Policy – Page 42 – International Cannabis Business Conference

CBD Decree In Italy Is Temporarily Suspended

Written by Hazel Norman on October 16, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Regulating cannabidiol (CBD) products has proven to be a difficult task for most of the world, and Italy is no exception. An August decree in Italy would have classified CBD as a narcotic substance, however, this month a court in Italy temporarily suspended the change.

The suspension is reportedly in effect until October 24th. Local activists with the Sativa Hemp Association Italy had the following to say about the court decision (translated from Italian to English):

Today we celebrate an important success thanks to the unwavering commitment and constant work of the associations at the supply chain table and to the precious intervention of the ICI association which has dedicated itself to this appeal since 2020 and which we have supported by making available all the material relating to recent unjustified seizures to support the precautionary measure and therefore obtaining the immediate suspension of the decree. Together for an important victory.

Mattia Cusani, general secretary of the CSI Association confirmed this news, indicating that the suspension could undergo further developments depending on the interpretations and future applications of the decree.

A request for immediate suspension of the Ministerial Decree of 7 August 2023 was made through a precautionary application. This move was made necessary following inspections and seizures of goods in the CBD, with allegations of violation of the art. 73 of Presidential Decree 304/1990, linked to narcotic substances. The TAR accepted this request, pushing the effectiveness of the Ministerial Decree until the council chamber on 24 October 2023.

This represents just the beginning of a long struggle, but it demonstrates the importance of unity and commitment to protecting the legal cannabis industry.

Italy’s Ministry of Health is reportedly set to argue in favor of the decree when afforded the opportunity in court, and the situation is worth monitoring. To echo what local activists are saying in Italy, this is likely the start of a marathon versus the start of a sprint. Italy is not alone in that regard, and entrepreneurs will have to continue to do their best to navigate the shifting landscape.

How Long Have Humans Used Cannabis?

Written by Hazel Norman on October 15, 2023. Posted in Policy, Science.

The cannabis plant is arguably the most versatile plant on earth and humans have a long history of harnessing its properties for a myriad of purposes. That fact is at the heart of a recent paper published in the European Journal for Chemistry, as first reported by Marijuana Moment.

At the core of the research paper is the history of humankind’s contact with the cannabis plant and how humans have used parts of it as a source of fiber for things such as rope and clothing, for medical and wellness benefits, as part of religious practices, and for recreational use. Few, if any, other plants can boast such a wide array of uses.

“Along with rice, soy, barley, and millet, Cannabis is considered one of the five main grains by ancient people. The seeds found in Cannabis achenes, rich in proteins (such as albumin and edestin) and essential unsaturated fatty acids (such as linoleic and linolenic acids) served as food, input for other culinary purposes, and even soap production.” the paper’s authors stated.

Hemp-based nutrition products, including products designed for elite athletes, are very popular today, particularly protein products. During the 1900s the cannabis plant was subjected to a significant amount of negative propaganda, and as a result, many members of society falsely assumed that it was bad for human health. That perception has evolved a lot in recent years.

“To exemplify the long co-existence with hemp, ancestral archaeological relics date the use of this plant fiber as a fabric to approximately 8000 years before the common era (BCE) as a
material in ancient Mesopotamia (present-day Iran and Iraq), and to 4000 years BCE and 3000 years BCE as a material for ropes in China and Kazakhstan, respectively. Impressively, until
the beginning of the nineteenth century, it was estimated that around 80% of fabrics, candles, ropes, among other items, were produced from hemp.” the paper’s authors pointed out.

Using the cannabis plant’s fibers for textiles is not as common now as it was in previous eras, however, as more products are made from extracting cannabinoids from cannabis plants innovators are exploring ways to maximize the use of the fiber tissue left behind. In addition to using plant fiber for textiles, they can also be used as biomass fuel.

“Used for millennia as a food, fiber production and religious, therapeutic, and recreational instrument, a source of phytocompounds with proven efficacy for clinical conditions of difficult management, its planting, cultivation, use and acquisition are today prohibited – even for researchers who intend to work with this plant! – in the vast majority of countries. Recent efforts try to decriminalize the use of the drug and to expand the medical use and access to patients of Cannabis-based drugs through legislation, but despite successes around the world, it still finds its hindrances.” the paper’s authors stated.

“Cannabis is perhaps one of the greatest controversies in contemporary humanity.” the authors concluded.

‘Expert Panel’ Releases Cannabis Engagement Report In Canada

Written by Hazel Norman on October 15, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Canada became the first G-7 nation to pass an adult-use national cannabis legalization measure roughly five years ago. It still remains the only G-7 nation to do so and provides the best insight into the effects of implementing a robust national legalization measure.

