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Tag: medical cannabis

German Pharmacists Support Medical Cannabis, See Market Growth

Written by Anthony Johnson on . Posted in Berlin, Business, Medical, Vancouver.

The German cannabis patient community has grown by leaps and bounds since the program was approved a few years ago and the International Cannabis Business Conference is so pleased to have witness the growth firsthand, holding our first annual conference in Berlin just after medical legislation was approved. Despite a lot of bureaucratic red tape (that has loosened over time), there are now about 50,000 cannabis patients and that number could easily increase to hundreds of thousands in the coming years as cannabis goes more mainstream and prices drop.

The robust growth of Germany’s medical cannabis program isn’t only evident by the increase in the number of patients, but in clear signs that the future growth of the program is very bright. First, the increase in exports has surged dramatically as the European Union powerhouse has imported nearly as much cannabis from Canada and the Netherlands in the first six months of 2019 as it did in all of 2018. Also, very tellingly, licensed German pharmacists, those actually dispensing the medicine, not only support medicinal cannabis, but three-fourths see the market growing, as reported by Marijuana Business Daily:

According to the paid report, the majority of pharmacists in Germany generally favor medical cannabis – as long as they’re the ones responsible for dispensing it.

Three-quarters believe the German medical cannabis market will continue to grow, and among that group, 15% said growth will be strong.

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About half the pharmacists believe they are well informed about medical cannabis, but fewer than 5% responded they are “very well” informed. The rest said they were poorly or very poorly informed.

With cultivation companies in Germany now getting licensed, with homegrown cannabis expected to be on pharmacy shelves in 2020, prices will come down, variety will increase, and local lobbying efforts will strengthen. With the industry growing, as German pharmacists and virtually everyone expects, advocates will become more influential with policy makers, and the bureaucratic hurdles slowing the medical program will start to be removed. Eventually, the lobbying effort and public support will garner enough votes to legalize cannabis for all adults. When they do, will German pharmacists still be the sole dispensers, or will the market open up to more retail outlets? Only time will tell.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is THE industry event to learn the latest and to network with top investors and entrepreneurs. Next up: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, this September 15-16. Purchase discounted early bird tickets by August 21st to save.  

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Patients Are Powering the European Cannabis Industry

Written by ICBC Staff on . Posted in Business, Medical, Vancouver.

It is a truism in the room that the cannabis industry, globally, and in each region of the world it springs forth in, is driven first by the medical side of the business. No matter how much excitement about CBD first strategies, it is the places where fully leaded, THC included, and regulated whole plant medication are authorized that are able to drive real change, if not nascent markets forward.

This has been true of the United States and Canada and it’s the truth in Europe as well.

In Germany, despite the fact that patients gained access just as they lost the right to cultivate small amounts themselves (at least until recreational reform hits), so far, patients have only gained wider spread access by submitting themselves to the complicated approval process required by insurers. There are now about 50,000 patients in Germany and these patients are helping move cannabis more and more mainstream in their homeland and across europe, as the EU powerhouse’s influence ripples beyond its borders.

in the UK, the entire discussion is taking another twist. Namely, desperate parents of sick children began importing medicine from Holland and Canada and dared the authorities to shut them down.

That strategy worked, but only to a limited degree, unfortunately. Despite the fact that it was announced last fall that cannabis would be covered as a Schedule II prescription, covered under the NHS, so far there are, by best estimates fewer than 100 patients in the UK, but patients have not given up. In some cases, they have even partnered with large industry players from Canada and other countries to put pressure on the government to open the market.

The situation is so obviously dire in the U.K. right now, that it will have an effect, and probably far beyond the UK – globally. There is not a patient in the room of any nationality who has not had to deal with intransigent anti cannabis rules, unbending medical infrastructure and paperwork of all kinds.

In the UK, much like the conversation in every other legalizing market, the corner, at least, has been turned. The issue, not to mention those who are suffering, are visible.

Public opinion is shifting. Parliament is apologizing. And the market, no matter its shape post October 31, is clearly opening. And that progress is mostly due to the unrelenting pursuit of greater access by patients and their advocates. A sincere thanks to all sick and disabled patients, and their supporters, for moving our cause of freedom and compassion forward.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is THE industry event to learn the latest and to network with top investors, entrepreneurs, and advocates. Next up: Vancouver, Canada, this September 15-16. Discounted early bird tickets are on sale until August 21st.