Skip to main content
international cannabis business conference international cannabis business conference

Pitch Your Cannabis Company At The Berlin Global Investment Forum

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business.

When it comes to succeeding in the emerging cannabis industry, especially at the international level, timing is extremely important. It can literally mean the difference between your cannabis endeavors succeeding and you reaping the benefits for years to come, or your pursuits fizzling and you never truly achieving your cannabis industry dreams.

You can have the greatest cannabis idea of all time, however, unless you have a big pile of money lying around, you will need to meet investors that can help you take your idea to the next level. That takes timing.

Reputable investors are not located in every jurisdiction around the globe, and the odds of you randomly bumping into one, especially outside of a handful of major international cities, is extremely low.

You have to be in the right place at the right time in order to link up with the ideal investor that is looking to back the exact type of cannabis idea that you have come up with, and that is not an easy thing to do.

Rather than flying all over the globe pitching your idea to investor after investor and likely wasting enormous amounts of time and financial resources, a much more efficient way is to apply to pitch at the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference Global Investment Forum in Berlin on July 18, 2022.

The International Cannabis Business Conference Global Investment Forum in Berlin will feature hand-picked cannabis companies participating in a pitch session in front of top investors on the International Cannabis Business Conference Main Stage. It is a tremendous opportunity for cannabis companies in the emerging cannabis industry to showcase their products/services in front of seasoned industry investors. The pitch session is also open to service providers looking for reliable and high-end clients.

“We know how hard it is for quality investors to link up with vetted cannabis industry companies offering valuable investment opportunities,” says Alex Rogers, founder of the International Cannabis Business Conference event series. “That is why we are bringing the Global Investment Forum back to Berlin. It will be a prime networking opportunity for cannabis industry investors, entrepreneurs, and industry service providers alike.”

The timing of the Global Investment Forum itself could not be better, with Germany moving closer to full adult-use legalization every month. Germany’s Health Minister recently announced support for speeding up the timeline for legalization to as soon as this summer. Once Germany legalizes it will instantly become the largest national adult-use market on the planet in the heart of the European continent. The profit potential of the looming industry in Europe is enormous.

With that in mind, there is literally no better place on earth to pitch your cannabis company in 2022 than this summer at the International Cannabis Business Conference Global Investment Forum in Berlin. The pitch session will be limited to seven cannabis companies that are seeking at least one million USD in investments.

The selected companies will pitch on the International Cannabis Business Conference Main Stage in front of 150 accredited international investors representing firms and other entities from all over the globe. If you are looking for the right investor to help you crush it at the international level, submit your pitch deck at: https://internationalcbc.com/pitch-deck/

euros money currency euros money currency

How Accurate Are European Cannabis Industry Projections?

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

It is still far too early to be able to project any real numbers with authority as multiple countries have still not passed comprehensive market reform

By now, guestimates about cannabis market size in Europe it is a veritable cottage industry. Namely “projecting” the size and growth of the European cannabis industry – either by country or region is a regular “thing.” How accurate such guesswork is, however, is highly debatable. Here is why.

Medical Demand Is Still Patchy

The German cannabis market has definitely grown in the last five years. This is for several reasons. The first is that in 2017, the German government mandated that insurers reimburse the costs of medical cannabis when prescribed by a doctor. The second is that while it is possible to track the slow growth of this market, future volume is also unclear. From the start of market sales here, German producers have not come close to meeting market demand, and insurers have been routinely turning down about 40% of applicants and for a variety of reasons. Until more trials are done, insurers are able to refuse coverage based on old trial data. This was not the intent of the 2017 legislation – namely the law says that if a doctor prescribes cannabis for a patient as a drug of last resort, the insurer is supposed to reimburse. That has not been how it has worked in practice.

Recreational Markets Are Too Young to Gauge

Here are a few absolutes about the market now. Germany will legalize a recreational market, but what the parameters will be are impossible to predict. This includes real sales, and of course, home grow. Beyond this, at least in Germany, the CBD industry still has no protection (like in the UK). Even here, other economic conditions, namely inflation, are going to have a damper on market growth – simply because this is still a “luxury” industry. In Italy, medical cultivation happens solely on a military base and the CBD biz, while growing, also has to compete with inflationary pressure. There is certainly a great deal of potential, but anyone who tells you that they can predict, with any accuracy, how big any of these markets will be is lying.

Switzerland Can Create a Little Insight

Here is why Switzerland may be a more fertile ground to create guestimates. There will be a set number of participants per Canton (or state) for the next couple of years. It will be able to project how many participants will be a part of the trial, and potentially the worth of what they might buy. For this reason, the market here is a good straw man – but not really applicable anywhere else.

