Policy – Page 29 – International Cannabis Business Conference

Recapping The Historic 2024 International Cannabis Business Conference In Berlin

Written by Johnny Green on May 7, 2024. Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy, Science.

Thousands of leading international cannabis investors, entrepreneurs, inventors, policymakers, regulators, and industry service providers descended upon Berlin, Germany for the annual International Cannabis Business Conference on April 16th-17th, 2024. This year’s two-day International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin took place at the iconic Estrel Berlin Hotel and was the first major cannabis event to occur after Germany’s new adult-use legalization law took effect.

Germany’s recent adoption of its CanG law loomed large over the event, and rightfully so. Germany became the largest country to ever adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure on April 1st, 2024, and the significance of the policy change cannot be overstated. Germany has ushered in a new era for cannabis policy on the European continent, and the International Cannabis Business Conference continues to be at the heart of it all.

Georg Wurth, leader of the German Hemp Association (DHV), kicked off the two-day conference by providing background information about Germany’s history with cannabis policy, how the cannabis movement arrived at where it is currently, and what people can expect in Germany going forward. Wurth also explained what components are involved in Germany’s legalization model, and what advocates can do to help ensure that Germany has the best cannabis policies possible.

Yoko Miyashita, CEO of Leafly, also provided a keynote address at the event. Miyashita shared observations from Leafly’s 13-year history of tracking and operating in jurisdictions that have modernized their cannabis policies to permit adult use. Yoko Miyashita also discussed what lessons other nations can learn from North America’s legalization journey.

Internationally renowned cannabis expert Peter Homberg, a partner at leading business law firm Dentons, provided an update regarding current cannabis policy modernization efforts underway in European Union member nations. Homberg examined major economic developments in Europe’s emerging legal cannabis industry and provided prognostic outlooks on significant legal trends arising from the continent’s cannabis movement.

Rounding out the rest of the Day 1 curriculum for the event was a series of panel discussions on important topics within the emerging global cannabis industry. Videos of each panel discussion from the Berlin event, as well as videos for past International Cannabis Business Conference events, can be viewed on the International Cannabis Business Conference’s YouTube channel.

In addition to the event’s curriculum, the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin featured an exhibition floor where cannabis companies displayed their products and services. The event’s expo floor facilitated a significant amount of industry networking. Against the historical backdrop of legalization in Germany, the excitement level on the expo floor was considerable throughout the two-day event.

No International Cannabis Business Conference event in Berlin would be complete without an after-party, and this year’s conference in Berlin was no exception. The after-party for the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin was headlined by Reggae pioneer Rocker-T. It made for the perfect evening for conference participants after a day full of learning and networking.

Day 2 of the conference kicked off with a keynote address by Barinder S. Bhullar, Senior Vice President of Brains Bioceutical Corp. Bhullar discussed advancing the cannabinoid scientific landscape and the challenges and rewards involved. Bhullar provided strategies and necessary considerations to help minimize risk for sound investment decision-making.

A series of expert panel discussions followed throughout Day 2, with topics ranging from regulations and pharmaceuticals to technological advancements, cultivation, and emerging markets. Videos of each panel discussion from day 2 of the Berlin event can be viewed on the International Cannabis Business Conference’s YouTube channel.

The next International Cannabis Business Conference event will be held in Bled, Slovenia on September 13th, 2024 and anyone interested in emerging cannabis science and technology is encouraged to attend. The next International Cannabis Business Conference event in Berlin will be held on April 29th-30th, 2025. Tickets go on sale starting May 22nd, 2024.

Signature Drive In Switzerland Seeks To Legalize Cannabis For Adult-Use

Written by Hazel Norman on May 6, 2024. Posted in Policy.

Europe is currently home to three nations that have adopted a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure, and if cannabis advocates in Switzerland succeed in their effort, their country could become the fourth.

Currently, Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany have approved legalization measures. Malta did so in 2021, Luxembourg did it in 2023, and Germany’s legalization measure officially came into effect on April 1st, 2024.

