The International Cannabis Business Conference is coming back to Berlin, Germany on July 19-20, 2022. Offering world-class industry networking opportunities, the Berlin International Cannabis Business Conference is the largest B2B cannabis trade event in Europe and is also the longest-running cannabis B2B conference on the continent. The conference will once again feature a unique blend of cannabis policy, advocacy, industry, and networking.
Germany is home to the largest economy in the European Union and is poised to serve as the cannabis industry capital of Europe going forward. The cannabis industry is evolving rapidly in Germany, with the country’s medical cannabis program increasing in size with every passing day.
The International Cannabis Business Conference is the leading B2B cannabis event series on earth. Events have been held in the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland. Additional locations in other countries are being identified and will be announced in the future. Over 5,000 attendees and 350 companies sponsors and exhibitors are expected at the Berlin International Cannabis Business B2B Conference in 2022.
International Cannabis Business Conference events are attended by leading policymakers, executives, and entrepreneurs from all over the world, with over 80 countries being represented at previous events. The event series is the best way for innovators and inventors to get their products or services in front of the top influencers and decision-makers in the cannabis space, as well as for investors to network with aspiring entrepreneurs.
The conference series consistently features world-class speakers that cannabis entrepreneurs, advocates, and consumers from all backgrounds can learn from and be entertained by. At the conclusion of the 2022 B2B event, attendees will be able to enjoy one of the International Cannabis Business Conference’s famous after-parties. This year’s B2B event after-party in Berlin will feature the multi-Grammy award-winning reggae band Morgan Heritage. After a conference of learning from true-cannabis experts and networking with cannabis enthusiasts from around the globe, the after-party featuring Morgan Heritage is the perfect way to unwind.
A cannabis industry revolution is sweeping Europe, and Germany is at the center of it. If you’re serious about succeeding in the cannabis industry, check out the International Cannabis Business Conference’s flagship program in Berlin in July. Leading cannabis entrepreneurs and policymakers from around the world will be in attendance and the networking and educational opportunities will be unparalleled.
You can secure tickets now and take advantage of the early bird pricing discount (expires June 22nd). Below is a preview video of what attendees can expect in Berlin:
For many years Spannabis served as the largest cannabis gathering on planet earth, well before cannabis went mainstream and even before the emerging legal cannabis industry even existed. People came to Barcelona year after year from all over the globe to celebrate the cannabis plant and the community that surrounds it.
After a brief hiatus, Spannabis came back last month and once again the event teamed up with the International Cannabis Business Conference to form the world’s largest cannabis superconference. By many measures, the superconference was the first truly global cannabis event to take place in 2022. Anyone that attended the events will be quick to tell you that the atmosphere was electric and it was amazing to see old friends and make new ones.
For the International Cannabis Business Conference specifically, over 1,000 people attended the event in total. Lawmakers, regulators, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry service providers from 80 countries attended the B2B conference, along with dozens of expert speakers that covered a range of important topics during their presentations. Below is a recap video from the International Cannabis Business Conference’s YouTube channel, where videos of the panels can also be viewed courtesy of Marihuana Television:
One thing that was very evident throughout the conference is that while many industries have had to scale back or even stall completely in recent years, the cannabis industry is not one of them. The legal cannabis industry is larger than ever before and operates in more jurisdictions than ever before, so it’s not exactly shocking that the excitement level in Barcelona was enormous. You could see it on everyone’s faces and sense it in their enthusiastic conversations.
The future of the global cannabis industry is extremely bright, particularly on the European continent where the cannabis industry is expanding at a rapid pace. That is especially true in Berlin, Germany where the next set of International Cannabis Business Conference events will take place this July. The Berlin Global Investment Forum will occur on July 18th, 2022, with a VIP reception being held the night before. This investment-focused summit will bring together international investors and cannabis companies looking for capital while providing a forum for exchange in the key areas that the market needs most – real data and available capital.