As part of the ongoing cannabis public policy modernization research effort in Canada an ‘expert panel’ was created to obtain feedback from the public. This week the panel released some of its findings. Below is more information about it via a news release from Health Canada:

Today, the Expert Panel conducting the legislative review of the Cannabis Act published its report entitled Legislative Review of the Cannabis Act – What we Heard Report. The report is a summary of what the Expert Panel heard during its engagement activities conducted between December 2022 and June 2023.

“We want to thank everyone who generously gave us their time and energy in sharing their perspectives and answering our questions,” said Morris Rosenberg, Chair of the Expert Panel. “We have heard a wide variety of perspectives throughout the consultations. A very rich and broad scientific literature was shared with us, as well as diverse lived and living experiences. We hope that we have captured the breadth and nuances of perspectives.”

The Expert Panel was established with a mandate to provide independent, expert advice to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health on progress made towards achieving the Cannabis Act’s objectives and on the identification of areas to improve the functioning of the framework.

The Expert Panel engaged with almost 500 stakeholders in nearly 90 meetings as part of its first phase of work.

The next phase of the Expert Panel’s work includes the development of its final report for the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, which will continue to be informed by engagement activities throughout the fall. This report will provide advice and recommendations on areas of the legislative framework or its implementation that could be improved or reformed.

The final report is to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament by March 2024.

The Expert Panel continues to welcome written submissions as it develops the final report. Submissions can be sent to legreview-examenleg@hc-sc.gc.ca or to the following mailing address:

Cannabis Act Legislative Review Secretariat
Health Canada
Address locator 0302I
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)

Top 5 Economic Effects Of Slovenian Cannabis Policy Modernization

Written by Johnny Green on October 9, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

Modernizing a nation’s outdated cannabis policies yields numerous benefits, and not just to people directly involved in the cannabis industry. All members of society benefit from the economic impact of policy modernization. Below are five examples of how Slovenia would benefit from modernizing its cannabis policies to permit regulated cannabis commerce incorporating data from already established legal markets.

Job Creation

One of the most significant economic benefits of permitting cannabis commerce is job creation. The emerging legal industry is made up of several sectors, each with its own workforce needs, requiring nearly every job type imaginable to some degree. Additionally, other than outdoor cultivation operations that rely solely on the sun, industry facilities can feasibly be located anywhere in Slovenia for the purposes of research and product development, bringing jobs to areas that may need them more than others.

The emerging legal industry has already created over 428,000 jobs in the United States where regulated commerce is permitted in certain states. Adult-use reform was first implemented in Canada in 2018, and an analysis by Deloitte determined that Canada’s legal industry had created over 150,000 jobs as of the publishing of its February 2022 report.

Boosting Local Economies

The overall economic boost from Canada’s legalized industry is substantial. Deloitte estimates that the legal cannabis industry in Canada contributed over $43.5 billion to the nation’s GDP between the period of October 2018 and February 2022. Cannabis companies directly invested over $4.4 billion into Canada’s economy, with the remaining boost to GDP coming from “indirect” economic contributions, and “induced” contributions.

Public Revenue

According to the United States Census Bureau, between July 2021 and the end of 2022, the governments of legal U.S. states received more than $5.7 billion in public revenue from the emerging industry via taxes and fees. In fiscal 2021-22 in Canada, national and local governments collected more than $1.12 billion.

The public revenue generated by a regulated industry benefits all members of Slovenia’s society, providing policymakers and government officials additional revenue that they can use for such things as schools, social services, and public infrastructure.

Boosting Existing Industries

Slovenia is already established as an international science and tech hub, and the demand for cannabis-based research and product development is already substantial and increasing with every passing year. Slovenia already possesses the knowledge, facilities, and human capital to gain a significant footprint in the cannabis science and technology sectors. However, the window of opportunity to gain a meaningful market share of the sectors will not be open forever, and delays in policy modernization will impact the potential for existing industries.

Savings From Ending Prohibition Enforcement

While it is unknown exactly how much Slovenia spends enforcing cannabis prohibition, it’s likely that it’s a substantial sum. When Slovenia modernizes its policies to permit legal commerce and refrain from enforcing prohibition against consumers and patients, it will instantly save whatever is currently being spent on cannabis enforcement. In Germany, where lawmakers are working to modernize the nation’s cannabis policies, cannabis prohibition costs the nation 1.3 billion euros a year according to an analysis by the Institute for Competition Economics (DICE) at the Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf.

