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European Cannabis Reform Demonstrations Scheduled For May 31st

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Cannabis activism comes in many forms. Working to modernize cannabis policies in any jurisdiction where prohibition is in place is not easy and requires a diversity of tactics. One of those tactics that activists have incorporated for decades is public demonstrations and protests.

Peaceful protests and demonstrations are necessary in jurisdictions where people in power refuse to be sensible about cannabis policy and reform discussions. When policymakers are committed to ignoring or gaslighting cannabis advocates when they call for sensible laws and regulations, it is time for the masses to take to the public spaces, have their voices heard, and remind society that the cannabis movement is large and passionate.

There are at least two demonstrations scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 31st, in Europe. The first is a demonstration in Rome, Italy. DolceVita describes the demonstration as (translated from Italian to English) “the demands against the Security decree join those of hemp in demonstration with the presence of the Million Marijuana March.”

“Thousands of people will descend on Piazza Vittorio to say no to the Security decree, which, among other things, risks wiping out the Italian industrial hemp sector with a single stroke.” DolceVita also reported. “The one organized by Rete No Ddl Sicurezza and Million Marijuana March is much more than a demonstration. But one of the last opportunities to try to stop a law that, if definitively approved, would decree the closure of over 3 thousand companies and the dismissal of over 22 thousand workers.”

“The reasons for this massive mobilization are rooted in deep concerns about what will happen to the country’s hemp sector. The issue is not only economic, but also social. Announced crackdown on hemp could lead to closure of thousands of legal businesses; it may result in job losses and a subsequent rise of the black market.” reports Soft Secrets about the upcoming demonstration in Rome.

“Italy’s government passed the new Decree Law on Citizen Security on April 4, 2025, promoted by the leading Fratelli d’Italia conservative right-wing party and Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. The measure imposes rigid restrictions that will severely impact Italy’s industrial hemp sector and CBD products – one of the biggest in Europe.” the outlet also wrote.

The second demonstration will be held in Lisbon, Portugal. The Lisbon demonstration is reportedly organized by the March for Cannabis Collective, and is scheduled to start at 15:30 pm at Jardim das Amoreiras. Attendees will be advocating for the full legalization and regulation of recreational, medical, and industrial cannabis use.

“The March for Cannabis will be taking place in the heart of Lisbon next Saturday, in an event that usually brings together a large part of society that advocates for a change in the framework of cannabis.” reports CannaReporter. “The event, scheduled for 15:30 pm, will be held at Jardim das Amoreiras. At 16:20 pm, the March will begin its route towards Largo de Camões, in a walk that unites activists, patients, hemp farmers and even tourists in a single voice calling for legislative change.”

Check with local activists and organizations in your area to see if any demonstrations are being planned in your region on May 31st, and as always, keep fighting for sensible cannabis policies and regulations where you live by educating policymakers and nonpolicymakers about the benefits of modernized cannabis policies and the harms of prohibition.

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Study Finds That Cannabis Legalization Could “Stabilize Finland’s GDP”

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

As the emerging legal cannabis industry continues to spread throughout Europe, one nation that is a bit of a holdout is Finland. Cannabis is not a new thing in Finland, as demonstrated by pollen samples found in Sakinlampi in 1994 that were dated to as far back as 4,000 B.C.

However, cannabis is currently prohibited in Finland outside of very limited medical cannabis use. A researcher affiliated with the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences recently analyzed the potential economic, societal, and fiscal impacts that cannabis legalization may have on Finland. The researcher’s findings were published on the academic database Thesus.

“This thesis will dive into the economic, societal and fiscal impact of the legalisation of Cannabis in the Nordic country of Finland.” wrote the study’s author, Jay Desilva. “By looking into other countries with similar economic, environmental, and societal aspects that have already gone through the process of legalisation, such as Canada, Thailand, and Uruguay…we can identify the trends that occurred after the legalisation process as well as the different structures implemented in order to regulate the negative effects of cannabis legalisation.”

Cannabis is currently legal at a national level for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Thailand has also adopted a national measure that somewhat legalized cannabis, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis measures, and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The researcher in Finland analyzed “the important aspects of the economy,” such as Finland’s GDP and unemployment rate. Mr. Desilva also determined that “since Finland is a country with a cold climate for most of the year, the method of cultivation used would most likely have to be indoors,” which is not the case in some of the nations used as comparators in the analysis.