After the Global Investment Forum, the International Cannabis Business Conference’s flagship B2B event begins its 2-day curriculum of keynote speakers, presentations, and expert-led panels. Both events will be the ideal place for cannabis entrepreneurs, investors, and industry service providers to network with each other as well as network with leading international cannabis policymakers from around the globe.
Below is footage of a panel from last year’s International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin featuring representatives from Germany’s major political parties, the first panel of its kind at the time. The panel discussion occurred a mere weeks before Germany’s 2021 election. The results of German’s election that year, and the Traffic Light Coalition that came out of it, are the driving force behind adult-use cannabis legalization in Germany right now.
It’s just one of the many examples of why people should attend the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin this year. Tickets are available at this link here.
The European continent is the most exciting place for cannabis industry pursuits and policy reform efforts right now, and Germany is at the heart of it. Having served as the medical cannabis industry capital of Europe in recent years, Germany is trending towards full adult-use legalization and the launch of legal adult-use cannabis sales. When that happens, Germany will further become the undisputed cannabis industry capital of Europe.
Malta made history late last year when it became the first European nation to legalize cannabis for adult use, and just the third country on earth to make the policy shift. Yet, whereas Malta will not permit legal adult-use sales as part of its legalization model, Germany’s eventual legalization model will include sales according to current proposals from the governing coalition.
Related projections for Germany’s emerging cannabis industry are off the charts. To put Germany’s industry potential into perspective, consider the fact that Germany’s population is roughly twice the size of Canada, Uruguay, and Malta’s populations combined. Furthermore, Germany’s economy, which is the fourth-largest economy on earth, is well over twice the size of the three current legal cannabis nations’ economies combined.
It’s truly an amazing time to be a cannabis enthusiast in Europe, and particularly so in Germany, which is why we are so excited to announce European Cannabis Week in Berlin in July. The International Cannabis Business Conference, the largest and longest-running cannabis B2B event in Europe, is teaming up with Mary Jane Berlin Expo, Germany’s largest cannabis expo, to provide a week of amazing cannabis industry, policy, and entertainment opportunities.
European Cannabis Week will kick off on July 15, 2022 with the start of the Mary Jane Berlin Expo. In Europe, no cannabis expo is growing as fast as the Mary Jane Berlin: Over 220 exhibitors are expected at the event, along with over 27,000 attendees at the venue Arena Berlin & Badeschiff. The Mary Jane Berlin Expo will take place July 15-17th and combines a product exhibition, congress and festival in one. The range of products includes CBD, hemp oil, fertilizer, snacks, vaporizers, dog food, textiles and much more presented on a total area of over 13,000 square meters.
What makes Mary Jane Berlin stand out from other expos is its diverse cultural and entertainment program. The Mary Jane Berlin Festival measures the largest outdoor area ever to be offered by a European cannabis expo: Two festival stages play live music and live acts, the street food area offers culinary (cannabis) highlights and a sandy beach with an infinity pool in the famous Berlin river Spree provides a place to cool off in the hot summer days.
Below is a preview video for the upcoming Mary Jane Berlin event:
“We are particularly excited about European Cannabis Week given the favorable political climate for cannabis legalization in many parts of the continent. It is going to be extra special for our team to offer world-class cannabis industry and policy education, networking, and entertainment to attendees alongside Mary Jane Berlin at such a crucial juncture for Europe’s cannabis community,” says Alex Rogers, founder of the International Cannabis Business Conference.
After the Expo, European Cannabis Week then transitions to the International Cannabis Business Conference which is hosting one of its industry-leading Global Investment Forums on July 18th in Berlin. The Global Investment Forum in Berlin will feature hand-picked cannabis companies participating in a pitch session in front of top investors on the Main Stage.
It is a tremendous opportunity for cannabis companies in the emerging cannabis industry to showcase their products/services in front of seasoned industry investors. The pitch session is also open to service providers looking for reliable and high-end clients.
“We know how hard it is for quality investors to link up with vetted cannabis industry companies offering valuable investment opportunities,” Rogers stated. “That is why we are bringing the Global Investment Forum back to Berlin. It will be a prime networking opportunity for cannabis industry investors, entrepreneurs, and industry service providers alike.”
