Policy – Page 12 – International Cannabis Business Conference

Chile Is Considering Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on April 12, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis measures, regional adult-use pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and top courts in multiple other countries have ruled against adult-use prohibition policies.

Chile is another country that may join the list of legalized nations, with lawmakers having recently introduced a measure that would legalize cannabis for adult use in the South American country if approved.

“Chile is entering a new chapter in its cannabis policy. Lawmakers have introduced a comprehensive bill to regulate adult-use cannabis, advocacy groups are rallying behind it and one of the country’s top presidential candidates has pledged to push for legalization if elected.” stated Benzinga in its original coverage.

“The bill outlines several major changes: adults would be allowed to cultivate up to six flowering plants, store up to 800 grams annually and carry up to 40 grams in public. Consumption would remain restricted to private spaces; public use—including in schools, transport or around minors—would be prohibited. Cultivation collectives of up to 500 members would be legal as long as distribution is limited to members and not commercialized.” the outlet also reported.

Cannabis legalization models differ across the globe, with no two jurisdictions having the exact same legalization model. Canada has the most robust adult-use commerce system, with sales permitted nationwide, including sales to non-residents. Uruguay also permits adult-use sales, yet they are limited to residents only.

What is being proposed in Chile is more akin to legalization models in Germany and Malta, both of which permit home cultivation, personal possession, and cultivation associations. However, the cultivation and possession limits being proposed in Chile are considerably greater than what is currently permitted in Germany and Malta.

Germany’s Coalition Announces No Changes To CanG Law For Now

Written by Johnny Green on April 9, 2025. Posted in Policy.

After months of speculation, the new German governing coalition announced today that it has agreed on what to do regarding the nation’s adult-use cannabis legalization law (CanG) and that the coalition has decided to keep legalization in place.

No changes to the law are reportedly being made right now, although future evaluations will occur as part of the coalition agreement. The new governing coalition is expected to revisit the topic when the results of ongoing evaluations become available in Q4 2025.

The coalition announcement comes after polling found little support for a CanG reversal. A recent YouGov poll has found that a minority (38%) of the nation’s citizens support reversing German adult-use cannabis legalization.

Additionally, 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 the Forsa survey respondents indicated that they want to repeal legalization, with the rest being undecided.

Various German organizations also expressed opposition to a CanG reversal. 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 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.

German pharmacist Florian Sedlmeier and other members of Germany’s pharmacy industry also publicly pushed back on the recent effort by cannabis opponents in Germany to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic drug in the European nation.

“Pharmacist Florian Sedlmeier warns against reclassifying medicinal cannabis as a narcotic drug (BtM). Such a step would increase the bureaucratic burden and make it more difficult to provide patients with rapid care, ” stated the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) in its recent newsletter, citing an article from apotheke-adhoc. “He considers the concern expressed by SPD Health Minister Clemens Hoch that medicinal cannabis can be ordered too easily online to be understandable, but stresses that pharmacies carefully check prescriptions and licenses.”

Starting on April 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can cultivate, possess, and consume personal amounts of cannabis. Additionally, as of July 1st, 2024, people can apply to start a cultivation association in Germany, with 133 associations being approved so far. Research-based pilot trials are also part of Germany’s legalization model, with over two dozen applications currently under review.

A major provision of the CanG law that remains unchanged pertains to how cannabis is classified in Germany. Part of the April 2024 cannabis policy modernization adoption involved removing cannabis from Germany’s Narcotics List.

The removal drastically improved safe access to medical cannabis in Germany, made the medical cannabis supply chain more efficient, and removed some of the barriers to medical cannabis research.

“The Cannabis Act has a very positive impact on patient care, so reversals should be prevented. Instead, the existing regulations should be better monitored.” Armin Prasch, Medical Cannabis Department Coordinator at BvCW, previously stated.

According to a recent report by the Bloomwell Group, prescriptions for medical cannabis in Germany increased by roughly 1,000% between March 2024 and December 2024. The report also found that prices for medical cannabis products are decreasing in Europe’s largest medical cannabis market.