Out of the three nations, Germany’s legalization model is the best. All three legal European countries permit cannabis cultivation, possession, and use. However, Luxembourg does not permit adult-use commerce in any form, and in Malta commerce is limited to noncommercial cannabis clubs. In addition to clubs, Germany will also allow regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials.

Switzerland currently has cannabis trials underway, and according to domestic reporting, the signature-gathering effort seeks to take sales nationally. Per Swiss Info:

The people’s initiative, “Cannabis legalisation: opportunities for the economy, health and equality”, wants a new article on cannabis enshrined in the constitution. According to the text of the initiative published in the Swiss Federal Gazette, citizens should be allowed to grow and possess cannabis from the age of 18 for their personal use.

Commercial cannabis growers and sales outlets would require a licence and be subject to strict quality and safety regulations. The proceeds from the taxation of cannabis products would be channelled into drug education, addiction prevention and awareness.

The effort needs to successfully gather 100,000 valid signatures by October 30th, 2025 to trigger a vote. It is worth noting that a similar effort occurred in Italy in recent years, with advocates gathering the necessary signatures. However, Italy’s top court ultimately ruled that the measure was unconstitutional before voters got to decide on it.

If the effort does succeed in getting enough signatures in Switzerland, in addition to being reviewed by Swiss courts, the measure will presumably also be reviewed by the European Union. The European Union indicated in its discussions with Germany that nationwide adult-use cannabis sales are not permitted by current EU agreements.

Will Cannabis Rescheduling In The U.S. Impact The International Cannabis Industry?

Written by Johnny Green on May 6, 2024. Posted in Policy.

News broke yesterday in the United States regarding the cannabis plant’s status at the federal level. After decades of outright cannabis prohibition at the national level in the U.S., the DEA agreed to reschedule cannabis from its current Schedule I status to Schedule III.

Arguably the most significant domestic impact that should arise out of the rescheduling if/when it is implemented is the end of the 280E issue that most cannabis companies face in the United States. A provision of U.S. tax law (280E) prohibits businesses from leveraging many basic tax write-offs if a Schedule I substance is part of their business.

U.S. businesses that ‘touch the plant,’ such as cannabis cultivators and cannabis retailers, pay significantly more in federal taxes every year compared to other agricultural and retail businesses because of 280E. For U.S. businesses that are subjected to 280E, rescheduling to Schedule III may be like winning a lottery. Researchers estimate that ending 280E for the United States cannabis industry would lower the industry’s federal tax burden by over $2 billion per year.

“Today, the Attorney General circulated a proposal to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III,” Justice Department Director of Public Affairs Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement to Marijuana Moment on Tuesday evening. “Once published by the Federal Register, it will initiate a formal rulemaking process as prescribed by Congress in the Controlled Substances Act.”

“Facilitating research and reducing burdens on medical cannabis patients, providers, and the businesses that serve them” are other benefits of the proposed policy change according to the Marijuana Policy Project.

Cannabis advocates in the United States were hopeful that cannabis would be de-scheduled completely, removing all federal criminal penalties for cannabis and leaving the issue largely up to individual states. A move to Schedule III would still keep state-level businesses in the U.S. in conflict with federal policy, and federal criminal penalties for cannabis activity would remain in place.

The emerging international cannabis industry will be a big winner if/when the United States reschedules cannabis, albeit perhaps not in direct ways. Rescheduling in the United States does not replace international agreements that prohibit certain forms of cannabis commerce, including the same type of commerce that is occurring in much of the U.S. However, the butterfly effect of U.S. rescheduling could be substantial.

First and foremost, the symbolism of the United States updating its federal cannabis policy for the first time in over 50 years is significant. The United States once led the charge at the global level to prohibit cannabis in the first place, with many nations adopting parts of the United States’ harmful policies decades ago. The U.S. rescheduling to Schedule III will never right all of the wrongs of prohibition, but it does send a very loud message to the entire world that prohibition is a failed public policy, that it is a new era, and that it’s time for a more sensible approach.

