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European Medical Cannabis Sales Doubled from 2017 to 2018

Written by Anthony Johnson on . Posted in Barcelona, Berlin, Business, international cannabis business conference zurich.

Unless you are living under a rock, you know that cannabis legalization, for both medical and adult use purposes, is moving forward nation-by-nation across Europe and around the world. European medicinal sales doubled last year, and we can expect growth to continue rather aggressively as progress begets progress. Germany has been the leader on medical cannabis commerce, and the attendance and interest at the recent International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin demonstrated the optimism industry participants have for the German market. But Germany is certainly not alone, as Italy also showed strong demand, and opportunities abound in burgeoning markets like Switzerland (where the International Cannabis Business Conference is headed on May 15-16), the United Kingdom, Croatia, Spain (where the International Cannabis Business Conference will return to next year!), and several other nations.

Marijuana Business Daily on the release of its extensive report “Medical Cannabis in Europe: The Markets & Opportunities”:

Year-over-year sales doubled in Europe from 2017 to 2018, underpinned by strong demand in Germany and Italy, though the number of MMJ prescriptions decreased in the Netherlands in that time.

Other countries in the European Union took steps in the right direction, either advancing legislation or introducing (or improving) regulations.

Tracking the regulatory progress of these markets is important because it takes years to develop a functional medical cannabis industry – and some markets get snagged over poor, or slow-moving, regulations.

Differing regulations across Europe can make business decisions difficult, especially when trying to do business in North America, and other legal markets as well. Over time, it will be interesting to see whether the EU and other global partners start to harmonize their rules. No matter the current obstacles, the current and future growth of cannabis markets around the world will reward those that stay educated and make the right networking connections.

There is no better place to learn the latest and network with top investors, entrepreneurs, and advocates than the International Cannabis Business Conference. The next International Cannabis Business Conference is in Zurich on May 15-16, a collaboration with CannaTrade. Discounted, early bird tickets are on sale until April 24th. 

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German Cultivation Bids Reverberate Across the Global Cannabis Industry

Written by ICBC Staff on . Posted in Berlin, Business, international cannabis business conference zurich.

The day after the third annual International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, as the crew packed up and headed on to Zurich, news about the German cultivation bid surfaced in the domestic media. Namely, that three bid finalists (Aurora, Aphria and Demecan, a start-up founded with Wayland) had been selected. This is unofficial “news” as not only does the bid process itself face a pending lawsuit that is headed to court in Germany this week, but insiders on the ground in Germany will also not be surprised to see more legal action challenging this decision. So far, BfArM, the federal agency managing the bid has yet to make an official announcement.

Regardless, even the “unofficial” news is a sign that the German market is starting to gain not only traction but formal shape (starting with established pricing).

In the meantime, International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin saw producers from all over the world descend on a cannabis industry gathering that has already earned its stripes if not its rightful moniker as the “Cannes of Cannabis.” Dealmakers came together in Berlin from Australia, Israel, Canada, many countries in Latin America and several from the African continent to sell to Europe and an opening market. As one Australian producer said “there was more demand here than we could possibly fill.”

In fact, several weeks before the International Cannabis Business Conference, signs were already afoot that the market is opening for international competition from all over the world – not just Canada and Holland, as has been the case up until now. Frankfurt based Farmeko announced a 50 tonne, four-year import deal from Macedonia via Poland in mid March.

The biggest news about the bid, however, is not that it seems to be at least resolving for this first round but that other opportunities are opening in its wake – and not only in Germany but across the continent.

Greece is fully engaging the licensing process, it is very likely that Poland may start down the cultivation path soon and the UK and Ireland are all moving questions at this point.

Switzerland, of course, represents another unique wrinkle in all of this and may prove yet to be the market leader in Europe on the recreational front for several reasons – namely it is not an EU member but part of the economic framework of the region.

The combination, however, clearly of all of these fragmented puzzle pieces moving forward, surrounding the activity around the German bid is absolutely one of the strongest catalysts for the entire conversation. Not to mention a conference now in its third year that brings all the movers and shakers together in one place.

This spring, in other words, is a critical building year for the industry across the continent and the International Cannabis Business Conference is right in the middle of the conversation.

It is not too late to book your tickets for the International Cannabis Business Conference’s first year in Zurich, a megaconference team-up with CannaTrade! Early-bird prices end on April 24th.

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Germany, Switzerland, UK, & More: Big European Cannabis News Abounds

Written by ICBC Staff on . Posted in Business, international cannabis business conference zurich.