During the first three full months following Germany’s enactment of the CanG adult-use legalization law (Q3 2024), legal medical cannabis imports increased by over 70% compared to the previous period.

(This is breaking news, and this article will be updated as further details of the coalition agreement are identified.)

Judge In Germany Advocates For Treating Cannabis Like Alcohol

Written by Johnny Green on April 8, 2025. Posted in Policy.

The cannabis advocacy slogan ‘regulate cannabis like alcohol’ originated in the State of Colorado in the United States as part of the successful 2012 state-level recreational cannabis legalization campaign. The sensible slogan was effective for many reasons and has since been incorporated by advocates in other jurisdictions.

According to international researchers at the World Health Organization, roughly 2.6 million deaths were caused by alcohol consumption in 2019 alone. Conversely, no human has ever died because of cannabinoid toxicity in recorded human history.

If adult humans can be trusted by world governments to consume alcohol responsibly, the same should be true for adults consuming cannabis responsibly, and public policies should reflect it. That is at the core of recent comments made by a judge in Germany.

“We should treat cannabis like alcohol,” stated German juvenile court judge Andreas Müller in a recent interview with Frankfurter Rundschau (translated from German to English). Judge Müller also described attempts to reverse adult-use cannabis legalization in Germany as “politics without common sense.”

Several changes to Germany’s current approach to cannabis regulation would need to be made for cannabis to be treated like alcohol, not the least of which is permitting retail sales of adult-use cannabis products.

Currently, adults in Germany can legally source recreational cannabis products in two ways. The first is to cultivate it themselves in their private residences. The second requires becoming a member of a licensed cultivation association. Roughly 133 cultivation associations have received approval in Germany so far.

Eventually, research-based pilot trials are expected to launch in Germany, which will provide another avenue for adult cannabis consumers to pursue. Unfortunately, robust nationwide retail sales like what is found in Canada are prohibited in Germany until European Union agreements are modernized.

German Pharmaceutical Association Emphasizes Positive Impact Of Legalization

Written by Johnny Green on April 8, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

One year after the implementation of the initial components of Germany’s adult-use legalization measure, the German Association of Pharmaceutical Cannabinoid Companies (BPC) is emphasizing the positive effects of the public policy change.

“The Cannabis Act (CanG) entered into force on April 1, 2024. The resulting changes, both in the area of medicinal cannabis and in the area of recreational cannabis, have since had a major impact on the general handling of cannabis in Germany.” BPC stated in a press release (translated from German to English).

A little over one year ago, Germany started to allow adults to cultivate, possess, and consume personal amounts of cannabis. Additionally, cannabis was removed from Germany’s Narcotics List, which was a major policy change that has dramatically improved the nation’s medical cannabis industry.

“With regard to medical use, the removal of cannabis from the Narcotics Act (BtmG) and the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles, for example, regarding the cultivation of medicinal cannabis in Germany, but also regarding medical prescriptions, were essential to ensure low-threshold access for patients. This progress is expressly welcomed by the German Association of Pharmaceutical Cannabinoid Companies.” BPC stated.

“The Cannabis Act has also further increased the importance of the cannabis industry operating in Germany compared to other countries. The increased interest in medicinal cannabis as a treatment option and simplified medical prescriptions were key factors in this.” BPC also stated. “According to estimates by the BPC and the Cannabis Industry Association (BvCW), the cannabis industry’s total revenue will amount to around one billion euros in 2025 – approximately 100 million euros in investments from foreign investors were already acquired in 2024.”

“Especially against the backdrop of Germany’s currently weakening economy, the Cannabis Act thus also forms the basis for economic development that can create numerous jobs and generate substantial tax revenues.” BPC pointed out.

BPC, in conjunction with the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW), is calling for further improvements to Germany’s cannabis policies and regulations, in addition to urging lawmakers to refrain from rolling back recent policy modernizations.

“The Cannabis Act is a milestone for cannabis patients in Germany. We must build on this foundation, consolidate the legal and economic framework, and integrate cannabis therapy into standard care in the long term,” says Antonia Menzel, Chair of the BPC.

