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Majority Of Germans Are Against Repeal Of Cannabis Legalization

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

According to the results of a Forsa survey commissioned by the KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse, 55% of surveyed Germans do not want to repeal the nation’s CanG adult-use legalization law. Only 36% of survey respondents want to repeal legalization, with the rest being undecided.

The Forsa survey comes shortly after the results of a poll conducted by the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) found that 63.83% consider a complete reversal to be ‘very unlikely’ or ‘rather unlikely.’

Starting on April 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can legally cultivate, possess, and consume a personal amount of cannabis. Also, starting on July 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can apply to launch a cultivation association from which adult consumers can source cannabis products legally.

Another major component of Germany’s legalization law was the removal of cannabis from the nation’s Narcotics List. The removal of cannabis from the Narcotics List has resulted in a major boom for Germany’s medical cannabis industry, with medical cannabis prescriptions increasing by an estimated 1,000% in the 9 months following the CanG law’s adoption.

As we previously reported, the New Association of Judges (NRV) in Germany recently expressed a positive conclusion regarding legalization and warned newly elected German lawmakers against reversing the CanG law.

“Rolling back the law would mean that the judiciary would have to pursue small consumers on a large scale again. This would mean there would be no time to take action against organized crime.” reported Deutschlandfunk in its local coverage.

“In addition, according to the NRV, the state faces high compensation payments in the event of withdrawal. If the cultivation and consumption of cannabis were to be completely banned again, this would amount to expropriation of the cannabis clubs, it was said. This would enable the clubs to make claims for compensation against the state. The investment in cannabis cultivation is high and the licenses are valid for seven years according to the law.” the outlet also stated.

The Institute for Competition Economics at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf previously conducted an analysis which found that adult-use legalization could yield as much as 1.3 billion euros per year in savings for Germany’s police and judicial system.

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Record Number In Scotland Buy Legal Medical Cannabis Privately

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Scotland’s legal medical cannabis industry has struggled to reach its full potential in recent years, however, the industry has passed a meaningful milestone with a record number of Scots making legal purchases of medical cannabis products from private industry sources.

“Record numbers of Scots are paying for medical cannabis as NHS waiting lists leave them struggling to get conventional treatment.” reported Daily Mail. “An unprecedented 3,440 Scots now have private prescriptions for the drug – mostly patients suffering from common conditions such as depression, anxiety, or chronic pain.”

“Scotland’s first medical cannabis clinic was set up in 2019 and its roster of clients has grown monthly.” the outlet also reported.

Nearly five dozen nations around the world have legalized cannabis for medical use to some degree. Israel was the first country to legalize cannabis for medical use back in 1999.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Recreational cannabis legalization has also been adopted by two dozen states in the U.S., and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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Poll: 63.83% Consider Complete CanG Reversal To Be Unlikely

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

In the aftermath of a recent federal election in Germany, a majority of the nation’s cannabis industry members consider a complete reversal of the CanG law to be ‘unlikely’ according to a recent poll conducted by the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW).

BvCW, in its recent poll, asked, “After the federal election: How likely do you think it is that the CanG will be completely reversed?”

The results of the survey found that a combined 63.83% consider a complete reversal to be ‘very unlikely’ or ‘rather unlikely,’ 19.15% consider a partial reversal to be likely, 6.38% responded with ‘rather likely,’ and 8.51% consider it to be ‘very likely.’

Starting on April 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can cultivate and possess a personal amount of cannabis. Additionally, starting on July 1st, 2024, people in Germany can apply to start a cultivation association. Also, cannabis was removed from Germany’s Narcotics List as part of the enactment of the CanG law.

Another major component of the CanG law, which would permit regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials, has yet to launch. Pilot trials were expected to launch late last year. However, after the recent federal election, the launch date for pilot trials is in question.

Leading up to the federal election in Germany, the International Cannabis Business Conference reached out to Germany-based international cannabis policy expert Peter Homberg of gunnercooke for his thoughts.

Peter Homberg predicted that the election would yield a coalition government, which time has proven to be true. Homberg also made another prediction at the time.

“Many statements being made right now from cannabis opponents are being made in an ‘election mode’ and will not necessarily become reality. I expect extreme positions to level out after the election.” Homberg stated at the time regarding candidates campaigning on reversing the CanG law.

As we previously reported, the New Association of Judges (NRV) in Germany recently expressed a positive conclusion regarding legalization and warned newly elected German lawmakers against reversing the CanG law.

“Rolling back the law would mean that the judiciary would have to pursue small consumers on a large scale again. This would mean there would be no time to take action against organized crime.” reported Deutschlandfunk in its local coverage.

“In addition, according to the NRV, the state faces high compensation payments in the event of withdrawal. If the cultivation and consumption of cannabis were to be completely banned again, this would amount to expropriation of the cannabis clubs, it was said. This would enable the clubs to make claims for compensation against the state. The investment in cannabis cultivation is high and the licenses are valid for seven years according to the law.” the outlet also stated.

