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Cannabis Legalization Bill To Be Debated In Mexico This Week

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Politics.

Mexico has a long history with cannabis, and Mexico has served as a global source for illegal cannabis for many years. In late 2018 Mexico’s Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in which the Court declared cannabis prohibition to be unconstitutional.

At the time of the decision, Mexico’s Supreme Court issued a deadline to lawmakers in Mexico mandating that they pass an adult-use cannabis legalization measure. The one-year deadline has come and gone, with an extension being granted. A legalization measure was circulated over the weekend, and this week the bill is expected to be debated by lawmakers, as reported by Marijuana Moment:

The 228-page document lists a series of proposed regulations for a legal cannabis model.

It would allow adults 18 and older to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal use. Individuals could grow up to 20 registered plants as long as the total yield doesn’t exceed 480 grams per year. Medical patients could apply to cultivate more than 20 plants, however.

Personal possession would be capped at 28 grams, but possession of up to 200 grams would be decriminalized.

Activists in Mexico have expressed concern about the lack of changes in the current legalization measure compared to previous versions that failed to be passed. It’s unclear at this time what the odds are of the current bill passing.

Even when lawmakers express optimism of it passing, those types of statements should be met with tempered expectations because a lot of political optimism has been offered up since late 2018, yet the passage of a legalization measure has remained elusive.

Currently, cannabis is officially legal for adult use in Canada and Uruguay.

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Is Recreational Cannabis Reform Finally Internationally A La Mode?

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Politics.

With Mike Bloomberg calling for decrim and record expungement in the United States as he tests the political race, and German politicians moving, inching, deliberating slowly towards acceptance of the new normal, it is clear that 2020 is going to be another showdown year on cannabis.

Yet what exactly does this mean besides political lip flap? Will anywhere (like the United States or Germany) suddenly pop “pro weed” for any purpose? And what does that mean for the industry, if not users and patients, really?

Legalization Is Still A “Long” Game…But…

Nobody really thinks that federal legalization in the United States is going to happen before 2021, no matter who wins the White House. That said, this great big green enchilada is coming to a Congressional hearing on both sides of Capitol Hill as soon as the dust clears on the Presidential election. That said, all those hearings and committee meetings and poison amendments to slow this bad boy down, take time.

In Germany right now, there is also a fascinating drum beat now thrumming. The discussion of where the country goes next is bringing cannabis squarely into the mainstream political debate for the first time ever. Look for parallel developments here from now on. But things are absolutely cooking at a new tempo despite everyone’s attempt to “just stay sensible.” Germans are giddy about the prospects of legalization on all fronts. Starting with not arresting legal patients. However, beyond that, there are marches in the streets here about the need for ways to protect the industry at its retail front (think CBD) as well as every kind of user. Not to mention better ways to make sure that pharmacies are not caught in the middle of still tough access and approvals issues.

It is not unrealistic to believe that within 24 months, there will be a national discussion about legalization as Germany again redresses its political issues overall. And that will have huge implications on the discussion globally.

Business (Starting With Prescriptions) Follows Politics

As much as the industry has been a voice for reform, ultimately the legal business follows political reform, obviously. And that still has a long way to go and in places where the industry still needs advocates. Starting with doctors.

As Germany has proven, legitimization at a federal level does little to move doctors to prescribe a drug of any kind, let alone this one. There are many issues still in play about basic patient access, and not all of those can be solved politically – indeed most of them cannot. 

That said, many of those can use the help of the industry, starting with an increased focus on doctor education, particularly in Europe.

For this reason, any ostensibly “political” marketing campaign attached to the plant or products also should understand that the most important hills are still to be won, and far from the centres of political power. No matter how also obviously full and formal reform should be on the top of everyone’s agenda, even if a step at a time.

For an in-depth look at the efforts on the ground at the last mile of the discussion in Germany and internationally, be sure to attend the panels on regulatory reform and doctor education at the Berlin International Cannabis Business Conference, April 1-3, 2020.

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South Africa’s President Charts New Path For Cannabis In Political Speech

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Politics.

Unlike politicians in other places, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa included cannabis in his State of the Nation address. Specifically, Ramaphosa linked cannabis initiatives to stimulating a sluggish economy.