Mr. Desilva pointed out that “Uruguay has no specific excise tax on Cannabis as it’s trying to keep prices competitive with the black market” and that a corporate income tax “is applied at a rate of 25% for producers.” The researcher surmised that “a similar structure could be applied for Finland with an additional VAT applied on consumers,” which would “be viable as the cost of production is low,” and that such a tax proposal “would still keep prices competitive with the black market.”

“Economically, shifting the cannabis market from the unregulated black market to a regulated legal industry could stabilize Finland’s GDP as all the other countries who have done have seen a substantial increase in their GDP in the years following their legalisation,” the researcher found. “The taxation model suggested and used by Canada and Uruguay demonstrates how governments can effectively regulate pricing and safe cultivating methods, while keeping the legal market competitive against illicit trade.”

“Furthermore, Finland’s unique position and commitment to renewable energy could position the country as a leader in sustainable cannabis production.” Mr. Desilva added.

“The results of this research paper have found that the legalisation of Cannabis provides a substantial potential benefit for Finland as it would open up a whole new industry as well as economically the tax revenue gained from this new industry would be used to tackle the limited negative impact that legalisation would have on society as well as potential help tackle other societal challenges Finland faces such as overconsumption of alcohol.” the study’s author concluded.

At the recent International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, leading international cannabis economist Beau Whitney, founder of Whitney Economics, estimated that the potential global medical and adult-use cannabis market is roughly $237.8 billion, in addition to his projected value of the global industrial hemp industry of $456.2 billion.

munich germany

Examining Germany’s Evolving Legal Cannabis Industry

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

Germany continues to be the continental leader for Europe’s emerging legal cannabis industry. Legal sales of medical cannabis products started in Germany in 2017, and the country’s medical sector has since become an international juggernaut and a top market for medical cannabis exports.

In the first quarter of 2025, Germany imported over 37.223 metric tonnes of medical cannabis products. To put that figure into perspective, the total imports for Q1 2025 increased by roughly 14.8% compared to the Q4 2024 total (32.419 metric tonnes), which was itself a record at the time.

Q1 2025’s import total is an increase of over 457% compared to the same period one year ago. Germany imported 8.143 metric tonnes of medical cannabis products in Q1 2024. The updated import numbers bring the total amount of legally imported medical cannabis products to Germany during the last 12 months to 101.9 metric tonnes.

Around 2,500 of Germany’s 17,000 pharmacies now offer medical cannabis. According to the most recent data from the German Federal Association of Cannabis Cultivation Associations (BCAv), a total of 215 cultivation association applications have been approved out of 626 submissions nationwide.

Business is booming in Germany, although the political and regulatory landscape overseeing Germany’s emerging industry continues to evolve. A panel of leading experts from multiple sectors of Germany’s industry recently participated in a discussion about strategies and approaches for adapting to recent changes in Germany, and what industry members should anticipate in the coming years.

The panel was moderated by Dirk Heitepriem, President and Chairman of the German Cannabis Industry Association (BvCW). Mr. Heitepriem was joined by:

  • Lisa Haag, Founder of MJ_Universe
  • Timo Bongartz, CEO of CANNAVIGIA
  • Marijn Roersch van der Hoogte, Co-Founder of Hemp-Impact.com and Co-Founder and VP of BvCW
  • Henry Wieker, Board Member of BvCW and Coordinator of BCAv
  • Sita Schubert, EUMCA’s General Secretary

The discussion, which was held at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin last month, provided valuable insights to help industry members navigate the future of cannabis in Germany. Click here to watch the panel presentation.

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London Mayor Supports Commission’s Recommendation To Decriminalize Cannabis

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

In 2022, London Mayor Sadiq Khan established the independent London Drugs Commission (LDC), tasking the Commission with examining cannabis policies in England’s capital city and other jurisdictions. The commission recently published its findings and recommended that personal cannabis possession be decriminalized, a recommendation that Mayor Khan reportedly supports.

“The report follows detailed analysis of written and oral evidence from over 200 experts and academics from London, the UK and around the world. Lord Falconer and his Deputies were assisted by leading experts from criminal justice, public health, community relations and drug policy and supported by academics from University College London (UCL).” The London Drugs Commission stated about its methodology.