The forces currently shaping the European cannabis map are intriguing this spring and from several directions. For the latest developments in Europe and across the globe, there will be no better place learn and network with those leading the way, than at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Zurich with Cannatrade. In the meantime, here is a brief overview of how, where and why:

Germany

Like it or not, events in Germany are driving the discussion, agenda and overall sales forward like nowhere else. As a result, the news that the (first) German cultivation bid appears to be nearing decision time (barring its derailment in either a still-pending lawsuit or those now rumoured to be circling the final 3 decision) is a big deal. As a result, there will be some kind of cannabis cultivated auf Deutschland presumably sooner than later now.

For those unfamiliar with European healthcare, governments negotiate the prices of drugs to obtain lower prices. “Government contracts” as these are also known, are bulk purchase agreements (put out by tender bid or competitive RFP) that function to lower prices for wholesale drug purchases. This usually occurs when the patient population is over 10,000 in Germany (orphan drug territory). In the case of cannabis, this is now a pressing matter. There are an estimated 50,000 patients in Germany at present. Delayed and lack of granular data released by the insurance companies is one part of the problem but not the only one. Approvals themselves are a time consuming, expensive process that is also slowing down patient growth dramatically.

That said, with new cultivation pricing now becoming more or less public for the first time, the map of competition and opportunity is getting clearer than it was several years ago. And this will influence the rest of Europe.

The UK and Switzerland

The crazy Limeys may still be haggling over what kind of Brexit Lite they want (if in fact they leave at all) but events in the UK this year will have an outsized impact on what goes on across Europe from a financing perspective. The British capital markets for one are not as shy about this entire conversation as for example the Deutsche Börse. With medical markets finally inching forward all over the continent, the need is clearly in the room for capital that is a bit more aggressive than the appetite (still) in the rest of Europe, including in Germany.

Switzerland also, with its interesting position as a non-EU member and more liberal capital markets is expected to turn into a financial powerhouse for cannabis financing of all kinds.

While markets here are all far more regulated than their North American counterparts, in other words, the emergence of cannabis funds in the UK in particular, makes both countries very attractive places for the accumulation of canna friendly, Euro compliant cannabis investment specialty funds. A continental first.

Holland, Spain, Greece, Luxembourg, Italy

All these countries are moving in interesting ways on the overall debate which is sure to add depth and shade for years to come. All have varying degrees of developing markets. Luxembourg is especially interesting, witht he possibility that the small nation may beat the rest of Europe to ending cannabis prohibition.

For a more in-depth understanding of the shape of the European cannabis market this spring, be sure to attend the International Cannabis Business Conference in Zurich, a team-up hemp expo CannaTrade. Get your early-bird tickets by April 24th to save!

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European Union Hemp Set to Increase THC Percentage

Written by Anthony Johnson on . Posted in Berlin, Business, international cannabis business conference zurich.

Cannabis and hemp are obviously intertwined in reality and politically. Cannabis and hemp are the same plant, but politically and regulatorily, hemp has been classified as basically low-THC cannabis, with allowable THC percentages varying depending upon jurisdictions. In Switzerland, where the International Cannabis Business Conference will be holding its next event in conjunction with the global hemp fair CannaTrade, low-THC cannabis can contain up to 1% THC and be legally sold. European hemp industry participants had hoped to get the European Union hemp THC percentage up to that 1%, but that is going to take a bit more time. In good news, progress is being made, albeit too slowly as allowable THC percentages are expected to increase within the EU in 2021, as Hemp Today reported:

The European Union could soon change the allowed legal THC level in approved hemp varieties from 0.2% to 0.3% after the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development recently approved a batch of proposals for post-2020 reforms to the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).

CAP implements a system of agricultural subsidies and other programs supporting member nations. Introduced in 1962, the program has undergone constant reform and now also embraces rural development.

Increasing allowable THC levels in hemp varieties grown in the EU from 0.2% to 0.3% would return the EU to the limit that was valid up until 1999. While some had called for an increase to a full 1% THC, perhaps a smaller incremental increase was always more likely to be favored.

The pace of much-needed regulatory changes is often maddening, particularly to people with a long history advocating for cannabis and hemp legalization. It can be extremely frustrating to see people knowledgeable on the cannabis plant placed in charge of enforcement policies and combatting debunked Reefer Madness propaganda. Patience and persistence will remain a virtue in the cannabis and hemp industries as the times are a-changin’ and we can expect more and more positive reforms, until the industries are really booming over the next 5-10 years across Europe, North America, and much of the world.

If you want to learn the latest about the hemp and cannabis industries while networking with top investors, entrepreneurs, and advocates from across the globe, the International Cannabis Business Conference in Zurich this May 15th-16th is the place to be. After Zurich, stick around for CannaTrade, Switzerland’s premier hemp expo. Secure your early-bird Zurich tickets by April 24th to save $$$!