The United States is obviously an important player in the world banking system, and as the cannabis industry continues to go global, entities will need proper access to that system. Jamaica’s Trade Minister previously indicated that his nation’s medical cannabis export industry was experiencing “major roadblocks” when trying to gain access to banking, pointing to federal policy in the United States as contributing to the issues. Perhaps financial institutions will be less hesitant to work with cannabis companies once the U.S. reschedules cannabis. Only time will tell.

Cannabis stocks in North America could be in for a wild ride in the coming years, particularly in the case of Canada. The entire landscape for Canadian and U.S. stocks could be overhauled because U.S. cannabis companies that ‘touch the plant’ are currently prevented from being listed in major U.S. exchanges due to cannabis’ Schedule I status.

Additionally, since cannabis is legal at the national level in Canada, Canadian companies are allowed to be listed on major U.S. exchanges, and many of them also have footprints in other countries. Will a North American stock listing shuffle occur due to rescheduling? A lot of things are still murky, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on, as a tectonic shift could be coming in the not-so-distant future.

United States cannabis companies may still be hindered in many ways if/when cannabis is rescheduled to Schedule III. However, if 280E goes away, and if more U.S. cannabis companies can be listed on major exchanges, some U.S.-based companies will presumably turn their eyes toward the emerging international cannabis industry and develop plans for expansion. For years Canada has held a clear advantage over the United States and other countries on the global stage, but that could be changing to some degree with so much more money flowing through the U.S. industry.

An undeniable winner for everyone across the planet is a looming boost in cannabis research in the United States. Cannabis research in the United States was always hindered by the Schedule I status, presumably by design. A move to Schedule III would remove some of the hurdles that researchers and scientists have historically come up against. Research that is conducted anywhere on Earth, including in the United States, benefits people everywhere by increasing our collective understanding of the cannabis plant and how it can be best utilized by humans.

Canada Received $1.9 Billion From Legal Cannabis Sales In 2022/2023

Written by Hazel Norman on May 6, 2024. Posted in Business, Policy.

Canada became the first G-7 nation on the planet to pass a national adult-use legalization measure in 2018, and only the second country to ever do so. The only country to have passed a national adult-use legalization measure before Canada was Uruguay, which legalized cannabis for adult use in 2013.

However, unlike Uruguay, which limits legal adult-use sales to residents, anyone of legal age (18 years old) can make recreational cannabis purchases from retailers in Canada. Canada remains the largest adult-use policy and industry experiment on Earth.

Statistics Canada recently released new cannabis industry and consumer data, including how much money the legal industry generated for Canadian governments during the 2022/2023 fiscal period. Per excerpts from Statistics Canada:

Sales of recreational cannabis by provincial cannabis authorities and other retail outlets increased 15.8% to $4.7 billion in the 2022/2023 fiscal year. Most of the increase was due to higher sales of inhaled extracts (+59.0%), which accounted for one-quarter of total cannabis sales.

Federal and provincial governments received $1.9 billion from the control and sale of recreational cannabis in 2022/2023, up by almost one-quarter (+24.2%) from a year earlier.

With more than 3,000 legal cannabis stores in Canada, over two in three cannabis consumers bought from the legal market. Among those who used cannabis in the 12 months before the survey, just over 7 out of 10 (71.7%) bought exclusively from legal sources.

Cannabis legalization is succeeding in Canada by every reasonable measure, as demonstrated by the new consumer and industry data from Statistics Canada. In addition to the revenue generated by Canada’s legal industry for public coffers, governments have also saved a considerable amount of public resources by no longer arresting consumers for cannabis activity.

Canada is a glowing example of what is possible when lawmakers take a sensible approach toward cannabis. The nation’s cannabis law is not perfect, however, it is undeniably better than cannabis prohibition and countries would be wise to follow in Canada’s footsteps.

Slovenia Cannabis Referendum Votes Set For June 9th

Written by Johnny Green on May 6, 2024. Posted in Policy.