How many in the industry (see the U.S. and Europe right now) to hear their national politicians saying something like this:

“This year we will open up and regulate the commercial use of hemp products, providing opportunities for small-scale farmers; and formulate policy on the use of cannabis products for medicinal purposes, to build this industry in line with global trends. The regulatory steps will soon be announced by the relevant ministers”.

Imagine Donald Trump saying something like this. Or on the European side, people like Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron (the presidents of Germany and France).

Sometimes you have to go to another of the world and dream about what is possible, even if not at home yet. Although in this case, South Africa is only about two years ahead of the same conversations in the “more developed West.”

The Impact Of South Africa

With strong ties both to its African neighbors and trade routes developed to the UK and Europe, South Africa is in a catbird seat to begin to pick up major export with all of the above. Competing on price, of course, with local hopefuls in Southern Europe is one thing. The African trade is another. 

Understanding, however, how to import from such distant places is not without its steep learning curves – if not expensive long-distance flights. Meeting the right people and finding the right partners is the key to building a business no matter where the source and or supply chain is ultimately located.

With a shortage of medical cannabis in the room in Germany and an upping of the rules (certifications for radiation have hit the mainstream so everyone has to be cognizant of that in the medical market), foreign markets like South Africa will also increasingly be on the radar.

Source of Certified Product Counts

Understanding the rules, and knowing how to properly get certified for the European market is one big battle that everyone faces from the foreign side. Communicating market needs and trends is the other issue from the buyer side is another matter.

That is also why face-to-face contact, at one end or the other or both, is a requirement at this stage, and not an option.

For the best cannabis industry networking on the planet, be sure to book your tickets now for the International Cannabis Business Conference 4 – returning to Barcelona, Berlin and Bern as of March 2020! Check our conference schedule. Also, be sure not to miss our panels focusing on export/import.

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New Poll Results Have New Zealand Cannabis Legalization Measure Losing On Election Day

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Politics.

Voters in New Zealand will get the chance to vote on a cannabis legalization measure on Election Day. New Zealand’s election will be held on September 19, 2020. So far only two countries have legalized cannabis for adult use – Canada and Uruguay. Court decisions in Mexico and Italy have established case law for legalization, however, measures have yet to be implemented on the public policy side of the equation.

It is the hope of cannabis advocates everywhere that New Zealand’s legalization measure passes. Unfortunately for the cannabis reform movement in New Zealand and elsewhere, a recent poll shows that support for the measure is currently well under the required majority threshold for it to win. Per 1 News:

New Zealanders are more likely to vote against legalisation of cannabis in the upcoming referendum, according to the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll.

Those polled were asked, ‘At this stage, do you think you will vote for cannabis to be legalised, or for cannabis to remain illegal?’

Remain illegal – 51%
Legalise cannabis – 39%
Will not vote – 1%
Don’t know / refused – 9%

The poll found that the most opposition was found among people that self-reported as being ‘Asian New Zealanders, National Party supports and people aged 55 and over.’ Younger people were more likely to support the legalization measure. Below are some of the provisions of the referendum that New Zealand voters will see on Election Day:

  • A minimum purchase and used age of 20;
  • Ban on all marketing and advertising of cannabis products;
  • Requires harm minimization messaging in the retailing of cannabis;
  • Prohibits consumption in public places and limits use to private homes and specifically license premises;
  • Limits sale of cannabis to specifically licensed physical stores (not online or remote sales);
  • Strict controls and regulations on the potency of cannabis;
  • Establishes a state licensing regime that all stages of the growing and supply chain are licensed and controlled by the Government, and will limit the amount of cannabis that is allowed to be grown.

There’s a lot of time between now and Election Day, so hopefully the numbers will trend upwards as the vote approaches. It’s also quite possible that the poll results are misleading due to a phenomenon in which people don’t want to admit that they support legalization out of fear, yet ultimately plan on voting for legalization when given the chance to do so in private.

Uruguay: Research Finds That Youth Cannabis Use Did Not Rise Following Legalization

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Politics.

One of the most popular talking points for cannabis prohibitionists is the claim that if cannabis is legalized for adult use that it will result in a spike in cannabis use by younger people. The ‘what about the children?’ strategy has been in use for many decades by citizens and lawmakers that oppose cannabis reform in virtually every country.