Holland Is Unreliable

Yes, there is a national cultivation trial in progress, however, the Mayor of Amsterdam keeps making noises about shutting tourists out of the semi-legit market in Amsterdam. Nobody really knows, including the Dutch, what is about to happen, much less what the market is going to look like in five years.

Legislation Is in Flux in Other Countries

Then of course there is the soft stance on cannabis reform everywhere else. It was supposedly a sure thing that Luxembourg and Portugal would have announced plans for their own recreational markets. That has not happened for the entirety of 2022. Nor has any other big movement anywhere else.

For all of these reasons, it is really impossible to accurately judge the size of the market other than to say that it will increase. That is, at least, a step in the right direction. However, beyond this, educated projections are still a long way off.

UK Government Fund Invests In Cannabis Company

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

During the pandemic, the United Kingdom set up a fund called the ‘British Business Bank’s Future Fund.’ The aim of the taxpayer-backed fund was to ‘support innovative companies that might have struggled to secure money during the pandemic.’

The fund recently announced another round of applicant approvals, and among the winners of the government investments was a cannabis company that specializes in making hemp-derived oil. Per excerpts from The Guardian:

The UK government has become a shareholder in a cannabis oil company, a yoghurt bar business, a London-based craft brewery and a maker of land, underwater and air drones that “take inspiration from the clever tricks that animals use to move”.

The latest round of investments include Grass & Co, founded by brothers Ben and Tom Grass in 2019, which makes cannabidiol (CBD) products using chemicals found in hemp, which are stocked in stores including Selfridges and Boots.

According to coverage by The Guardian, the fund has shelled out over £1.4 billion to a total of 1,190 companies so far, with 335 of those companies converting government loans into government equity stakes after finding private investments to match the government’s money.

The investment into the CBD oil company is bittersweet, in that it’s obviously great news for the recipient and great to see the United Kingdom recognize the economic potential of the merging cannabis industry, however, to some degree it highlights the deficiencies of the United Kingdom’s medical cannabis program.

As we previously reported, out of an estimated 1.4 million suffering patients, only thousands of patients have been prescribed a cannabis product by the United Kingdom directly, or indirectly via a private medical practitioner.

Patients deserve unfettered safe access to all forms of effective medical cannabis, which is unfortunately not the case in the United Kingdom.

 

cape town south africa cape town south africa

Request For Proposals For Cannabis Businesses Requested By South African Government

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

The Gauteng provincial government and the federal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development have requested interested parties to submit business partnership proposals

As of April 29, the South African government has released an announcement that they are looking for proposals to “unlock economic opportunities and job creation” through the development of the cannabis vertical.

The specific areas for development being considered include:

  • Funding and capitalization ideas to underwrite both hemp and cannabis cultivation, processing, and distribution.
  • Exchange, trading, and aggregation platforms for both domestic and export purposes. This will include both certification and QA processing.
  • Aggregation schemes for the vertical.
  • Carbon reduction and other phytoremediation programs including the rehabilitation of lands devastated by mining.

The Gauteng government is offering both leases on state-owned land as well as tenancy in special economic zones created specifically for this purpose.

This development is a direct outgrowth of the announcement by the premier of Gauteng, David Makhura in February of this year.

The focus, for now at least, is to build a “cannabis hub” focusing on medical and industrial use rather than the creation of a recreational market.

A Key Economic Differentiator

South Africa has taken a global lead in focusing on the development of the cannabis industry, unseen anywhere else in the world to date. The hope is that by developing a high-tech agricultural industry here, the government will open the door to over 130,000 new jobs being created by industry partners.

These efforts have not gone entirely unnoticed by the rest of the world. Greece has been on a cannabis development path to attract foreign investment for the past several years, although Covid and the lack of reform in the rest of Europe has put a dent in those plans as well as delayed them. So has the Channel Island of Guernsey.

Beyond Greece and Guernsey in Europe, several Latin American countries are now examining the sector for the same reason, although the countries that are most interested in the same may run into issues that South Africa will not. Namely, that rainforests will be further decimated by landless farmers looking to produce cannabis.

So far, in South Africa, the focus has been to create a planned “cannabis hub” and further to focus on cultivation that also has an environmental slant to it.

Sadly, more developed countries have not followed suit. However, as the project in South Africa develops, it will be interesting to see the impact elsewhere as reform continues to progress globally.

trinidad and tobago beach coast ocean trinidad and tobago beach coast ocean

Cannabis Control Bill Moves Forward In Trinidad And Tobago

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

Trinidad and Tobago’s emerging medical cannabis industry received a big boost on Friday when the Caribbean nation’s House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass the Cannabis Control Bill 2020.

The bill would, among other things, set up the Trinidad and Tobago Cannabis Licensing Authority which would serve as the regulatory body for the nation’s medical cannabis industry.