“The Cannabis Act has a very positive impact on patient care, so reversals should be prevented. Instead, the existing regulations should be better monitored.” stated Armin Prasch, Medical Cannabis Department Coordinator at BvCW.

“The cannabis industry as a whole is a growth market in which young companies offer well-paid jobs. We should not also regulate this innovative industry to ruin.” added Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap of the Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics.

Brazil Supreme Court Issues Major Cannabis Decision

Written by Hazel Norman on April 7, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis legalization measures, and adult-use pilot trials are operating in multiple jurisdictions in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Another area of emerging cannabis policy can be found via court decisions. Landmark court decisions have been handed down in such nations as Spain, Italy, and Mexico. South Africa’s top court struck down cannabis prohibition laws before the African nation’s lawmakers eventually adopted a legalization measure to further codify the court’s previous decision.

Brazil is the latest country to experience a landmark court ruling in favor of adult-use cannabis consumers. Below is more information about what the court decided and its potential impact via a news release from NORML:

Brasilia, Brazil: Brazilians may possess up to 40 grams of cannabis and home-cultivate up to six marijuana plants without the threat of arrest or incarceration, according to a determination by members of the Supreme Federal Court.

The decision affirms and clarifies an earlier decision depenalizing low-level marijuana possession. The use of cannabis in public remains subject to administrative penalties. Cannabis trafficking remains punishable by criminal penalties.

An estimated 25 percent of Brazilian prisoners are serving time for minor drug possession offenses.

In 2018, South Africa’s highest court similarly determined that the use of marijuana by adults in private is constitutionally protected behavior. Lawmakers eventually signed legislation into law in 2024, codifying the personal use of marijuana by adults.

Study: Net Social Benefit Of Czech Legalization Is 34.4-107.6 Million Euros Annually

Written by Johnny Green on April 7, 2025. Posted in Policy.

A team of researchers affiliated with Charles University in the Czech Republic and the University of New South Wales in Australia recently collaborated on a study that examined the potential ‘social benefit’ effects of adult-use cannabis legalization in Czechia.

“Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide. In countries with repressive drug policies, the costs of its prohibition plausibly outweigh the benefits.” the researchers stated in their study, the findings of which were published in the academic publication Journal of Cost-Benefit Analysis.

In recent years, a major push has been underway in the Czech Republic to modernize the nation’s cannabis policies to permit cannabis use and other activities by adults. Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa.

Top courts in a handful of other nations have rendered decisions providing adults some degree of legal protection for certain recreational cannabis activities.

“We conduct a cost–benefit analysis of cannabis legalization and regulation in the Czech Republic, taking into consideration alternative scenarios designed using parameters from the known effects of cannabis legalization in selected U.S. states, Canada, and Uruguay. Our analysis focuses on tax revenues, law enforcement costs, the cost of treatment and harm reduction, and the value of Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs).” the team of international researchers stated about their Czech-focused study’s methodology.

“Under all the projected scenarios, the identified benefits of legalizing cannabis for personal use exceed the potential costs. The estimated net social benefit of legalization is in the range of 34.4 to 107.6 million EUR per year (or between 3.2 and 10.1 EUR per capita), depending on the size of the cannabis market and the development of cannabis prices after legalization.” the researchers concluded.

Starting on April 1st, 2025, all licensed doctors in the Czech Republic can prescribe medical cannabis. Previously, only specialist doctors could do so. Doctors in the Czech Republic prescribed 318.7 kilograms of medicinal cannabis in 2024 to an average of roughly 3,300 patients per month.

Additionally, starting in July of this year, the Czech Republic will regulate sales of cannabis products containing up to one percent THC.

A New Phase For Cannabis Pilot Trials In The Netherlands

Written by Hazel Norman on April 7, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Retail adult-use cannabis outlets participating in pilot trial research projects in the Netherlands entered into a new era today, with sales of recreational pilot trial cannabis flower products being limited to flowers originating from regulated sources. Previously, pilot trial participants could sell cannabis flower products produced by unregulated sources.

