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Are Legal Cannabis Sales Coming To Czechia In 2024?

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

Ever since Germany’s governing coalition announced its intent to pass an adult-use legalization measure and launch a regulated industry, the tone of the cannabis discussion in many European countries instantly changed.

One of those countries is the Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, which shares a 815 kilometer border with Germany. Cannabis reform discussions were already well underway in Czechia, however, they have heated up recently with national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil discussing a legalization and regulation proposal with members of the press earlier this week. Per Radio Prague International:

If national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil’s proposed plan comes into effect in 2024 as he hopes, Czechia could become the second EU country to legalise the recreational use of cannabis. And not only that – it would even go a step further, also making its sale legal. The anti-drug coordinator presented his plan for combatting addiction – which includes the proposal to legalise cannabis – at a press conference this week.

“At the moment, there is a political consensus for me to create this proposal for the regulation of cannabis, a substance which is illegal at the moment. We want to regulate it with the help of the market and we believe that this regulation will be more effective than the current ban.”

Of course, a lot can happen between now and 2024, and that goes for outside of Czechia’s borders as much as inside of its borders. Perhaps even more so outside of its borders. After all, lawmakers in Czechia are not holding their cannabis discussions in a vacuum.

Cannabis reform is obviously on the move in Germany, and it’s quite possible that legal adult-use sales could launch there by the end of 2024. Other countries in Europe are also trending towards legalization, although perhaps not as quickly and robustly.

Any foot dragging in Czechia comes with an opportunity cost. If lawmakers want to cling to prohibition, and wait until after other countries have already launched industries, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for its citizens will be gone forever.

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Leaked German Legalization Points From Health Minister – Homegrow, Retail Stores, And Possession Of Up To 20 Grams

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

This morning it is being reported that long-awaited key points of a German adult-use legalization plan were made available to Germany’s media community. The provisions being leaked out there are reportedly from Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), and are providing tremendous insight into what a finalized coalition plan may look like. Obviously, there’s still a lot of political lifting to be performed between now and when someone is physically purchasing regulated adult-use cannabis in Germany, however, this is the first look of its type into what the governing coalition is at the very least strongly considering, if not outright trying to implement.

Last year Germany elected a new coalition government, and after the dust settled on the election results the coalition made it abundantly clear that it was going to pursue adult-use legalization and the launch of a regulated national industry. To date, only Uruguay, Canada, and Malta have passed a national adult-use measure, and out of the three, only Canada has a regulated adult-use sales system that is open to anyone of legal age regardless of citizenship status.

What Provisions Are Involved?

According to the initial reporting from RND, the legalization components that are involved originated from the Health Ministry, and the plan “is currently being coordinated among the [other] ministries involved,” which is leading many to believe that there still could be some changes made to what is being floated out there. As I previously touched on, there’s still a lot of time left on the clock to use a sports metaphor.

In my opinion, the provisions were leaked versus announced in order to see what the reactions were from the public and international community, with the possible plan to make tweaks accordingly. That’s just conjecture on my part, but it is a common political communications tactic, particularly with legislation of this magnitude. It’s a great way to gain feedback and insight while also mitigating controversy. With that being said, below are some of the major components involved in today’s news:

  • 18 years old is the legal age to purchase/possess cannabis
  • A 20 gram possession limit
  • Home cultivation of up to 2 plants
  • A 15% THC cap limit on products sold to people over 21
  • A 10% THC cap limit on products sold to people 18-21
  • Retail buffer zones around schools and other specified establishments
  • A general ban on industry advertising
  • Outlets would include, but not be limited to, pharmacies
  • Possibly allowing shops to have ‘consumption options’
  • A possible tax assessment based on THC content
  • All cannabis for the market will be cultivated domestically

“The Federal Ministry of Health did not confirm the RND report on request and referred to ongoing votes in the federal government. A Lauterbach spokesman said the departments of health, justice, economy, nutrition and the Federal Foreign Office were working together to implement the coalition agreement. Lauterbach had announced a key issues paper for the fall and a draft law for the end of the year.” RND stated in its reporting.

Room For Improvement And Clarification

Here in the United States, where I live, the state-level legal age for cannabis is 21. The legal age in Canada and Uruguay is also 18. Malta, which was the first nation to legalize cannabis for adult use in Europe, also has a legal age of 18, although sales are currently not permitted in Malta. I have always felt that if someone is old enough to vote for legalization, or for candidates that support it, then they are old enough to participate in a legal market. Regardless, allowing industry access to people 18-21 obviously expands the market base, albeit with the apparent potential for a different THC product limit for that subset of customers.