Uruguay is one of two countries to have implemented an adult-use cannabis legalization law, with the other being Canada. Uruguay was the first out of the two, and insightful data is coming out of Uruguay regarding society and cannabis. Recently researchers released the results of a study in which self-reported youth consumption data following legalization in Uruguay was analyzed. Below are some of the study’s findings, per excerpts from La Diaria Salud:

On Monday, the National Drug Board presented the results of the VIII National Survey on Drug Use in Secondary School Students , which showed that marijuana use in middle school students did not increase between 2016 and 2018.

Nor did it find significant changes in the perception of the risk of frequent use, the ease of access, the prevalence of consumption per year and per month. ”The passage of the law did not lead to a greater increase in marijuana use among middle school students,” he reaffirmed.

This is encouraging news for fans of sensible cannabis laws. If there’s one thing that responsible cannabis supporters and cannabis opponents can both agree on, adult-use cannabis should be kept away from children.

Cannabis legalization and regulation is a much better option than prohibition because prohibition obviously does not eliminate use occurring, and legalization provides for conversations and education campaigns aimed at young people that are based in actual reality, and thus much more likely to succeed.

The cannabis industry in Uruguay is built in a way that it will not be as big of a government revenue generator compared to Canada, however, there will still be ample opportunities for the government to harness what public revenue-generating options there may be available, and use any revenues possible to help educate citizens of all ages in Uruguay about cannabis.

That’s a far better option than seeing revenue going to organized crime operations that obviously provide zero public benefits.

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Bustin’ Out In Düsseldorf? The Greens In State Parliament Propose Rec Trial

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Politics.

The Green Party in Düsseldorf, the state parliament for the most populous state of Germany, has advocated a controlled cannabis distribution trial project. The idea would be to reduce both the black market and illegal access by teens.

Cannabis remains, by far, the most widely used “illicit” drug in Germany – a country that has begun, albeit slowly, to recognize the medical efficacy of cannabis. 

About 32% of the population between the ages of 18 to 59 have used cannabis at some point in time. In addition, there are now about 40-50,000 patients, but nobody knows exactly how many – it is easier to count prescriptions in a year and divide by four (cannabis prescriptions are issued every 90 days).

However, the call also comes at a strange and meaningful time in German politics. The Green Party is using cannabis as a way to attract voters to its cause at a time when the electoral map is shifting. Quite often, the choice is between the “far left” – or the “far right.” Die Linke and the Greens, in particular, back cannabis liberalization. The far-right, anti-immigrant, Alternativ für Deutschland or AfD does not.

No matter where this trial goes in other words, it may finally pierce the veil of “no” in Berlin – a political city on the federal level, which has denied such trials to its own citizens for years now.

Why Now?

The tide is moving and shifting and changing of course. There is still a long way to go, but there is home grow in Italy, and rec trials scheduled all over Europe these days. 

It is only natural that the Germans would pay attention. Particularly now, and particularly in this region of the country.

Prohibition Is Getting Old

While Germans can be a conservative lot, there is also a pragmatism which is very much at the heart of all things political too. And right now, there are quite a few things that are starting to feel “stale” if not a need for a good shake up. The CDU, the mainstream, conservative party that held the country together since WWII is feeling many challenges right now, and cannabis legalization is absolutely fodder in the discussion.

Look for more of this kind of pressure as the ground in Europe begins to shift and change with political forces of all kinds at the table. Cannabis, in this environment, is absolutely one of the biggest playing cards if not pink elephants in the room.

For an insider’s look at the shifting landscape of cannabis regulation in Germany and across Europe, be sure to attend Peter Homberg’s headliner at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin!

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New Zealand To Vote On Cannabis Legalization On September 19th

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Politics.

It’s official – New Zealand will hold its election on September 19th, 2020. Voters in New Zealand will decide whether or not to pass a cannabis legalization measure on Election Day 2020. The New Zealand Electoral Commission announced the official date of the election earlier today.

According to an official government page dedicated to the New Zealand cannabis referendum, “The Government has released a draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill for public consideration. The draft Bill describes the key aspects of proposed rules about growing, selling and purchasing cannabis for recreational purposes. The Government is publishing a draft Bill at this point to ensure that New Zealanders are informed about the direction being taken and the decisions that have been made to date. The final draft Bill, which will be released in early 2020, will contain more detail and take into account feedback on the current draft.”