This article first appeared at TheTalmanGroup.com and is syndicated with special permission

Court In Brazil Determines Cannabis Smell Does Not Justify Home Search

Written by Hazel Norman on October 9, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Cannabis prohibition enforcement involves various tactics, including the reliance on ‘smelling’ cannabis to ‘justify’ searching people, their personal property, their vehicle, and sometimes their homes. The latter was at the heart of a recent court case in Brazil that went all the way to the nation’s Superior Court of Justice.

A lower court previously determined that if law enforcement smelled cannabis from a person “who is already being investigated on suspicion of drug trafficking,” that law enforcement has just cause to search the person. However, that just cause does not extend to the suspect’s home and a judicial warrant is required, even if a different resident of the home authorizes entry.

The case involved an individual being investigated for suspected drug trafficking. After searching the suspect outside of their home and reportedly finding nothing, law enforcement then searched the individual’s home despite not having a warrant to do so. Cannabis and other illegal items were discovered during the search.

Law enforcement indicated that they had received permission to enter the residence from a different resident other than the suspect, however, the Superior Court of Justice determined that the search was illegal and that anything found during the search was inadmissible. Per Newsendip:

Minister Reynaldo Soares da Fonseca of the SCJ granted habeas corpus, a constitutional right for someone who is imprisoned to report wrongful detention or abuse of power.

Minister Reynaldo Soares da Fonseca recognized the illegality of the evidence and acquitted the defendant of any charges. He explains in his decision that there is a necessity for concrete evidence that would justify entering a home and invading the right to privacy.

“I reiterate that nothing illegal was found with the personal search, therefore not justifying entry into the person’s home,” concluded the judge.

The recent decision in Brazil obviously does not extend beyond Brazil’s borders. Furthermore, the scope of the decision is fairly narrow and still permits people to be searched outside their homes for simply smelling like cannabis.

What Brazil truly needs is a modernization of its national cannabis policies. Cannabis prohibition is a failed public policy that has harmed too many lives, and it’s beyond time that Brazil started taking a more sensible approach.

Ireland Flag Ireland Flag Ireland Flag Ireland Flag

Why Is Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer Concerned About Cannabis Usage Rates?

Written by Hazel Norman on October 9, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Ireland is a cannabis prohibition nation. Not only is adult-use cannabis prohibited in Ireland, but medical cannabis is also technically prohibited in Ireland. There is a program in Ireland in which a limited number of medical cannabis patients are permitted to travel to the Netherlands for medical cannabis treatments.

As of July 2020, only 30 patients were approved for the program. Considering that Ireland has a population of over 5 million people, the low patient count speaks for itself.

Personal cannabis possession in Ireland is a violation of the Misuse of Drugs Acts (1977-2016), and carries a penalty of up to €1,000 for the first and second offense. The fine can be increased to €1,270 for a first offense, and €2,540 for a second offense, if the amount of cannabis involved is deemed to be ‘excessive.’

The penalty for a third personal possession offense is one to three years in prison depending on the case. It is worth noting that the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act 2011 mandates that courts consider community service in place of a prison sentence when possible.

Needless to say, Ireland’s cannabis policies are terrible and in desperate need of improvement. No patient should have to face fines, mandated community service, and/or incarceration for possessing their medicine.

And yet, against that backdrop, Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer’s reported concern is not the plight of patients, but rather, that people are consuming cannabis. Per excerpts from The Journal:

THE USE OF cannabis in Ireland is “of great concern”, the Chief Medical Officer has expressed to the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use.

“Cannabis can cause addiction,” she said. “We have 45,000 people with cannabis-use disorders in the latest data.”

Under-18s account for 80% of new presentations to cannabis addiction treatment services.

The excerpts from the article need context. For starters, what constitutes a ‘cannabis-use disorder’ is often determined by courts, law enforcement, and entities that profit from forcing people into treatment. Clearly, there is a bias involved in those instances.

Regarding ‘under-18s,’ many youth who are caught with cannabis, either by law enforcement or their parents, are forced into rehabilitation programs as part of their punishment. Statistics are reflective of that, and not reflective of ‘teen addiction’ per se.

Ireland does not have a cannabis use problem. Rather, it has a cannabis prohibition problem, and that problem is particularly terrible for suffering patients.

Study Finds No Significant Changes In Cannabis Use Post-Canadian Legalization

Written by Frank Schuler on October 9, 2023. Posted in Policy.

In every jurisdiction where cannabis reform is being pursued, both historically and currently, cannabis opponents use the similar, unfounded talking point that cannabis reform will lead to doomsday scenarios as it pertains to youth cannabis consumption.

The ‘what about the children’ talking point is used early and often when cannabis policy modernization efforts are announced in an area, including when only limited medical cannabis reform is being pursued.