The 20 gram possession limit is considerably greater than what is allowed in Malta away from a person’s home. In Malta, the possession limit away from a person’s home is only 7 grams, although up to 50 grams is allowed within a person’s home, along with up to four plants. The two plant cultivation limit that is being reported out of Germany is drawing some pushback, as many feel that the limit is too low. One thing that could prove to be problematic is the possession limit combined with the plant limit, as even one healthy cannabis plant cultivated in a closet can yield far greater than 20 grams of cannabis. It seems that more could be done to harmonize the two limits in order to help mitigate any issues for consumers come harvest time.

The retail buffer zones and advertising bans were to be expected, and I certainly think that they will ultimately make it into whatever final version of a legalization model is adopted. Advertising bans can be tricky to enforce given how many different ways people get their information these days, particularly on the internet, however, we will have to wait and see what enforcement strategies may entail. The reported THC caps may be the most confusing aspect of what was reported today, in that it seems to be unclear if that will apply to things like vape pen cartridges and cannabis concentrates. It’s common for products in other legal markets of those types to contain a considerably larger THC percentage than 10-15%. That’s something that will need to be further addressed in a finalized plan.

The German Retail Model Is Taking Shape

Arguably the most insightful components of today’s news related to how cannabis will be sourced, sold, and consumed in Germany once a legal, regulated market is launched. Ever since a push to legalize was announced, many cannabis observers around the world wondered if adult-use cannabis sales would be limited to pharmacies? If what is being reported today eventually becomes adopted, then the retail options for consumers will be far more robust. In addition to pharmacies, cannabis would also be sold in dedicated stores, and possibly via the internet, which is currently an option in Canada.

Other components that were leaked today could change and evolve, however, the basic sales outlet model provisions are likely to remain the same from a macro perspective. Again, there’s still a lot of lifting to be done to get something across the finish line, yet I think it’s safe to assume that once legal sales are launched in Germany they will be allowed via a number of different ways beyond just at pharmacies. Legal social consumption lounges seem to be a very real possibility too based on what we have seen today.

The domestic cultivation part also seems to be a component that will be set in stone, at least for the foreseeable future, and the significance of that cannot be overstated. In order to get around issues with international and continental treaties, it sounds like all cannabis for the adult-use market will need to be produced within Germany’s borders. I assume that will be completely separate from medical products, which will presumably still be imported in addition to being produced domestically.

As I have pointed out countless times in my articles, the German market will not just involve consumers from Germany. Germany shares more borders with other countries than any other nation in Europe – nine total. When Germany inevitably launches legal adult-use sales, it will be largely doing so for the entire European continent, as well as for any tourists that will no doubt flock to Germany in record numbers from other continents to partake in the newly established freedoms. I don’t know exactly how much German cannabis supply will be needed to match the demand that will be flooding into Germany’s borders, but it’s a very safe bet that it’s going to be unlike anything that the legal market has ever seen before, and cultivation licenses within Germany’s borders are going to likely become the most sought after cannabis licenses on earth as a result.c

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Argentina’s Government Launches Public Company To Provide Cannabis Seeds, Testing, And Training

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

Earlier this month Argentina’s government issued its first-ever license for domestic cannabis production. It was a big milestone for Argentina’s domestic cannabis industry. Another significant announcement was made this month by Argentina’s government which could have international implications.

Days ago Argentina’s government announced the launch of a new national company dedicated to pushing the nation’s cannabis industry forward. The company, called ‘Cannabis Conicet,’ will focus on providing the nation’s emerging cannabis industry with genetics, testing, and training. Per excerpts from InfoBae:

The legal cannabis universe is expanding rapidly. The Argentine State presented this Tuesday “Cannabis Conicet”, a national technology-based company dedicated to the marijuana plant industry, made up and directed by scientists from the organization, with the idea of ​​”allowing the democratization of production, distribution and access to cannabis and the hemp industry”, as announced by the Minister of Science and Technology, Daniel Filmus, during the premiere day.

The public company will be made up of professionals from the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (Conicet), the Arturo Jauretche National University (UNAJ) and the El Cruce Dr. Néstor Kirchner Hospital, but its authorities project that it will be a collective and federal work.

The new company seems to be primarily focused on the domestic industry in Argentina, with the ultimate goal right now appearing to be reducing Argentina’s reliance on the international cannabis community. For example, the term ‘scientific sovereignty’ was used by Ana Franchi, president of the Conicet, as part of the company’s announcement.