“Inclusion of cannabis as a Class B drug in the Misuse of Drugs Act is disproportionate to the harms it can pose relative to other drugs controlled by the Act. The sentencing options currently available, especially for personal possession, cannot be justified when balanced against the longer-term impacts of experience of the justice system, including stop and search, or of serving a criminal sentence can have on a person.” The Commission stated about its report.

“Sir Sadiq Khan said current rules “cannot be justified”, adding that the commission’s findings had provided “a compelling, evidence-based case” for decriminalisation.” reported BBC in its local coverage.

The outlet also pointed out that the Commission recommended supporting “fair access to medical cannabis, including addressing cost barriers and expanding research.” The cannabis policy modernization recommendations are not supported by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, who stated that cannabis reform is “a matter for parliament” and his officers would “keep working to our current law.”

Adult-use cannabis legalization in the United Kingdom could generate as much as £1.5 billion in revenue and savings, according to a previous report by the advocacy group Transform Drug Policy Foundation.

The report, which was posted on the organization’s social media account back in March, determined that over £1.2 billion would be generated from taxes and fees annually, and an additional £284 million would be saved annually by the nation’s criminal justice system no longer enforcing cannabis prohibition policies.

“There would be costs incurred for Govt by regulatory infrastructure – inspection, monitoring, compliance, trading standards etc – but largely covered by licensing/other fees.” the organization stated on social media.

Transform Drug Policy Foundation also determined that “up to 15,500 full-time jobs could be created in cultivation, manufacturing, retail & related services, (depending on the model implemented).”

The report also found that “a regulated market could displace 80% of the illegal trade in five years (based on trends in Canada).” The organization’s proposed legalization model involves permitting home cultivation, cultivation associations, and a government retail monopoly.

A separate analysis published last year by UK-based advocacy group CLEAR determined that legalizing cannabis for adult use in the United Kingdom and taxing and regulating sales could generate as much as £9.5 billion per year based on their proposed model.

According to a poll conducted by YouGov UK, the level of support for cannabis legalization among adults in the United Kingdom is greater than the level of support for adult-use legalization among lawmakers.

“The results show that 50% of MPs are opposed to cannabis legalisation when asked in a support/oppose format, compared to 39% who would be in support.” YouGov UK stated about their poll’s results. “The large majority of MPs do, however, believe that doctors should be allowed to prescribe cannabis for medical use (83%). Only 7% are opposed.”

“On the binary question of legalising cannabis, the British public are split, with 45% in favour and 42% opposed, making the public slightly more pro-legalisation than MPs.” YouGov UK also stated about the poll results.

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A Reversal Of German Cannabis Legalization Is “Off The Table”

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

The German Cannabis Industry Association (BvCW) recently held a parliamentary evening event, at which current German Bundestag member Carmen Wegge appeared and spoke. Ms. Wegge is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who has served in the Bundestag since 2021. At the event, Ms. Wegge reportedly indicated that abolition of the CanG law is “off the table.”

“At yesterday’s parliamentary evening of the German Cannabis Industry Association (BvCW), Carmen Wegge promised those present that the Cannabis Act would not be repealed. In return, she hoped for improvements in the right direction.” wrote Moritz Förster for Krautinvest (translated from German to English).

“Wegge emphasizes that the SPD “tirelessly” defended the Cannabis Act during the coalition negotiations. She also points to the improvements that have already been made, for example, in terms of prevention, economic development, and greater justice.” Förster stated in his original reporting.

Ms. Wegge’s comments are similar to those made by leading German cannabis policy expert attorney Peter Homberg of gunnercooke at the recent International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin last month.

“Attorney Homberg predicts that the reversal of partial legalization and thus of the previous measures of the traffic light coalition is unlikely. The effort involved in completely reversing the partial legalization of cannabis and reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic is far too great.” reported Pharmazeutische Zeitung about Mr. Homberg’s presentation at the conference in Berlin.

“And of course, you would need a clear majority, not only in Parliament, but also in the Federal Council.” Homberg stated about a potential reversal. “It’s very difficult to put the genie back in the bottle. Who’s going to monitor this now?”

Leading up to the last German federal election, domestic politicians opposed to modernized cannabis policies expressed a strong desire to completely reverse the CanG legalization measure. However, last month, the new governing coalition announced that, at least for the time being, there would be no changes made to Germany’s cannabis policies, and the CanG law would remain in place as is.