Slovenia’s Freedom Movement, the largest party of the current ruling coalition, was successful in its push to place consulting referendums related to medical and non-medical cannabis use before Slovenian voters. Slovenia’s voters will decide on a medical cannabis referendum question and a “cultivation and possession of cannabis for limited personal use” question on June 9th.

The referendum questions were approved by Slovenia’s National Assembly on April 25th and voting on them will occur alongside the vote for the European Parliament. Opponents of the referendum sought to delay the votes until November, however, the push to delay the vote was unsuccessful.

According to initial domestic reporting by The Slovenia Times, the cannabis referendum questions evolved during the parliamentary process, “from the initial proposal to inquire about support for the cultivation, processing, sale and use of cannabis for medicinal purposes” to two separate questions.

“The question was changed after the parliamentary legal service reminded the initiators that the sale and use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is allowed already, but not the cultivation.” The Slovenia Times reported in its coverage.

It is worth noting that the referendum questions are not legally binding, and even if the votes are successful, it’s possible that Slovenia’s governing coalition will not adopt them. However, approval of one or both referendum questions would place considerable political pressure on Slovenia’s lawmakers to respect the will of its constituents.

Per an analysis conducted by Marihuana Marš, Študentska Organizacija Univerze v Ljubljani and published in November 2023, Slovenia is home to over 200,000 cannabis consumers. The same researchers determined that roughly 2,000 criminal offenses involving cannabis occur every year in Slovenia.

Slovenia’s recent cannabis referendum vote approval comes amidst a renewed push by local cannabis advocates to work with lawmakers to modernize Slovenia’s cannabis policies. Slovenia is already an international research and development hub for several industries, including the pharmaceutical industry, and local advocates believe that the same could be true for the emerging global cannabis industry.

“Slovenia has a research and development sector framework in place that few other countries have,” stated Alex Rogers, CEO of the International Cannabis Business Conference and co-founder of the Talman Group. “Slovenia’s research facilities, academic institutions, and product development experts are unrivaled, making Slovenia the perfect place for international cannabis entities to conduct their research and development. It’s a matter of modernizing the nation’s policies and regulations to permit such activity for the legal international cannabis industry.”

Medical cannabis is currently permitted in Slovenia, although domestic production is not allowed, as previously noted in coverage by The Slovenia Times. Still, despite Slovenia’s current limited medical cannabis policies, the use of medical cannabis in Slovenia is already proving to be successful in some cases.

“For the past ten years, we have been treating more than 300 children and adolescents with resistant epilepsies/encephalopathies with add-on cannabidiol and medicinal cannabis with great success, as nearly half of them are seizure-free and the rest reduced the number and severity of their seizures thus improving the quality of life of these patients and their families,” stated Dr. David Neubauer who works at the Department of Child, Adolescent and Developmental Neurology at the University of Ljubljana.

The referendum votes in Slovenia come at a time when many nations in Europe are working to reform their cannabis policies and regulations, with the most noteworthy example being in Germany where a new adult-use cannabis legalization measure took effect on April 1st, 2024.

As of April 1st, adults in Germany can cultivate up to three plants in their private residences and possess up to 25 grams of cannabis while away from their homes. Noncommercial cannabis clubs are expected to launch in Germany in July, and eventually, the nation will also be home to regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot projects.

Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot projects are already in operation in Switzerland and the Netherlands, and cannabis cultivation, possession, and consumption are currently legal in Malta and Luxembourg. Only time will tell if the same eventually proves to be true for consumers in Slovenia.

Japan’s Cannabis Market Expanded Sixfold Between 2019-2023

Written by Hazel Norman on April 22, 2024. Posted in Business, Policy.

Japan’s emerging cannabis industry expanded sixfold during four years spanning from 2019 to 2023 according to a new report by Euromonitor International. Japan’s emerging legal cannabis industry currently largely revolves around the buying and selling of CBD products.

In December 2023, Japan’s government lifted a long-time ban on cannabis-derived medications. The approved measure legalized imported, regulated cannabis-derived medical products in Japan.