The development of tailored cannabis genetics, products, and other forms of intellectual property are going to play a very prominent role in the emerging cannabis industry going forward, and from that perspective, what Argentina is doing is a smart move.

Countries that solely rely on importing medical cannabis products from afar, which some nations currently do, will put those countries at a huge disadvantage once lawmakers finally decide to get on the right side of history.

While lawmakers that fit that description continue to drag their feet on cannabis reform and embracing the emerging cannabis industry domestically, countries like Argentina are stepping up their research and other scientific efforts. An opportunity cost clearly exists, and countries that are sitting on their hands need to get with the program as soon as possible.

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Prime Minister Of Saint Kitts And Nevis Predicts Busy Year For Domestic Cannabis Industry

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

The Caribbean region has long been home to a vibrant cannabis community. Jamaica is likely the first Caribbean nation that comes to mind when someone thinks of cannabis, however, several other nations are also home to robust cannabis communities.

Thanks to cannabis reform measures being passed, many Caribbean nations are also now home to emerging cannabis industries, although the dual island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is unfortunately not one of those. If the country’s new prime minister has his way, things will be changing soon.

Current Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew was originally elected to the National Assembly last August. Prime Minister Drew has wasted no time in coming out swinging in support of cannabis reform and launching a domestic cannabis industry. Per excerpts from The Voice:

ST KITTS and Nevis could become the latest Caribbean nation to establish a medical cannabis industry.

Prime Minister Terrance Drew told the St Kitts-Nevis Information Service that the country was behind other Caribbean countries in developing a medical cannabis industry.

“Antigua is ahead, St Vincent is ahead, Jamaica is ahead, and we know that people travel to these countries because they would have an industry that is well-controlled, well-monitored and so forth that allows for the use of marijuana.

And so, we will be on that path, and we will see a lot of action in that area within the first year,” he said.

Prime Minister Drew went on to explain different phases that the nation needs to pursue, with the goal of having a regulated industry that benefits the country’s citizens. Drew specifically mentioned that the nation would not be looking for outside help, and instead will try to create an industry relying solely on domestic resources in order to maximize the benefits and opportunities for citizens.

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a part of what is called the Citizenship by Investment program. Several other Caribbean nations are also part of the program, which involves offering fast-track citizenships to foreign investors in exchange for them making socio-economic contributions to the country that they are applying to.

Prime Minister Drew is hoping that the cannabis industry can reduce the nation’s reliance on the program.

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Europe’s Most Cannabis-Friendly Country

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

By Alex Rogers

Not long ago, just the mention of the words ‘Europe’ and ‘cannabis’ conjured up one name and image only – Amsterdam. While the police were busting down doors and arresting people left and right in most other countries around the world, Holland was a cannabis Valhalla of sorts. A place where you could be left alone to smoke your weed in peace, sans disruption, sans incarceration. For the last ten years Spain has, by some people’s assessment, taken over Holland’s venerable spot as the number one cannabis destination in Europe, as coffeeshop style venues have popped up all over the country, particularly in the city of Barcelona.

That all being said, neither The Netherlands nor Spain are Europe’s most cannabis friendly country. In fact, the irony is that Dutch and Spanish cannabis users are still looked down upon by the majority of their fellow citizens. Only deep in these countries’ urban enclaves is the culture of using cannabis looked upon as ‘no big deal.’

The Dutch and Spanish cannabis clubs are frequented by tourists, and the locals that hang out in the coffeeshops/clubs are often looked upon by their respective societies as ‘fringe.’ If a colleague from work catches them coming out of a coffee shop, it could be a slight embarrassment. Cannabis, though quasi-legal in Holland and Spain, is still stigmatized to a high degree.

There is one little gem of a country in Europe, tucked between the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps, where most of the entire country seems to be OK with cannabis use. That country is Slovenia. I have spent extensive time in Slovenia, as I have in Holland, and I have never seen a place in Europe where cannabis use was not only de-stigmatized, but also seemingly promoted by the majority of society in some way or another. Many family households in Slovenia even grow a few plants outside in the summer. Oftentimes Slovenians have even shown me pictures of their grandmas in the garden tending to cannabis. Slovenia is a green land (literally) with 65% of the country covered by forest. It looks like Switzerland, but has half the population density.

It is an agricultural society, and cannabis is looked at merely as another product that the Slovenians get from their beautiful mother earth, along with their wine, olives, honey, wild mushrooms and herbs, ubiquitous home vegetable gardens and abundant fruit trees. Slovenia is a literal garden of Eden, and if you like cannabis, it is in abundance and not expensive. Rick Simpson oil is known by the entire country. They don’t necessarily see it as a miracle cure for cancer, but rather, an aide to help the healing process ensue. The oil is readily available in Slovenia, and the government turns a compassionate eye to it, as it is used mainly for very sick people that need non-invasive treatment with non-detrimental side effects.