Part of the statements made by the governing coalition last month did involve the announcement of future evaluations, which 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.

A complete reversal of the German CanG law is not a popular proposal among German voters. A recent YouGov poll 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 have also expressed opposition to a CanG reversal. The New Association of Judges (NRV) in Germany previously 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 Düsseldorf previously conducted an analysis, finding 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 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 a 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.”

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Excitement Level In Berlin Demonstrates Surging Interest In The Global Industry

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

On April 29th-30th, 2025, the International Cannabis Business Conference held its flagship event at the Estrel Berlin, Germany’s largest hotel and conference center. The event was nothing short of electric, and it was the conference’s biggest and best event to date.

Interest in the emerging global cannabis industry, particularly in Germany and Europe, is experiencing exponential growth right now, and that was evident throughout the two-day conference in Berlin. Roughly 5,000 people attended the conference, with over 80 countries and every major legal market represented. Click here to see an after-movie video of the conference.

One readily apparent fact at the conference was that Europe has now become the top focus of industry members across the world, particularly for industry members wanting to gain a meaningful footprint in Germany’s market. As leading European policy and legal expert Peter Homberg of gunnercooke pointed out in his keynote presentation, imports of medical cannabis products to Germany nearly quadrupled in the last quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter.

The expansion of Germany’s legal industry in recent years was accelerated in April 2024 with the adoption of the nation’s CanG law, which legalized personal cannabis cultivation, possession, and consumption by adults. The CanG law also permits adult-use cannabis associations to operate, with 211 associations having already received approval.

Arguably, the most significant component of Germany’s CanG law was the removal of cannabis from the nation’s Narcotics List. The declassification of cannabis dramatically improved Germany’s medical cannabis industry. Germany’s medical cannabis patient base is increasing in size with every passing day, as proven by the fact that more than 1 out of every 7 of the nation’s pharmacies now sell medical cannabis products.

A common theme throughout the Berlin conference was the parallels and interplay of the Western Hemisphere’s legal markets and Europe’s emerging markets. What Europe is currently experiencing is reminiscent in various ways of what happened in North America starting in 2012 with the initial adoption of state-level legalization in the U.S. The ‘green rush’ in the U.S. and Canada provides lessons that entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and industry service providers in the Eastern Hemisphere can learn from.

Kicking off the conference was a keynote presentation by Charlie Bachtell, CEO and Founder of Cresco Labs. Charlie Bachtell has served as Cresco Labs’ [CSE:CL] Chief Executive Officer since February 2015 after co-founding the company in 2013. Cresco Labs operates in several U.S. markets, and the insight that Mr. Bachtell provided in his presentation was invaluable for attendees.

Following Bachtell’s presentation was a keynote address by gunnercooke’s Peter Homberg. Mr. Homberg examined the current state of Germany’s industry and political landscape, including the fresh announcement of the appointments of incoming German Minister of Health Nina Warken and Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture Alois Rainer. Both incoming ministers will play a major role in shaping what happens next for Germany’s emerging industry, and with it, the wider European cannabis economy. Mr. Homberg’s thorough presentation on day 1 of the conference in Berlin could not have been more timely.

Another timely presentation was a panel discussion focusing on European pilot projects. Pilot projects are currently operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland and are also part of Germany’s legalization model. The panel was moderated by German policy expert Kai-Friedrich Niermann, Founder of KFN+ Law Office. Joining Mr. Niermann was:

  • Paul-Lukas Good, President, Swiss Cannabis Research Association
  • Daniel S. Hübner, Senior Science Manager, Cannabis Research Lab Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
  • Finn A. Hänsel, Managing Director, Sanity Group
  • Deepak Anand, Principal, ASDA Consultancy Services

Current European Union agreements prohibit national commerce models like those found in the Western Hemisphere. However, EU agreements do permit regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials for public health research purposes, and the panel of leading experts analyzed current and future European pilot trials.