The Institute for Competition Economics at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf previously conducted an analysis which found that adult-use legalization could yield as much as 1.3 billion euros per year in savings for Germany’s police and judicial system.

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Czech Cannabis Legalization Effort Continues To Evolve

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

A push has been underway in the Czech Republic to legalize cannabis for adult use for several years now, with the cannabis policy modernization effort gaining steam in recent years after multiple European nations have adopted some form of recreational legalization. Cannabis is now legal for adults in Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany.

Cannabis advocates inside and outside of Czechia had hoped that legalization in the country would include regulated sales, however, it appears that will not occur in the near future, except for low-THC products. According to a recent interview by KrautInvest with leading cannabis advocate Lukáš Hurt, what is currently being considered in the Czech Republic is limited to home cultivation.

“At the moment, home growing decriminalization is the only proposal on the table, about eight months before the general election. And this is only thanks to the Minister of Justice, who included it as part of his broader criminal code reform. The original three-pillar plan – home growing, cannabis clubs, and a regulated market –, which we discussed last year and for which I lobbied, is essentially off the table.” Hurt stated in his recent interview with KrautInvest.

Another topic discussed in the interview was Czechia’s announcement earlier this year that low-THC products will be regulated later this year. Hurt pointed out that “the 1% THC limit was adopted about three years ago,” but that related products were not originally regulated for human consumption.

The Czech Republic’s cabinet previously approved a plan late last year that would permit adults in the European nation to cultivate multiple plants in their private residences and possess a personal amount of cannabis. That plan appears to still be on track, while the wider policy modernization reforms will have to wait. In the meantime, cannabis advocates will continue to push for sensible laws and regulations.

Medical cannabis is legal in the Czech Republic. Doctors in the Czech Republic prescribed 318.7 kilograms of medicinal cannabis in 2024 to an average of roughly 3,300 patients per month. Those figures are set to expand in April 2025 when Czech GPs will be permitted to prescribe cannabis for chronic pain.

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Cannabis Consumption Is Associated With Lower Opioid Usage Rates

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Cannabis opponents have historically portrayed the cannabis plant as a ‘gateway drug.’ Members of the mainstream media have also perpetuated this stereotype, as have film makers going back as far as the 1930s.

However, a growing body of scientific evidence is proving that the ‘gateway drug’ talking point is false. Many public health advocates and researchers have found that the use of many other substances, including the misuse of household items and pharmaceutical drugs, often predates cannabis use in society.

A recent study conducted in Canada found that cannabis consumption is associated with decreased rates of opioid usage, demonstrating that cannabis may actually be an ‘exit drug’ and not a gateway drug. Below is more information about the study and its findings via a news release from NORML:

Vancouver, British Columbia: Polydrug consumers are more likely to cease using non-prescription opioids if they consume cannabis, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.

Researchers affiliated with the University of British Columbia assessed the relationship between the use of cannabis and unregulated opioids among people who use drugs (PWUD) living with chronic pain.

They reported that the daily use of cannabis was positively associated with opioid cessation, particularly among males.

“Participants reporting daily cannabis use exhibited higher rates of cessation compared to less frequent users or non-users,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our findings add to the growing evidence supporting the potential benefits of cannabis use among PWUD, underlining the need for further research.”

The findings are consistent with prior data suggesting that cannabis use can mitigate opioid-related cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use and illicit opioid cessation among people who use drugs living with chronic pain,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Review. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Relationship Between Marijuana and Opioids.’

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Study: Medical Cannabis Doesn’t Negatively Impact Driving Performance

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

No responsible cannabis advocate wants intoxicated drivers on public roadways. With that being said, just because someone has metabolized THC in their system does not automatically mean that they are intoxicated, and public policies need to reflect that scientific fact.

One jurisdiction that has struggled with this area of public policy is Victoria, a state in Australia. The Australian state was automatically banning the driving privileges of medical cannabis patients if they were found to have THC in their system while operating a motor vehicle on public roadways. Fortunately, that policy was changed starting on March 1st, 2025.

“Drivers who use medicinal cannabis in Victoria will no longer be subject to automatic licence bans under a new law coming into effect in the state. From the 1st of March, such motorists will have the opportunity to argue in court that they weren’t impaired while driving.” reported SBS News in its local coverage.

The policy change is backed by the findings of a recent study conducted in Australia which found that medical cannabis use does not negatively impact driving performance in experienced users. Below is more information about the study and its findings via a news release from NORML:

Queensland, Australia: Patients who consume botanical cannabis over extended periods do not exhibit significant changes in their simulated driving performance, according to data published in the Journal of Safety Research.

Australian researchers assessed patients’ simulated driving performance at baseline and 45 minutes after they vaporized prescribed doses of cannabis flowers. (Under Australian law, physicians may authorize cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.)