One such cannabis-derived medication, Epidiolex, has been found to help people who suffer from severe epilepsy. A study conducted in 2019 found that “6.9 per 1000 individuals have epilepsy in the general Japanese population, and that the prevalence of epilepsy increases with age, probably because of elderly onset cerebrovascular diseases.”

The new report by Euromonitor International regarding Japan’s emerging cannabis industry was insightful. Per excerpts from The Japan Times:

Japan’s cannabis market expanded sixfold over four years to ¥24 billion ($154 million) in 2023, a trend that is expected to accelerate with the amendment in December of cannabis laws, market research firm Euromonitor International said in a recent report.

The growing sales of products using CBD (cannabidiol), a compound found in marijuana, are attributed to the rising demand for products that offer relaxation, sleep and stress relief, the firm said, estimating the current number of CBD users in Japan at 588,000.

“The year 2023 marked a pivotal moment for cannabis in Japan, signaling a potential turning point for the country’s CBD market. Recent legal reforms have opened doors for further CBD establishment and development, with the sector gaining attention as a high-growth industry. The increasing utilization of CBD across various sectors, including health, beauty, beverages, and edibles, is expected to reshape societal perceptions of CBD and cannabis.” Euromonitor stated about its new report.

Back in December, the same month that Japan’s government lifted its ban on cannabis-derived medications, the nation’s Health Ministry banned products containing one or more specific synthetic cannabinoids. Six synthetic cannabinoids total were listed in the new ban.

A March 2023 analysis by Comprehensive Research Report found that the global CBD market is projected to reach $59.43 billion by 2030. The researchers estimated that the global CBD market was worth $18.43 billion in 2022.

Germany Celebrates Its First Legal 4/20

Written by Johnny Green on April 22, 2024. Posted in Entertainment, Policy.

History was made over the weekend in Germany where adults celebrated the nation’s first-ever legal April 20th (4/20) on Saturday. For decades the 20th of April has held a special meaning to the global cannabis movement, and that includes Germany’s thriving cannabis community.

Speaking from firsthand experience in the State of Oregon where we legalized cannabis for adult use roughly a decade ago, there are three dates that longtime cannabis advocates will always remember for the rest of their lives.

The first date is when legalization is first approved. In the case of Oregon, it’s when voters first approved a cannabis legalization measure that was on the ballot in November 2014. For Germany, February 23rd, 2024 will forever live in infamy, as it is the date that members of Germany’s Bundestag first approved the CanG bill.

A second date that will forever live in the minds and hearts of Germany’s cannabis community is, of course, April 1st, 2024 – the date that personal cannabis cultivation, possession, and consumption officially became legal.

The third memorable date for cannabis consumers in legal jurisdictions is the first April 20th after legalization has become effective. Longtime cannabis consumers have presumably celebrated on April 20th every year, however, the annual cannabis holiday holds an extra special meaning when people can consume cannabis without fear of incarceration.

To be fair public cannabis use remains prohibited in Germany, although that didn’t stop thousands of cannabis enthusiasts from collectively consuming cannabis on Saturday in the shadows of the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Subsequent 4/20s in Germany will likely yield less public fanfare.

The first-ever legal 4/20 in Germany was made possible by the tireless work of dedicated cannabis advocates in Germany over the course of many decades. Everyone who contributed to Germany’s successful cannabis policy modernization efforts deserves massive kudos, and the International Cannabis Business Conference team salutes them and hopes that they enjoyed their first 4/20 in a post-legalized Germany.

With all of that being said, there is still a lot of work left to be done in Germany and at the European Union level. National adult-use sales are still prohibited in Germany due to European Union agreements, and advocates need to keep working hard until EU agreements are amended to permit robust adult-use commerce.

Additionally, inside of Germany’s borders cannabis advocates need to keep pushing back on the ongoing fearmongering from domestic opponents, and work to ensure that Germany’s implementation of the CanG law is fair and complete. Consumers and patients must be considered throughout the process, and regulations need to be reflective of the will of the people.

Clinging To Failed Prohibition Practices Is The Wrong Move For Hamburg

Written by Johnny Green on April 22, 2024. Posted in Policy.