The next panel, moderated by Jamie Pearson, President of New Holland Group, focused on investing in the evolving global cannabis industry. Ms. Pearson was joined on the panel by:

  • Raj Grover, CEO, High Tide Inc.
  • Will Muecke, Co-Founder, Artemis Growth Partners
  • George Bellow, Co-Founder, SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals
  • David Hyde, CEO, Hyde Advisory & Investments Inc.
  • Margaret Brodie, CEO, Rubicon Organics

Effectively investing in the emerging global cannabis industry is more complex than ever, and the panel’s insights were invaluable. Additional day 1 panels and presentations included such topics as:

  • Medical cannabis in Germany
  • Germany’s evolving cannabis industry
  • Advanced cultivation technologies
  • The latest trends and innovations in cannabis logistics
  • German cannabis industry data
  • Establishing international brands
  • Unlocking new markets
  • Cannabis research
  • The evolving industrial hemp industry

The first day of the conference’s curriculum was followed by an intimate VIP after-party headlined by none other than cannabis industry and culture icon DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill and Soul Assassins. International Cannabis Business Conference events are known for combining industry, policy, and entertainment, and the 2025 event in Berlin was no exception. DJ Muggs put on a show for the VIP crowd that will be talked about for years to come.

Day 2 of the Berlin conference started with a keynote presentation by Dr. jur. Can Ansay, CEO of DR. ANSAY LTD. Dr. Ansay is a notable figure in Germany’s medical cannabis sector and the founder of the popular telemedicine platform DrAnsay.com. He examined safe access to medical cannabis in Germany and discussed changes and trends in Europe’s largest medical cannabis market.

Following the day 2 keynote address, the following topics were discussed at length by panels of leading experts:

  • Forming strategic partnerships
  • Industry compliance strategies
  • Cannabis and hemp tourism
  • Genetics
  • Opportunities in emerging markets
  • Compliant cannabinoid importation in Japan’s evolving market
  • Evolving consumer preferences
  • Digital innovation, programmed automation, and virtual trends
  • Cannabis extraction
  • GMP compliance
  • Cannabis packaging

The International Cannabis Business Conference has served as the top gathering place for the emerging global cannabis industry for over a decade, with events being held in several countries on multiple continents. The Berlin installment is the largest cannabis B2B event in the Eastern Hemisphere, and will continue to provide the best opportunity for members of the worldwide cannabis industry to learn, network, and explore potentially lucrative collaborations.

To find out more about upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference events, go to: Internationalcbc.com

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Thailand Health Minister: ‘Cannabis Users Will Need Medical Certificates’

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

In recent years, Thailand’s cannabis industry has increased in size and scope thanks to a cannabis policy change in 2022. However, Thailand’s Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin stated at a press conference today that the nation’s government is likely to implement new regulations soon, including requiring cannabis retailers to limit sales to customers who have a medical prescription.

“Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin says cannabis users in Thailand will be required to have medical certificates to make sure that the plant is used for medical purposes only.” reported Bangkok Post in its local coverage.

“I will improve regulations on cannabis use in Thailand. For example, cannabis smokers may have to show medical certificates. Foreign and Thai cannabis users must have medical certificates,” Minister Somsak said, according to the media outlet.

Starting in 1979, cannabis was scheduled as a class-5 narcotic under Thailand’s Narcotic Act. The Act prohibited smoking, possessing, and selling cannabis. Thailand later legalized medical cannabis in 2019, and in 2022, Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul issued a ministerial regulation removing cannabis from Thailand’s list of narcotic drugs.

Thailand’s historic cannabis policy shift in 2022 was supposed to pave the way for the nation’s emerging cannabis industry to become a regional and international powerhouse, and to some degree, that is what happened.

At one point, every household in the entire country could sign up to legally cultivate low-THC cannabis plants, which a reported 1.1 million citizens of Thailand did. Public Health Minister Charnvirakul indicated that there would be no plant limit for the government’s cannabis cultivation program. Thailand’s government also gave away over 1 million cannabis seeds directly to households that signed up for the program.

A broad spectrum of government agencies in Thailand agreed to do their part to push Thailand’s emerging cannabis industry forward after the 2022 policy change. But that was under the previous government. Thailand’s new government has taken a much different position on cannabis policy.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party has pushed to recriminalize cannabis in Thailand since it took power, although the push has faced opposition from its coalition partner. Changes to Thailand’s cannabis policies have seemingly been announced multiple times over the last year, but actual changes have yet to occur. Only time will tell what happens next, and with it, how Thailand’s emerging industry will be impacted.