An official release date for the final draft of the bill has yet to be announced. Until then, below are some of the provisions that were included in the draft version of the bill:

  • Proposed ballot language – “Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill?”
  • Sets legal age at 20 years old
  • Confines consumption to private residences and licensed premises
  • Prescribed conditions for personal cultivation and gifting
  • Licensed supply chain

The referendum is not necessarily binding, at least according to some lawmakers in New Zeland, although lawmakers in New Zealand’s majority have stated previously that they plan to treat the vote as being binding.

According to the previously cited government page, “If more than 50% of the vote is ‘Yes’, recreational use of cannabis won’t become legal straight away. After the election, the incoming Government will need to follow a process to introduce a Bill to Parliament that would make recreational use of cannabis legal. This process would include the opportunity for the public to share their thoughts and ideas on how the law might work.”

To date, only Uruguay and Canada have passed legalization measures and implemented adult-use cannabis legalization. Mexico and Italy have had court decisions rendered that found cannabis prohibition to be unconstitutional, however, neither of the nations have implemented adult-use cannabis legalization.

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Panel In Mexico To Make Cannabis Legalization Recommendations

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Politics.

In 2018 Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that cannabis prohibition was unconstitutional, and tasked lawmakers in Mexico with passing legislation to implement cannabis legalization.

The court decision effectively made Mexico the third country to legalize cannabis for adult-use, with the first two being Uruguay and Canada. Both of those countries passed legislation to legalize cannabis for adult use.

The court decision in Mexico put a deadline in place that lawmakers were bound by – one year from the court ruling. That deadline came and went, yet no legislation was passed by Mexico’s lawmakers.

An extension was granted by the Supreme Court of Mexico, and lawmakers now have until April 30th to make it happen. It is unclear what would happen if the new deadline is missed. Recently Mexico’s President announced that a panel will conduct research and offer up recommendations to lawmakers. Per Marijuana Moment:

The president of Mexico said on Monday that a government panel is being formed in order to make recommendations for a legal marijuana system in the country.

While he didn’t offer many details about the commission, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said it will be focused on studying public health aspects of legalization.

Only time will tell if some, or any, of the provisions recommended by the government panel will make it into any successful legislation. For that matter, only time will tell if lawmakers succeed in passing legalization legislation prior to the deadline.

For a brief time last year, it appeared that the push for a legalization measure would be successful, however, the effort stalled after special interests made a big push to kill the measure that seemed to have the most potential. April 30th is not far away. Hopefully lawmakers can get the job done this time, and pass sensible legislation.

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UK’s Justice Secretary: Cannabis Will Not Be Legalized Anytime Soon

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Politics.

Cannabis prohibition is a failed public policy, no matter where it exists, including in the United Kingdom. Cannabis has been found to be 114 times safer than alcohol, however, people in the United Kingdom are having their lives ruined on a regular basis simply because they possessed cannabis.

Even after someone has complied with whatever punishment was handed down against them due to their cannabis offense they are still essentially branded with a ‘cannabis scarlet letter’ because their record will follow them wherever they go, and thus the punishment is ongoing.

A cannabis offense on a person’s record can result in lost employment opportunities, negative ratings from lenders and insurers, and in some cases, it can even prevent a person from having their residential rental application being approved.

The United Kingdom needs to get on the right side of history. Unfortunately, recent comments by the United Kingdom’s Justice Secretary suggest that it could be a while before that happens. Per Twitter from late last week:

It’s truly a shame that in 2020 a top government official in the UK is still making the claim that cannabis is such a dangerous drug that people’s lives need to be ruined simply because they possess it. The claim is essentially stating that law enforcement’s focus should be on investigating and prosecuting cannabis-only offenses rather than being focused on violent crimes because that’s effectively the result of the enforcement approach that is being touted.

Law enforcement resources are not unlimited, and they should be focused on areas that make sense and keep as many people safe as possible. No one is safer because a cannabis consumer is getting investigated and prosecuted by law enforcement. The focus should be directed towards going after actual criminal activity. How many actual crimes could be prevented in the time that it takes to bust a cannabis consumer in the UK? Shouldn’t limited public resources be prioritized in a better way?

The citizens of the UK deserve a sensible cannabis policy that is based on science and compassion, and not on the outdated political views of a minority of government officials.