Germany implemented the first components of its national adult-use cannabis legalization measure (CanG) on April 1, 2024. The historic policy change was widely celebrated inside and outside of Germany’s borders and ushered in a new era for European cannabis policy and industry.

As of the start of April, adults aged 18 and older can cultivate up to three plants in their private residence and possess up to 25 grams when away from their residence. It is also expected that in July Germany will start to permit noncommercial cannabis clubs to operate.

Unfortunately, not everyone was happy about Germany finally getting on the right side of history. Members of the CDU party are throwing what amounts to public tantrums as they continue to air grievances about Germany’s new national cannabis policies to seemingly anyone who will listen.

The latest example can be found via recent comments made by CDU leadership regarding Hamburg’s enforcement of cannabis fines. Per excerpts from original reporting by Legal Tribune Online:

The CDU in the citizenry is calling for a strict catalog of cannabis fines for Hamburg. The Hanseatic city should follow the example of Bavaria, where people aged 14 and over face fines of up to 1,000 euros for violations of the Cannabis Act (CanG) and twice as much in the event of a repeat offense, said parliamentary group leader Dennis Thering of the dpa .

Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) had announced a restrictive application of the CanG for Bavaria, causing astonishment among lawyers. This is what defense lawyer Konstantin Grubwinkler explained in an interview with zdf today, the amount of the planned fines for violations of the CanG are “disproportionate”, especially in comparison with other administrative offenses.

Konstantin Grubwinkler also explained in the Legal Tribune Online’s coverage that fines for speeding violations in Bavaria and Hamburg amount to about one-tenth of the proposed fine amount for possessing too much cannabis in Hamburg.

If history is any guide, enforcing cannabis prohibition policies on consumers, including fines, does not curtail cannabis consumption. Rather, all cannabis prohibition does is ruin lives and waste limited public resources in the process. Law enforcement officials in Hamburg should be focused on fighting real crime, and not clinging to failed cannabis prohibition practices.

Cannabis Decriminalization Measure Expected To Be Introduced In Jersey

Written by Hazel Norman on April 22, 2024. Posted in Policy.

Cannabis reform on the European continent is shaping up to look different than it does in the Western Hemisphere. In North and South America, cannabis legalization involves large-scale cannabis sales such as what is in place in Uruguay, Canada, and parts of the United States.

Cannabis is sold in pharmacies in Uruguay, and via just about every means imaginable in Canada and the United States, from brick-and-mortar storefronts to home delivery. Adult-use cannabis policies in Europe are more of a patchwork of individual exceptions, experimental pilot programs, and noncommercial cannabis clubs.

Germany, which implemented the first provisions of its adult-use measure on April 1st, will eventually incorporate most of Europe’s legalization components and serves as the best example of what legalization will likely look like in Europe in the coming years. Currently, adults in Germany can cultivate, possess, and consume cannabis. This July, noncommercial cannabis clubs are expected to launch.

Eventually, Germany will also permit regional adult-use cannabis legalization pilot programs, such as what is in place in a limited fashion in Switzerland and the Netherlands. Those various components of Germany’s legalization model combine to demonstrate the limits to legalization in Europe due to European Union agreements.

Jersey is the latest country to consider adult-use cannabis policy modernization efforts. A measure is expected to be introduced this year in Jersey that would update the country’s adult-use enforcement policies. Per IVT:

Deputy Tom Coles is drawing up a proposal that would see cannabis decriminalised for personal use on the island.

The rules around cannabis have already eased this year; repeat offenders in possession of small amounts can be sent to their parish hall to be fined rather than going through the courts.

But this latest move would mean that any personal use of small quantities would be decriminalised.

Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands between England and France, is an island nation and self-governing British Crown Dependency. Jersey’s economy currently revolves around finance center activities, with such activity accounting for nearly 40% of economic activity in Jersey and 70% of the island nation’s tax revenue.

Home to an emerging legal medical cannabis industry, according to Jersey’s Economic Development Minister medical cannabis will play a key role in the nation’s economy going forward.