The capital city of Ljubljana feels like a little Prague with ever so slight hints of Berlin. It is a small city, but jammed packed with things to do. There are more outdoor cafes here per capita than almost any other European city. And, as far as I can tell, weed is effectively legal in Slovenia, or at least it feels that way. Almost every bar I have ever been to in Slovenia’s Capital allows smoking cannabis, or at least turns a blind eye to it. Is cannabis technically legal in Slovenia? No. However, small amounts are decriminalized, and it seems like it’s only a matter of time until Slovenia opens up a taxed and regulated adult use-market.

Being in Slovenia is like being dropped into a fairy tale, as it is consistently rated a top-ten “safest country in the world” by all the major indices. One would be hard pressed to find a more intelligent, vibrant, rational and sophisticated nation than the tiny, quaint and civilized, 2 million person mountain-nation of Slovenia. There is no doubt that the citizens of Slovenia are ready to legalize cannabis. It makes perfect sense.

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Argentina Issues First-Ever Domestic Cannabis Production License

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

The battle to legalize medical cannabis in Argentina has been waged for several years now. Argentina initially passed a medical cannabis legalization measure back in 2017, however, that legislation proved to be largely symbolic due to former President of Argentina Mauricio Macri who did basically everything in his power to hinder the nation’s medical cannabis program from progressing.

The current President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, issued a decree back in 2020 that greatly increased safe access in the South American country. The decree legalized home cultivation, and also set the stage for Argentina’s legal cannabis industry to emerge, although the home cultivation provision had to be litigated later.

The decree also allowed pharmacies to sell cannabis-derived oils, topicals, and other products, and it directed insurance systems to cover medical cannabis treatments for patients who obtained a prescription, although further rulemaking needed to occur.

The cannabis industry in Argentina still needed one very important thing in order to launch – the issuance of the nation’s first domestic production license. That finally occurred this month. Per elm strador (translated to English):

The Government of Argentina has authorized the operation of a medical cannabis production plant in the northern province of Jujuy, which will become the first to manufacture this product in the South American country, official sources reported Tuesday.

The National Administration of Medicines, Food and Technology (ANMAT) of Argentina authorized the company Cannava, owned by the provincial state of Jujuy, to operate a plant with the capacity to annually process 80 tons of medicinal inflorescences and about 4,000 kilos of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Argentina’s current president once predicted that the nation’s cannabis industry could support over 10,000 jobs. The issuance of the first license will obviously not yield that result on its own, however, it’s a major step in the right direction.

The South American country is the second largest by physical size on the continent, only behind Brazil. Argentina is home to roughly 41 million people, making it the third most populous country in South America.

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Morocco Government Issues Ten Permits For Cannabis Production

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

Morocco first adopted its current medical cannabis policy last year. The 2021 measure authorized the legal production of cannabis for medical, cosmetic, and industrial uses, as well as tasked a national agency to oversee the launch and operation of the industry.

Back in March of this year Morocco’s government selected three provinces where medical cannabis would eventually be legally cultivated for domestic and export purposes. Roughly three months later the nation’s national cannabis regulatory agency met for the first time, moving the launch of the nation’s legal industry one step closer.

This month Morocco’s industry effectively did launch, in that the government issued its first round of cannabis production permits. Per Reuters:

A Moroccan state agency has issued the first 10 permits for the use of cannabis in industry and medicine and for export, it said, the result of a law passed last year.

Farmers who organise into cooperatives in the northern mountain areas of Al Houceima, Taounat and Chefchaouen will be gradually allowed to grow cannabis to meet the needs of the legal market, the agency said.

Morocco has long served as a top source for unregulated cannabis, particularly hashish. Consumers and patients all over the world, and particularly in Europe, consider Morocco’s unregulated cannabis products to be top shelf.

It will be interesting to see if Morocco’s success in the unregulated market transfers over to the regulated industry. Only time will tell, although, the speed at which Morocco is moving is certainly encouraging.

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Will Europe’s Emerging Cannabis Industry Reach Its Full Potential?

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

The emerging cannabis industry is now legal in more places in Europe than at any other point in time since the dawn of prohibition, and that is clearly good news for consumers and patients across the continent. A great deal of reform still needs to take place to be sure, however, momentum is building and the European legalization light at the end of the prohibition tunnel continues to shine brighter with every passing year.