Following the Global Investment Forum is the two-day International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin B2B event that begins on July 19th. Cannabis industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry service providers from over 80 countries will be in attendance at the B2B event, making it the perfect place to learn and network. Below is a recap video of last year’s Berlin events:
At the conclusion of the B2B event, attendees will then be able to enjoy one of the International Cannabis Business Conference’s famous after-parties. This year’s B2B event after-party in Berlin will feature the multi-Grammy award-winning reggae band Morgan Heritage. After a long week of learning from true-cannabis experts and networking with cannabis enthusiasts from around the globe, the after-party featuring Morgan Heritage is the perfect way to cap off European Cannabis Week.
The International Cannabis Business Conference is the leading B2B cannabis event series on earth. Events have been held in the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland. Additional locations in other countries are being identified and will be announced in the future. The topics covered at the Global Investment Forum and conference via panels and presentations will be led by the top cannabis experts in the global cannabis space. Speaker and schedule announcements will be released soon.
European Cannabis Week is going to be the ultimate cannabis experience in the heart of Germany during the middle of summer. Make sure that you don’t miss out and get your tickets to Mary Jane Berlin and the International Cannabis Business Conference as soon as possible before tickets sell out!
Highest French Court Freezes Ban on CBD flowers and leaves. Does this mean an ooh la la moment for the French CBD Biz? If not the European one beyond that?
The French have carved out a unique place in the European cannabis discussion, and further one that may well be emulated elsewhere. What is remarkable about such developments, however, is that while the French have some of the strictest laws in Europe about the plant, it is here that the CBD discussion is being moved forward in codified, legal decisions.
The Kanavape case, in other words, has only been the beginning of a dramatic about turn in French domestic policy about CBD. As a result of the same, the French government released new regulation on December 31, 2021. However, it was met with howls of discontent if not speedy legal action in response by the industry when it emerged that the marketing and sales of flowers and leaves would still be expressly interdit (forbidden). On January 24, the Conseil d’Etat, the highest administrative court in the country), agreed with the industry and froze the proposed ban.
This means that the French finally have a regulated CBD market for both flowers and products. It also, as a result, creates the first time that a European country (beyond Switzerland) has codified its hemp industry so concretely. To put this in the perspective this deserves – Germany, with the continent’s largest medical market, has still not figured out how to formally define CBD outside of the Narcotics Act.
To the extent that this discussion is likely to get a carveout in the upcoming drug reform conversation now afoot at the federal level politically, it is likely that the Germans will follow the French. To date, the issue of flower and leaf sales has been controversial here as well. The last German legal decision on hemp tea was in fact, indecisive.
The French movement on the same, in other words, is highly likely to influence not only the other largest economy in the region, but every other country as well. It may well also move the formal acceptance and clarification of at least CBD on a European level.
And that is a revolution that is way, way overdue.
There are a couple of bellwether developments of late that seem to indicate that the “biz” is hitting a bit of a slump. From the lackluster earnings and stock prices of the largest Canadian LPs to reports that the medical market in Germany has seen static growth – not to mention the latest rounds of buyouts and mergers just about everywhere, the industry is hitting a bit of a global growth time out.
What is going on? In an industry supposedly on a one-way track of exponential growth, such numbers can be a little dispiriting. However, there are several clear reasons for this stagnation, none of which are long-term. Here are a few of the biggies.
Covid may have boosted sales in the US and Canada, but overall, the burden of new regulation and lack of regulation reform combined with the Pandemic is taking its toll everywhere. The overarching issues of profitability in the adult-use market in North America have still not been solved. And in Germany, doctors are still reluctant to prescribe, along with an approval body that, like many government agencies, has slowed to an absolute snail’s pace in approving anything new – from permits to patient coverage. With Covid restrictions on the edge of lifting just about everywhere, expect to see this change, perhaps even as early as this spring.