As I previously reported, part of the measure would create licenses for religious use. The religious use licensing provisions seemed to be causing some concern among religious groups and at least one lawmaker leading up to the vote, however, those concerns were obviously not enough to prevent the unanimous vote.

There are five cannabis licenses that people who use cannabis for religious purposes would be able to apply for according to the measure:

  • a cultivator license
  • dispensary
  • import license
  • export license
  • transport license

Cannabis was decriminalized in Trinidad and Tobago in 2019, and people can possess up to 30 grams of cannabis and cultivate up to 4 plants on their own property. The recently passed measure would create economic opportunities if it makes it all the way to the finish line, especially in rural areas, as touched on by coverage from Newsday:

In his wind-up on the motion Minister of Local Government and Rural Affairs Faris Al-Rawi said the bill would give the country opportunities to make some “serious money” even as the broader relaxation of the law on cannabis consumption (by the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill has greatly helped to unclog the country’s legal justice system. He said the commercial handling of cannabis under the Cannabis Control Bill will not be impeded by the Dangerous Drugs Act, Proceeds of Crime Act, Medical Board Act, or Pharmacy Board Act.

He said the bill will allow individuals entering the cannabis industry to become bankable, without any risk of correspondent bank failure.

“People have the opportunity to make some serious money in a serious industry.”

The Cannabis Control Bill now moves to the upper house (Senate) of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.

tobacco plants leaf tobacco plants leaf

Malawi Farmers Considering Cannabis As Demand For Tobacco Declines

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

The life of a small-scale farmer is not an easy one. After all, there are no set hours and there are no days off. From sunrise to sunset you have to do as much as you can to get the most out of every day, especially during non-winter months.

Tobacco farmers have it even harder in that the crop that they cultivate is surrounded by a great deal of stigma, and understandably so. Smoked tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death on earth.

With that being said, not every tobacco farmer is greedy and evil. Many simply cultivate tobacco because that is essentially their only option. For some farmers in Malawi, cultivating tobacco is the foundation of their existence.

Malawi ranks 7th globally for overall tobacco production and leads the world in cultivating the ‘burley’ tobacco variety. Burley tobacco leaf is commonly used for making cigarettes.

As demand for tobacco products continues to decline around the world, farmers in Malawi are scrambling to try to find a new crop to cultivate.

More and more farmers are considering cannabis as an alternative to tobacco, however, the price for licenses is extremely steep, especially considering that Malawi is one of the poorest countries on earth. Per Africa News:

Growers, who operate in groups of around 30, have on average to cough out $10,000 per collective in farming licence fees alone.

Easing the process of obtaining cannabis licences would give farmers an immediate boost.

“It takes just about three months to mature, and then boom, we have the forex,” said Tchereni.

“Licences can’t be this expensive.”

Malawi is not the only country in Africa that is considering making the transition from cultivating tobacco to cultivating cannabis.

As we previously reported, Zimbabwe is also seeing an uptick in interest in cannabis among farmers. Zimbabwe is Africa’s largest overall producer of tobacco.

london bridge england united kingdom britain london bridge england united kingdom britain

How Many UK Patients Are Being Privately Prescribed Cannabis?

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

The United Kingdom is a fairly rough place when it comes to safe access to medical cannabis. The country’s medical cannabis program is notoriously restrictive, leaving suffering patients with little to no options depending on the situation.

For starters, the number of medical products that are considered to be legal in the United Kingdom is very low. Raw flower is not available to patients, and patients are not permitted to cultivate their own cannabis.

The National Health Service only allows cannabis-based products. Below is the definition of what that involves, via the National Health Service’s website:

There are three broad requirements that a product should satisfy:

  • The product is or contains cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol or a cannabinol derivative
  • It is produced for medicinal use in humans; and
  • It is a product that is regulated as a medicinal product, or an ingredient of a medicinal product.

The definition is necessarily broad to take account of the range of preparations which are cannabis-based that have been used for therapeutic purposes and to ensure that raw products/ingredients and intermediate products are captured.This is essential to ensure that where there is a clinical need, a patient will be able to access appropriate cannabis-based medicines and/or products can be made to meet any prescription.

Patients can get a prescription for a cannabis-based product through the National Health Service (NHS), however, as of last summer only 3 prescriptions had reportedly been issued by NHS.

Filling the void left by the NHS is private prescriptions. The prescriptions can only be issued by clinicians listed on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council, and even then, the products eligible for a prescription are limited.

According to a new report from Prohibition Partners, private prescriptions have risen in the last two years. Below is an excerpt from their report:

Based on Prohibition Partners’ calculations, which conservatively assume all quarters in 2021 are equal, the annual number of products for last year amounted to 23,466 – a 425% increase on 2020. Things are moving more quickly elsewhere in the UK. On the island of Jersey, with a population of just over 100,000 inhabitants, more than 2,000 prescriptions were filled from January 2019 up to late 2021.