Canada was the first G-7 nation to legalize cannabis nationally and is home to the most robust nationwide consumer offerings on earth. As such, it provides the best data regarding legalization’s impact on youth consumption rates. A recent study was published in Canada on this topic, and the results are favorable. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Hamilton, Canada: The adoption of cannabis legalization in Canada has not been associated with significant upticks in either marijuana use by young people or in the percentage of people experiencing adverse cannabis-related consequences, according to longitudinal data published in the journal JAMA Open Network.

A team of investigators from Canada and the United States assessed cannabis consumption trends in a cohort of at-risk young adults (ages 19 to 23) during the years immediately preceding and following legalization. Canada legalized the use and retail sale of marijuana products to those ages 18 and older in 2018.

Researchers reported, “Individuals who used cannabis more frequently pre-legalization significantly decreased their use and cannabis-related consequences post-legalization.” By contrast, those who had no history of cannabis use prior to legalization typically reported engaging in the limited use of marijuana use following legalization. However, this use was not associated with adverse consequences.

Authors concluded: “This study examined changes in cannabis use and consequences following recreational cannabis legalization in Canada in a sample of high-risk young adults, addressing the common concern that legalization may precipitate increases in use, particularly in this age group. Rather than detecting increases, however, the results revealed decreases overall, which is broadly consistent with substance use trajectories that might be expected among this age group in the absence of any policy change. … This study aligns with research from US jurisdictions which have largely found that legalization has not drastically altered consumption patterns among youths and young adults.”

State and federal data from the United States consistently has reported overall declines in self-reported marijuana use by young people over the past decade. During that time, nearly half of all states have adopted adult-use marijuana legalization.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use frequency and cannabis-related consequences in high-risk young adults across cannabis legalization,” appears in JAMA Network Open. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana Regulation and Teen Use Rates.’

Cannabis Opponents Fail To Block Cannabis Legalization In Germany

Written by Johnny Green on October 2, 2023. Posted in Policy.

As cannabis modernization efforts continue to work their way through the political process in Germany, one major hurdle that worried some cannabis policy observers inside and outside of Germany was the Federal Council (or Bundesrat) review component of the process.

Cannabis opponents within the Federal Council made it clear that they intended to derail legalization when provided the opportunity, but fortunately, they did not succeed. On Friday the Federal Council considered the measure that was previously approved by the Federal Cabinet, and while amendments were approved, an outright blockage did not receive enough support.

Bavaria’s representative filed a motion in an attempt to stall the measure, however, that motion was rejected. Various other amendments were also rejected, including one that would have increased the legal age for adult-use cannabis, as first reported by Marijuana Moment.

One area that representatives did agree on was the role of individual states regarding administrative costs to implement and carry out national legalization. In total, 81 recommended amendments were adopted by the chamber, and they will now go to the Federal Cabinet for consideration and response.

The battle is far from over, however, national legalization in Germany passed a major procedural step and that is worthy of celebrating. Below is a response put out by our friends at DHV after the proceedings:

On Friday, the Federal Council decided on its statement on the CanG. Thanks to your help, the decisions were significantly milder than was feared. Over 8,000 people took part in our campaign and sent emails to the traffic light groups.

A total of 81 points of criticism of the planned CanG found a majority in the Federal Council’s specialist committees, which meant that they were put on the Bundesrat’s agenda as a draft resolution. These included many points that called for the law to be tightened.

In addition to the 81 points that had been decided, a single motion was submitted for a vote again, even though it had not found a majority in the committee: The CSU absolutely wanted to have the motion voted on again so that the Federal Council fundamentally rejects the law completely. This means that the radical anti-cannabis party from Bavaria has failed. The demand to declare the law requiring approval also did not find a majority. A number of other repressive requests were rejected. Before the vote, the state parliamentary groups obviously looked at which resolutions should be blocked, certainly strongly motivated by thousands of emails on the topic. You can find out which resolutions were rejected, which ones made it through and what it all means in the DHV news. The law will be officially introduced into the Bundestag on October 13th, perhaps garnished with a few speeches before it goes on to committees for discussion.

The CSU wants to be the biggest opponent of cannabis reform. Every week, Bavaria’s Health Minister Holetschek (CSU) drives a new pig through the village. Last week it was announced that they wanted to combat cannabis consumption with a central control unit if the law were to pass despite Bavaria’s resistance. This anti-cannabis authority should also be responsible for applications from cannabis social clubs. Meanwhile, party leader Söder is having a bullshit duel with Free Voters leader Aiwanger while Oktoberfest is in full swing: Who has the stupidest arguments against cannabis legalization? We are now responding to this special role of the Bavarian government with a poster campaign in Bavaria around the state elections next weekend:

“Time for legalization! Cannabis belongs to Bavaria. Longer than the CSU!”