“From today, all coffeeshops in the ten participating municipalities are only allowed to sell cannabis grown by regulated cultivators.” reported NL Times in its local coverage. “This involves almost 80 coffeeshops in Almere, Arnhem, Breda, Groningen, Heerlen, Hellevoetsluis, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Tilburg, and Zaanstad.”

“This is a big step because it puts an end to the tolerance policy – in which coffeeshops were allowed to sell cannabis, but authorities turned a blind eye to where they got their supply because cultivation was illegal – in these municipalities.” the outlet also reported.

Some participants of the pilot trials had previously expressed concern about potential supply issues. Many regulated cannabis producers have indicated that they have experienced various setbacks in their operations.

Hash products were also originally slated to be part of the April 7th deadline; however, Minister of Justice David van Weel and State Secretary for Prevention Vincent Karremans previously announced that the deadline for requiring hash pilot trial products to come from regulated sources will be delayed until June 10th, 2025.

Another Historic International Cannabis Business Conference In Barcelona

Written by Johnny Green on April 2, 2025. Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy, Science.

The International Cannabis Business Conference, Spain’s largest cannabis B2B event, was held at the iconic L’Auditori de Cornellà in Barcelona, Spain, on March 13th, 2025. The International Cannabis Business Conference again partnered with Spannabis to put on another historic cannabis super-conference.

For the last decade, the International Cannabis Business Conference event series has served as the world’s premiere destination for industry networking, policy education, and entertainment.

Barcelona’s rich cannabis history and culture made it the perfect backdrop for the event. The conference also occurred when lawmakers and regulators are closer than ever to adopting a modernized medical cannabis industry regulatory system. Spain’s emerging industry is one of the largest on the planet, however, much remains unregulated.

Domestic medical cannabis production is permitted in Spain but is geared toward supplying research projects and international exports. A modernized framework is needed to boost safe access for Spain’s patients and provide greater certainty for entrepreneurs and investors.

Dozens of world-class experts provided presentations and panel discussions covering a wide range of important topics at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Barcelona, including:

International business development and strategy
Seed to sale operations
Branding and marketing
Capital raising
Cross-border IP licensing
Mergers and acquisitions
Non-psychative cannabinoids
European medical cannabis supply chain
Impacts of German cannabis policy modernization
Lessons learned from a decade of Uruguay legalization
Cannabis genetics
Industrial hemp
European Union cannabis data
Emerging cannabis cultivation technology
Forming strategic partnerships

Spain’s cannabis industry is estimated to be worth 358.4 million euros, according to an analysis by Euromonitor International.

Spannabis previously teamed up with the International Cannabis Business Conference to host past super-conferences, and the collaborations were a tremendous success. The 2025 cannabis super-conference was the largest and most exciting collaboration to date.

Poll Finds Little Support For Reversing German Legalization

Written by Hazel Norman on April 2, 2025. Posted in Policy.

After a year of cannabis legalization being the law of the land in Germany, a new YouGov poll has found that a minority of the nation’s citizens want to reverse adult-use cannabis legalization. Conservative lawmakers in Germany have pushed for a reversal in recent months.

“Thirty-eight percent support reversing legalization, according to a survey conducted by the YouGov polling institute on behalf of the German Press Agency. Another 38 percent are in favor of maintaining legalization within its current framework. Eleven percent support even greater liberalization with fewer restrictions. Thirteen percent did not answer this question.” reported Frankfurter Rundschau in its local reporting.

“Even after controlled legalization, the survey shows that the vast majority still don’t smoke marijuana. 87 percent said they haven’t consumed cannabis since legalization. “Yes, but not because of legalization,” said 4 percent. Accordingly, 3 percent smoked marijuana because of legalization.” the outlet also reported.

Starting on April 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can cultivate, possess, and consume a personal amount of recreational cannabis. Additionally, starting on July 1st, 2024, adults can apply to launch an adult-use cultivation association in Germany. So far, at least 133 cultivation associations have gained approval, with hundreds more currently having their applications reviewed.

Another component of the German CanG law involves permitting regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials. The research-based pilot trials will help lawmakers and regulators gather data and insight. Federal regulators are currently processing 26 pilot applications.