The German market is far from saturation, but sales strategies have largely focussed on convincing still cannabis shy doctors to prescribe a certain brand of cannabis or cannabis products and hoping to convince patients to ask for the same. So far, this has proved highly expensive and inefficient. The only widely known “brand” doctors seem to fall back to is dronabinol, currently about a third to a quarter of the market. With further reform pending, including of the recreational kind, this will also impact medical sales, just in terms of being allowed to discuss much less market cannabis in general.
Recreational reform is now formally on the docket in Germany, with other EU countries plus Switzerland moving forward to launch markets as early as spring 2022. This is going to have a much-needed buzz and pick-me-up effect on legalization conversations in every EU country, as well as globally.
The industry, in other words, may be in the midst of a midwinter slump, but don’t expect that to last. Inefficiencies in the industry are being kinked out, and reform, in many more places, is increasingly if not here, then just around the corner.
When it comes to being a cannabis consumer, you will be hard-pressed to find a better place to hang out than Spain. The European nation has long been home to an amazing cannabis community and it is no secret that the hash in Spain is unparalleled.
Barcelona is particularly fantastic for cannabis enthusiasts, with roughly 70% of the nation’s world-famous cannabis clubs being located in the Barcelona region. The food, the culture, the beauty, and the cannabis combine to make Barcelona one of the top cannabis tourist destinations on earth.
Spain is home to a very unique public policy and regulatory approach to cannabis, with some policy components being better than others, especially from the perspective of cannabis patients and entrepreneurs.
Current Legal Status
Currently, cannabis is decriminalized in Spain for personal use. Someone caught with a personal amount of cannabis can face a fine of up to 200 euros, however, many parts of the country have lax enforcement and it is unclear what constitutes a ‘personal’ amount of cannabis.
Cannabis for commercial purposes is completely illegal with the exception of a handful of medical cannabis industry licenses. All of the medical cannabis that is produced under the limited number of licenses is earmarked for export. The only other nationally-recognized cannabis business models are those that involve cannabis research.
With that being said, hundreds of cannabis clubs operate in Spain, and at one point cannabis clubs operating in Barcelona were considered to be legal by local authorities. A court decision overturned Barcelona’s policy of allowing cannabis clubs, leaving the entire industry sector in limbo. Spain’s unregulated market is thriving, however, its regulated industry is considerably hindered by current policy.
Future Reforms?
Europe recently witnessed its first nation legalizing cannabis for adult use after lawmakers in Malta passed a reform measure at the end of last year. Several other countries, including Germany, Luxembourg, and Italy are expected to legalize sooner rather than later.
All of that puts pressure on Spain to step up and take its rightful place as an international cannabis industry and policy leader. The best way to learn more about what is on the horizon in Spain is to attend the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference B2B event in Barcelona on March 10th, co-sponsored by Bhang Inc and Grow Glide with an after-party sponsored by Cansativa. The B2B event is part of the world’s largest cannabis industry superconference alongside Spannabis.
The B2B event has a panel dedicated to the analysis of current laws, regulations, and possible reforms looming in Spain. The moderator of the panel will be Bernardo Soriano Guzmán, CO-CEO, S&F Abogados. Panel participants will include Sergio González aka Weedzard (President, 420 Movement), Iker Val (CPO, Sovereign Fields), and Ruben Valenzuela Moreno (CTO, Valenveras). Every panel member possesses tremendous experience in the cannabis space and is optimally suited to provide valuable insight regarding Spain’s evolving cannabis policies and regulations.
Who Else Will Be Speaking At ICBC Barcelona?
The most entertaining man in cannabis, Ngaio Bealum, will serve as the International Cannabis Business Conference’s Master of Ceremonies in Barcelona. Additional speakers include:
Dr. Juana Vasella – Attorney of Law, MME Legal Zurich
Joan Simó Cruanyes – Coordinator of Cananbis Hub UPC
Albert Tio – Founder of Airam and President of Fedcac
Aaron Smith – Co-Founder and Executive Director, National Cannabis Industry Association
Lisa Haag – Founder, MJ_Universe
Juanma Fernández – CEO, Easy CSC Group
Patricia Amiguet – Founder of Pachamama Cannabis Association and President of CatFAC
Zeta Ceti – Founder and CEO, Green Rush Consulting
Over 80 countries will be represented at the superconference this March in Barcelona and will include representatives from every sector of the industry as well as leading international cannabis policymakers and industry service providers. Attend the superconference in Barcelona to network with investors, entrepreneurs, industry regulators, and international policymakers and take your industry pursuits to the next level.