Our advertising columns are already at the start in Munich. The first photo of this reached us via tweet from Carmen Wegge (SPD), who chose our poster directly in front of the Bavarian State Parliament for the picture above. Your Christmas donations made this campaign possible! If you spot one, please send us photos of the posters and information about the location to kontakt@hanfverband.de . In addition to Munich, it will be from October 6th. there will be further posters in Fürth, Ingolstadt and Augsburg. These posters will still be hanging after the election and will help the CSU interpret the expected voter losses.

Hempy greetings,
your DHV team

Attend The 2023 Cultiva Hanfexpo In Vienna October 6th-8th

Written by Johnny Green on October 1, 2023. Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy.

An amazing opportunity is coming up this week in Vienna, Austria with the start of the Cultiva Hanfexpo on October 6th. The three-day hemp expo and festival is the largest in Austria and will take place at the Marx Halle.

At the expo, visitors will find all of the information that they need to know about the hemp plant and the products derived from it. National and international exhibitors will display their products and contribute to a unique exhibition experience. Below is more information about the event:

15 YEARS OF CULTIVA

Over the last 15 years, Cultiva has brought together people from all over the world to discuss the uses of hemp and develop new ideas. This event is important to unite and support the Austrian hemp industry. It all started in 2008 at the Pyramide in Vösendorf.

“They were expecting big tables with Indian sheets. Then when the trucks came and one-story platforms were set up, it caused a big surprise moment for the management of the event venue,” founder Harald Schubert recalls of the beginnings of Cultiva. At first, he says, there were doubts about the exhibition, because “they didn’t know what to expect”. But these hesitations quickly disappeared.

Around 5,000 visitors came to the first hemp exhibition. The aim was to provide a platform for the hemp plant and its use, the industry and its development, as well as the many socio-political issues associated with it. This has not changed over the years, but the size of the exhibition has.

“We attracted higher-value branches because of the higher purchasing power in Austria, and that set us apart from other hemp exhibitions in Europe,” says founder Schubert.

Even after 15 years, the glassblowing show is still a fixed part of the fair. Other highlights of the past 15 years of Cultiva included visits from Christian Rätsch, Jorge Cervantes and “Mr. Nice” Howard Marks. And, of course, the many performances by bands and DJs. “It’s the most iconic expo,” Schubert says.

EXPERIENCE THE WONDER OF HEMP

The WORLD OF HEMP represents one of the most extensive areas at the exhibition. On 400 sqm all information about cannabis is shown in an exciting and informative way. This interactive area educates visitors about the cannabis plant and helps them to get to know it better. Different sections can be explored with the help of a guiding system.

Whether learning, tasting, participating or trying out: The WORLD OF HEMP serves all the senses and invites you to further education.

GLASSBLOWING-SHOW – TORCHLAND GLASS CIRCUS BY THCBD AUSTRIA

Another highlight at CULTIVA HANFEXPO is the glassblowing show Torchland Glas Circus by THCBD Austria. During the live show, professionals such as Orglasmus, Nathan Belmont, Sibelle Yuksek, Fedex Glass and Tibor Toth will demonstrate the art of glassblowing and engraving. If interested, the products can be purchased afterwards.

CULTSOUND FESTIVAL

The CULTSOUND Music Festival is a new star in the sky of the Viennese event calendar. From electro to reggae sounds – the three-day music festival with its extraordinary location offers a special experience. The venue – the headquarters of the artist collective R:JOURNEY – provides the ideal setting. Acts such as the band Mary Jane Soundgarden, Matej, Sun State of Mind
will ensure a hot atmosphere and danceable sounds, and Sunday will be hosted by WNMR – If Not With Rap. Food trucks with a variety of dishes from meat or vegan to sweet and a bar provides for the physical well-being.

CULTIVA CONGRESS

The CULTIVA HANFEXPO CONGRESS offers an insight into the topics of law, politics, medicine as well as culture and innovation. National and international experts from different fields share their knowledge and clarify important questions about cannabis in the form of lectures and panel discussions. The focus will be on both the current regulations on the subject of cannabis and
the future of the industry. What changes can we expect in the hemp industry? What could the situation look like in five years? These and other questions will be answered during the congress.

BUSINESS BRUNCH

On Friday and Saturday all business visitors and exhibitors are invited to aur Networking Brunch in the Business lounge at the exhibition.
• Friday, 06.10.2023 09:00 – 11:00 a.m.
• Saturday, 07.10.2023 09:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Find out more information at: https://www.cultiva.at/lang%3Den/index.htm