemp is used for fashion, mattresses and blankets. As a special treat, our visitors will have the opportunity to watch a hemp fashion show with clothes made of hemp.

The newly established Cultiva Forum is a marketplace for start-ups and product news and gives the opportunity for discussions as well as the exchange of know-how. Innovations, documentations and interesting things you might want to know about the useful and medical plant hemp are presented.

Be sure to catch a breath and leave all your cares behind in the sunny garden area of the Eventpyramid. The great atmosphere and ambience are prefect to relax in the fresh air accompanied by easy going sounds of the garden stage and abandon yourself to the culinary pleasures of the Cultiva caterers.

The Cultiva Cannabis Congress that takes place at the same time in the enclosed Eventhotel Pyramide is THE hotspot for topics such as medicine, law, politics and culture. International experts will talk about current developments, studies and trends. Once again, the congress will focus on the wide and evolving area of cannabis in medicine as this topic gains more and more interest well as the legal regulations, which have changed in many countries in the past months. The unique Cultiva Patients Lounge offers an exclusive platform for personal discussions in small groups with the experts of the cannabis congress, for those who are affected. And finally, the program will once again include expert panels at the congress.

The legendary Cultiva pool party has returned to the wellness area in the Eventpyramid and takes place on Saturday, directly after the expo and congress. Drop by – preferably with our free-of-charge shuttle bus leaves from the metro station U6 Siebenhirten or come by Badner Bahn – and experience the Cultiva Hemp Expo and the Cultiva Cannabis Congress live!

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Psychedelics For Healing: The Spirit Plant Medicine Conference FTR Dennis McKenna, Jamie Wheal, Wade Davis And More…

Written by ICBC Staff on October 1, 2019. Posted in Medical.

As an attendee and supporter of the International Cannabis Business Conference, our friends at the Conscious Living Network and Spirit Plant Medicine Conference wanted to share a special offer with you.

As many of you know, we’re in a remarkable historical time period. The tide is turning and after decades of ignorance and repression of sacred plants, there is a vigorous psychedelic renaissance underway. People are discovering, rediscovering, and developing multiple uses of sacramental entheogenic medicines such as ayahuasca, psilocybe mushrooms, iboga, peyote, cannabis, 5-MeO-DMT, LSD, MDMA, and many others. Our friends at the Spirit Plant Medicine Conference (SPMC) recognize, and are deeply inspired by, the great potential of these medicines when they’re understood and used skillfully.

The Spirit Plant Medicine Conference is now in its 9th year. The mission of the SPMC is to help guide this work forward by bringing a world-class international group of leading visionary voices to Vancouver, British Columbia. Along with the brilliant information and inspiration shared by the presenters, the conference has also proven to be a powerful community-strengthening event and a great environment to connect with others of similar interests and aspirations and to plant and nurture seeds that can and do lead to remarkable manifestations.

For full details and to reserve your spot visit: https://spiritplantmedicine.com/

The use of visionary/healing/ awakening plants such as ayahuasca, psilocybe mushrooms, iboga, peyote, cannabis, huachuma (San Pedro), and semi-synthetic substances like LSD and MDMA is spreading rapidly during this period of intensified change. These allies may be the most direct and effective teachers many of us have now when we meet them in the best of conditions (set and setting) and are able to integrate the insights and openings into our daily lives.

Spirit Plant Medicine Conference speakers include: Jamie Wheal, Dennis Mckenna, Wade Davis, Bill Richards, Dank Duchess, Zoe Helene, Rachael Caravale and more…

You are warmly invited to share in this vision and to join us for a great weekend of insight, inspiration, compassion, and yes, humour.

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Cannabinoid Conference 2019 Is Coming To Berlin October 31 – November 2

Written by Johnny Green on October 1, 2019. Posted in Science.

Cannabinoid Conference 2019 is coming to Berlin, Germany October 31 to November 2. The event is the leading international meeting on medical uses of cannabis and cannabinoids and is hosted by the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM).