“After vaporizing one dose of their prescribed cannabis flower, participants exhibited no significant changes in performance on any of the video-based tasks (hazard perception skill, gap acceptance, following distance or speed) compared to baseline,” investigators reported.

The study’s authors concluded, “The findings … suggest that a dose of vaporized cannabis (consumed in accordance with prescription) may not affect hazard perception ability or driving-related risk-taking behavior among medicinal cannabis patients.”

The study’s findings are consistent with those of several others determining that daily cannabis consumers, and patients especially, exhibit tolerance to many of cannabis’ psychomotor-influencing effects. According to the findings of a literature review published in the journal of the German Medical Association, “Patients who take cannabinoids at a constant dosage over an extensive period of time often develop tolerance to the impairment of psychomotor performance, so that they can drive vehicles safely.”

Full text of the study, “The acute effects of vaporized cannabis on drivers’ hazard perception and risk-taking behaviors in medicinal patients: A within-subjects experiment,” appears in the Journal of Safety Research. Additional information is available in the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.’

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UK Cannabis Legalization Could Yield £1.5 Billion Annually

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

Adult-use cannabis legalization could generate as much as £1.5 billion in revenue and savings according to a new report by the advocacy group Transform Drug Policy Foundation.

The report, which was posted on the organization’s social media account, determined that over £1.2 billion would be generated from taxes and fees annually, and an additional £284 million would be saved annually by the nation’s criminal justice system no longer enforcing cannabis prohibition policies.

“There would be costs incurred for Govt by regulatory infrastructure – inspection, monitoring, compliance, trading standards etc – but largely covered by licensing/other fees.” the organization stated on social media.

Transform Drug Policy Foundation also determined that “up to 15,500 full-time jobs could be created in cultivation, manufacturing, retail & related services, (depending on the model implemented).”

The report also found that “a regulated market could displace 80% of the illegal trade in five years (based on trends in Canada).” The organization’s proposed legalization model involves permitting home cultivation, cultivation associations, and a government retail monopoly.

A previous analysis published last year by UK-based advocacy group CLEAR determined that legalizing cannabis for adult use in the United Kingdom and taxing and regulating sales could generate as much as £9.5 billion per year based on their proposed model.

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German Judges Association Warns Against Reversing Legalization

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

When some people think about the economics of cannabis legalization, they tend to focus on revenue generation from industry taxes and fees, which is understandable. After all, the emerging legal cannabis industry is capable of generating considerable sums if it is allowed to legally operate.

However, there is more to the legalization economic equation than just revenue generation. There is also revenue savings involved when governments refrain from enforcing failed cannabis prohibition policies, and that is true in Germany where cannabis became legal for adult use in April 2024.

Germany’s criminal justice system and taxpayers are big winners of German legalization. Law enforcement in Germany can focus on fighting real crime, the court dockets are freed up to address cases that actually need to be addressed, and Germany’s limited public resources can be used for more meaningful public projects.

The New Association of Judges (NRV) in Germany seems to agree, having recently expressed a positive conclusion regarding legalization and warned newly elected German lawmakers against reversing the CanG law.

“Rolling back the law would mean that the judiciary would have to pursue small consumers on a large scale again. This would mean there would be no time to take action against organized crime.” reported Deutschlandfunk in its local coverage.

“In addition, according to the NRV, the state faces high compensation payments in the event of withdrawal. If the cultivation and consumption of cannabis were to be completely banned again, this would amount to expropriation of the cannabis clubs, it was said. This would enable the clubs to make claims for compensation against the state. The investment in cannabis cultivation is high and the licenses are valid for seven years according to the law.” the outlet also stated.

The Institute for Competition Economics at the Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf previously conducted an analysis which found that adult-use legalization could yield as much as 1.3 billion euros per year in savings for Germany’s police and judicial system.

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Malaysia Health Ministry Opens Cannabis-Based Product Registration

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

A major push for limited medical cannabis policy reform and industry regulations took place in Malaysia in 2022, and the nation passed a major milestone this week with Malaysia’s Health Ministry announcing that registration for medical cannabis-based products is now open.

“Those who have sufficient scientific evidence supporting the use of cannabis-based products for medical treatment can come forward to submit their product registration, says the Health Ministry.” reported The Star in its local coverage.

“However, they must comply with the relevant laws, the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply dated March 3.” the media outlet also reported.

Malaysia’s cannabis policies are largely governed by the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Poisons Act 1952, both of which classify cannabis and its derivatives as ‘dangerous drugs.’

Historically, the region that Malaysia is located in is where some of the harshest cannabis laws on earth can be found, and in some ways in Malaysia, can still be found.

Malaysia is one of a handful of countries around the world, most of them located in the same region, that still issues the death penalty for certain cannabis-only offenses. With that in mind, any movement towards permitting medical cannabis is significant.