To put the figures into perspective, Prohibition Partners estimates that there are as many as 1.4 million patients in the United Kingdom that would purchase medical cannabis products if they were able to.

With that in mind, the uptick in private prescriptions in the UK is welcomed news, however, the UK’s medical cannabis program still has a long way to go when it comes to improving safe access for suffering patients.

In addition to expanding the type of products that patients can acquire, such as raw flower, patients also need to be able to cultivate their own medicine if they choose to do so, among other much-needed improvements.

international cannabis business conference berlin 2021 international cannabis business conference berlin 2021

International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin 2022 Preview

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is coming back to Berlin, Germany on July 19-20, 2022. Offering world-class industry networking opportunities, the Berlin International Cannabis Business Conference is the largest B2B cannabis trade event in Europe and is also the longest-running cannabis B2B conference on the continent. The conference will once again feature a unique blend of cannabis policy, advocacy, industry, and networking.

Germany is home to the largest economy in the European Union and is poised to serve as the cannabis industry capital of Europe going forward. The cannabis industry is evolving rapidly in Germany, with the country’s medical cannabis program increasing in size with every passing day.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is the leading B2B cannabis event series on earth. Events have been held in the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland. Additional locations in other countries are being identified and will be announced in the future. Over 5,000 attendees and 350 companies sponsors and exhibitors are expected at the Berlin International Cannabis Business B2B Conference in 2022.

International Cannabis Business Conference events are attended by leading policymakers, executives, and entrepreneurs from all over the world, with over 80 countries being represented at previous events. The event series is the best way for innovators and inventors to get their products or services in front of the top influencers and decision-makers in the cannabis space, as well as for investors to network with aspiring entrepreneurs.

The conference series consistently features world-class speakers that cannabis entrepreneurs, advocates, and consumers from all backgrounds can learn from and be entertained by. At the conclusion of the 2022 B2B event, attendees will be able to enjoy one of the International Cannabis Business Conference’s famous after-parties. This year’s B2B event after-party in Berlin will feature the multi-Grammy award-winning reggae band Morgan Heritage. After a conference of learning from true-cannabis experts and networking with cannabis enthusiasts from around the globe, the after-party featuring Morgan Heritage is the perfect way to unwind.

A cannabis industry revolution is sweeping Europe, and Germany is at the center of it. If you’re serious about succeeding in the cannabis industry, check out the International Cannabis Business Conference’s flagship program in Berlin in July. Leading cannabis entrepreneurs and policymakers from around the world will be in attendance and the networking and educational opportunities will be unparalleled.

You can secure tickets now and take advantage of the early bird pricing discount (expires June 22nd). Below is a preview video of what attendees can expect in Berlin:

johannesburg south africa johannesburg south africa

South Africa Approves First Cannabis Pharmacy

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Business, Politics.

The pharmacy, located in Johannesburg, supplies card-carrying medical cannabis patients and is registered with federal authorities

South Africa is powering forward with its cannabis reform plans. The country has now authorized its first legal cannabis-only pharmacy.

Located in Johannesburg, THC Pharmacy also supplies two other stores – both of which only sell CBD. CBD is now widely available in South Africa, however, THC is tightly controlled – and is still only allowed for medical purposes.

A doctor associated with the pharmacy assists patients with the application for medical cards.

Each card enables a patient to purchase up to 120 grams per month and the pharmacy is hoping to register 500 patients. This would allow the business to sell between 30-50 kgs per month.

Patients must fill out an application that is submitted to the South African Health Product Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) which is also the agency that dispenses the patient cards.

But in a unique twist, the pharmacy also employs a chef to advise patients on how to cook with the plant.

To obtain the business license, the pharmacy had to meet strict standards set out by Sahpra. As it has passed these, the establishment is able to not only sell cannabis but also legally cultivate it.

More than 100 pharmacies are now planned.

More Cannabis Reform in Progress

South Africa is determined to develop this part of its economy – and for obvious reasons. There is high demand for quality products outside the country in Europe and beyond. However, the country is also making sure that domestic needs will be met as well.

This is a marked turn in the development of the industry. For example, Greece, which is also on the hunt for both foreign investment and valuable export crops, did not allow domestic patients to obtain cannabis, even for medical purposes, until earlier this spring.

Beyond this, South Africa is moving forward on all fronts when it comes to cannabis cultivation and use and has since 2018. There is currently a bill in Parliament to extend cannabis reform to allow recreational use, commercial cultivation and for individuals to grow the plant at home. It is widely expected to pass this year.

Beyond this, the country is clearly acting as a force for cannabis reform across the continent. More and more African countries are looking to the development of the industry here to base their own cannabis reform and cultivation efforts.

In the meantime, it is clear South Africa intends to lead the way.