We are in the midst of a truly amazing era for cannabis research and medicine. Cannabis reform is sweeping the globe, which is creating tremendous opportunities for cannabis entrepreneurs and scientists. The rise of the legal cannabis industry is resulting in an ever-growing demand for cannabis research.

Speakers and presenters at Cannabinoid Conference will be covering the latest results and data from their cutting-edge cannabis trials, studies, and investigations. If you are looking to learn more about cannabis research and network with the leading minds on cannabis science there is no better place to be between October 31 and November 2 than in Berlin, Germany at Cannabinoid Conference 2019.

“When we started our conferences about 20 years ago they were kind of “family meetings” of eminent scientists and clinicians active in the field of the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids. This family has considerably grown in recent years and we were happy to gradually open the conference to an increasing number of healthcare professionals around the world interested in learning from recent scientific advances and practical knowledge of their experienced colleagues.” Dr. Franjo Grotenhermen, Executive Director of the IACM, told the International Cannabis Business Conference.

Cannabinoid Conference 2019 speakers will include:

Arno Hazekamp – Cannabis biochemist Hazekamp Herbal Consulting
Attila Olah – University of Debrecen
Bonni Goldstein – Medical Director Canna-Centers
Carola Perez – President Observatorio Espanol de Cannabis Medicinal
Christian Kessler – Immanuel Hospital Berlin
Daniela Eigenmann – Deputy Pharmacist Bahnhof Apotheke Langnau
Daniele Piomelli – Distinguished Professor UCI Center for the Study of Cannabis
Raquel Peyraube – Uruguayian Society of Endocannabinology (SUEN)
Ethan Russo – ICCI
Franjo Grotenhermen – Executive Director International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines
Guillermo Velaso – Associate Professor Complutense University
Ilya Reznik – MaReNa Diagnostic and Consultic Center
Javier Fernandez-Ruiz – Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid
José Alexandre Crippa – Full Professor University of São Paulo
Ken Mackie – Indiana University, Bloomington
Kirsten Müller-Vahl – Hannover Medical School
Mario van der Stelt – Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology Leiden University
Mark Ware – Chief Medical Officer Canopy Growth Corporation
Michael Krawitz – Executive Director of Veterans For Medical Cannabis Access
Roger Pertwee – Emeritus Professor University of Aberdeen
Ziva Cooper – Research Director, Associate Professor UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative

The robust event schedule will cover a number of topics, all of which are very timely. Cannabinoid Conference 2019 is going to provide an invaluable level of education and information, and will also be an amazing place to network.

There will be simultaneous translation from English into German on the first day. Day one of the conference is a tutorial day with reviews and practical information for physicians.

A reduced fee for the event is available for students and participants from developing countries. The conference offers a day pass option (first day only) in addition to a full conference admission option.

The IACM will honor four people for their major contributions to cannabinoid research and/or to the re-introduction of cannabis into modern medicine with the IACM Award as part of the conference.

When: October 31 – November 2
Where: Estrel Hotel, Berlin, Germany
Purchase tickets: http://cannabinoidconference.org/registration

About Cannabinoid Conference 2019

The first Conference on Cannabinoids took place in Berlin in 2001 and was organized by the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines. Since the inaugural conference, the event has been held in Cologne, Leiden, Bonn, and Sestri Levante. The 10th conference, Cannabinoid Conference 2019, will be the first time that the event has been held in Berlin since 2001. Berlin is the cannabis capital of Europe and is the perfect setting for Cannabinoid Conference 2019. To find out more information about Cannabinoid Conference 2019 go to: http://cannabinoidconference.org/

About the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines

The International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM) was founded in 2000. The aim of the association is to advance knowledge on cannabis, cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, and related topics especially with regard to their therapeutic potential. The IACM is the most respected international association on cannabis and cannabinoids in medicine. Former chairmen and chairwomen included Raphael Mechoulam, Mark Ware, Roger Pertwee, Manuel Guzman, Franjo Grotenhermen, Ethan Russo and Kirsten Mueller-Vahl. For more information about the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines go to: https://www.cannabis-med.org/