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Calls For Cannabis Excise Tax Reform Intensify In Canada

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

Taxing cannabis commerce can be a delicate thing. On one hand, a major argument in favor of cannabis policy modernization is that it will generate public revenue for governments that allow legal cannabis sales. But on the other hand, taxing cannabis commerce too much can hinder the industry’s ability to reach its full potential and displace the unregulated market.

Canada legalized adult-use cannabis sales in 2018, and according to a new report, the current excise tax model in Canada “is unsustainable and must be restructured to reflect the economic realities of the industry.”

Deloitte, a multinational professional services entity, recently published a report titled ‘The Impact of the Cannabis Excise Tax,’ in which the authors call for overhauling Canada’s current approach to applying cannabis excise taxes. The recommendations from Deloitte in their report are being echoed by the Cannabis Council of Canada.

“Canada likes to position itself as a global leader in legal cannabis – but since legalization in 2018, the federal government has failed this industry and the tens of thousands of hardworking Canadians it supports,” said Paul McCarthy, President of the Cannabis Council of Canada. “With a new government in office, it’s time for a fresh approach. The cannabis industry deserves the same attention and support as any sector of our economy.”

“Canada’s cannabis industry is a major driver of economic growth – since legalization it has contributed over $43 billion to the national GDP, with approximately $7.4 billion contributed in 2024 alone. To keep that momentum going, key policy changes are needed to ensure the industry can grow, compete and innovate.” the Council stated in a press release.

“The current excise taxation framework is completely misaligned with today’s market realities. When it was introduced in 2018, cannabis sold for approximately $10 per gram. Today, producers are receiving as little as $3 per gram – yet the excise tax remains the greater of 10% of the product’s value or $1 per gram.” the Council also stated.

The Cannabis Council of Canada is urging the nation’s government to eliminate the $1 per gram floor and replace it with a 10% ad valorem rate, which the Council points out was proposed by the Standing Committee on Finance in 2024.

lebanon flags

Legalization In Lebanon ‘Could Generate $1-3 Billion Annually’

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

A 2019 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that Lebanon was the third largest source for ‘cannabis resin’ worldwide, only behind Morocco and Afghanistan. UNODC estimated that roughly 6% of all the cannabis resin on earth originates in Lebanon.

Two historical measures largely govern cannabis activity in Lebanon. The first came in 1998, when Lebanon passed law 673/1998, which criminalized the use of illicit drugs and scheduled cannabis as a “very dangerous substance with no medical use.”

The second occurred in 2020, when Lebanon became the first country in the region to somewhat liberalize its cannabis policies by permitting limited cannabis farming. As time has gone on, the measure approved in 2020 has proven to be largely symbolic, with the nation’s cabinet refraining from implementing decrees to establish a regulatory authority.

“In April 2020, after decades of discussions and controversy, the Lebanese parliament voted a law legalizing the cultivation, production, and sale of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Although the law leaves several unanswered questions and awaits implementation, the symbolic nature of this step in recognizing a positive role of cannabis in the local economy is significant on a regional level.” wrote a team of researchers affiliated with various health and academic institutions based in Lebanon.

“The social experiment taking place in Lebanon is fraught with risks, given the unstable political situation and chronic economic challenges. The reactions to the law have been mixed with several scientific bodies such as the Lebanese Psychiatric Society criticizing the absence of proper consultation of stakeholders.” the researchers also wrote.

With Lebanon’s economy struggling, discussions have turned toward exploring new ways to generate revenue and boost the nation’s economy. Talk of implementing the previously approved medical cannabis production measure has emerged as a result.

“If cannabis cultivation were legalized and properly regulated, Lebanon could generate between $1 billion and $3 billion annually in state revenue, according to Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani.” reported LBC International.

“That would amount to roughly one-quarter to one-half of the state’s projected revenue for 2024. In that case, cannabis could become a major source of income, more effective than other alternatives that often result in higher taxes and fees for citizens without tangible returns.” the outlet also reported.

A report presented by leading international cannabis economist Beau Whitney, founder of Whitney Economics, at the recent International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin estimates that the potential global medical and adult-use cannabis market is roughly $237.8 billion. Separately, Whitney projects that the potential value of the global industrial hemp industry could be as much as $456.2 billion.