One of the best examples of that momentum on display came late last year when Malta became the first European country to pass a national adult-use legalization measure. While Malta’s legalization model is not as robust as the models found in Canada and Uruguay, the passage of a national legalization measure was still historic nonetheless. Adult-use pilot programs are already underway at the local level in Denmark, and those programs are also expected to be launched in the near future elsewhere. Yet another example can be found via low-THC cannabis products, or ‘cannabis light,’ which are now commonly bought and sold all over Europe.

The Biggest Domino Of Them All

The largest cannabis policy elephant in the figurative continental decision-making room is, of course, Germany. The European country is home to the continent’s largest economy and Germany shares more borders with other nations than any other country in Europe. Obviously, Germany holds tremendous political power in Europe and at the international level, so the significance of legalization there cannot be overstated. With the country trending towards launching an adult-use cannabis industry in the coming years, every cannabis observer around the world is glued to what is going on within Germany’s borders.

Not only will Germany likely prove to be the largest domino of them all and open the floodgates to reform elsewhere in Europe, Germany will also likely serve as the blueprint for legalization efforts and models in other countries, especially within the continent. Part of what is enticing about Germany is that it is such an enormous economy with a huge population, however, the fact that Germany is doing a lot of the heavy lifting right now when it comes to crafting cannabis policies and industry regulations on such a grand scale is also significant, as provisions will be adopted in part or entirely by other nations. No country will have to ‘start from scratch’ if they do not want to.

Tolerating The Cannabis Industry Versus Embracing It

Logically, there is a huge difference between European lawmakers and regulators tolerating the cannabis industry versus embracing it. Casual public policy observers may think that simply allowing the cannabis industry to legally operate is enough to ensure success, yet that is not the case. The emerging cannabis industry presents a once in a generation opportunity to do a lot of good for all of society, and thus it should be embraced by lawmakers and regulators as such.

Every government benefit and assistance that is afforded to other large industries in Europe should also be afforded to the emerging cannabis industry. Additionally, all nations need to work together to harmonize regulations to help mitigate unforeseen hurdles and barriers to industry growth. By embracing the emerging cannabis industry governments will then be able to harness it to create much-needed jobs, help suffering patients, boost local economies, and generate public revenue throughout the continent, including in rural areas.

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Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary Says London Cannot Decriminalize Cannabis

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

Back in mid-May the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, launched a commission to explore London’s cannabis policies. The ‘London Drugs Commission,’ as it is referred to, is chaired by Lord Charlie Falconer QC, a former lord chancellor and justice secretary. Reviewing London’s cannabis policies was one of Mayor Khan’s pledges during his re-election campaign.

One of the specific public policy components that was heavily reported as being in Mayor Khan’s crosshairs is cannabis decriminalization. People in London support a change in cannabis enforcement in London per a YouGov poll that we previously reported on earlier this month.

“New YouGov data finds that Londoners support decriminalising cannabis within the boundaries of the capital by 50% to 33%. However opinion is divided across party lines, with 64% of the capital’s Labour voters supporting such a move compared to only 34% of Conservative voters.” YouGov stated at the time.

Unfortunately, at least some leaders within the Labour Party seem to have failed to look at the polling data, or at the very least disregarded it, as they are pushing back against any changes in cannabis policy and enforcement in London. The latest example of that comes from Steve Reed, the Labour’s Party’s shadow justice secretary. Per Eastern Eye:

Steve Reed said that the party would not look to decriminalise or legalise any recreational drugs, and Khan will not be given powers to do so, reported The Telegraph. He added that Labour will not allow Khan to turn London into a ‘drug supermarket’.

“Khan is entitled to his view, but mayors will not be responsible under this government or under a Labour government for that policy. So he can express whatever he likes, but he’ll never have the opportunity to do it under a Labour government because we won’t be liberalising drugs laws,” Reed was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

“He’s contributing to a debate, but he won’t have the power to do anything about it, however that comes about.”

According to media reports, Mayor Khan wants to implement a similar pilot program that was created by the Thames Valley police in which young adults caught with a personal amount of cannabis undergo classes or counseling instead of being arrested and prosecuted.

Forcing young people into classes or counseling for personal cannabis possession in itself is not ideal, however, it’s definitely not an enforcement approach that should be categorized as seeking to “turn London into a drug supermarket.”

As the potential government showdown continues to develop in the United Kingdom it is worth keeping an eye on the situation, as it could have ramifications for the national cannabis policy discussion in addition to the ongoing local discussion.