Canada was not the first country to legalize cannabis for adult use. That distinction goes to Uruguay which legalized cannabis for adult use roughly 5 years prior to Canada doing so in 2018.
However, Canada was the first G-7 country to legalize cannabis for adult use, and historically it is the only country on earth where anyone of legal age can purchase cannabis from storefronts, delivery services, and via the web. It has served as the ultimate public policy experiment, and according to the results of a new analysis from Deloitte, the experiment appears to be working.
Deloitte is the world’s largest consulting firm and offers a wide variety of services. One thing that the consulting firm does is economic analysis. Deloitte recently released its analysis regarding Canada’s emerging cannabis industry.
A number of firms and government entities have released Canada cannabis industry data on a rolling basis, however, Deloitte’s analysis is the most comprehensive to date. They looked at a number of economic statistics and indicators since the start of legalization in Canada over three years ago.
Job Creation
One of the major takeaways from the analysis is that the legal cannabis industry in Canada has created roughly 151,000 jobs. Jobs range from budtenders to cultivation staff to regulatory positions in government. To put that figure into perspective, it is estimated that the number of cannabis jobs in the U.S. is roughly 321,000.
A major selling point for a legalized industry is that it creates good jobs, and often in areas where it’s typically hard to create jobs, such as in rural areas. After all, an indoor cultivation center or processing facility can be located virtually anywhere, and people purchase cannabis nationwide regardless of local population size.
GDP And Tax Revenue
In addition to generating new jobs across Canada, the emerging legal cannabis industry is responsible for generating over $15 billion since legal adult-use sales launched in late 2018. It’s not enough money to solve every financial problem that Canada has, however, it’s still a significant sum that would otherwise be zero if the legal cannabis industry wasn’t allowed to operate.
The overall economic boost from Canada’s legalized industry is substantial. Deloitte estimates that the legal cannabis industry in Canada has contributed over $43.5 billion to the nation’s GDP since the start of legalization. Cannabis companies have directly invested roughly $4.4 billion into Canada’s economy, with the remaining boost to GDP coming from “indirect” economic contributions, and “induced” contributions according to Deloitte.
The European continent is at the forefront of adult-use cannabis legalization reform. Towards the end of last year, lawmakers in Malta passed an adult-use measure making the country the first in Europe to do so. With 2022 in full swing multiple other countries in Europe may follow.
Members of the governing coalition in Germany previously announced intentions to legalize cannabis for adult use as well as launch a regulated adult-use industry. The German lawmakers did not announce a specific timeline for doing so, however, the start of the policy shift is expected to happen sooner rather than later.
Cannabis activists in Italy have likely gathered enough signatures to put a cannabis legalization referendum before voters. The effort only needs to clear one more procedural hurdle, which is expected to happen later this month. Legalization is expected to occur this year in Luxembourg according to lawmakers.
Both Switzerland and the Netherlands are pursuing adult-use ‘pilot programs’ in which cannabis will be legal in certain jurisdictions for research purposes to help craft eventual national legalization policies. Switzerland already allows the sale of cannabis products with less than 1% THC content. In every measurable way, cannabis legalization is on the move in Europe.
Opportunities For Investors, Operators, And Consumers
It is truly an exciting time to be a cannabis enthusiast in Europe and looking towards the future, the situation should only continue to improve as more countries pursue and enact sensible reform measures. Every European country that legalizes, starting with Malta, builds momentum for reform in other countries on the continent. Lawmakers have to decide if they want to get on the right side of history and see their countries reap the benefits of cannabis reform, or continue to cling to failed public policy and let once-in-a-generation opportunities pass them by.
Now that the first domino has fallen, people can expect an uptick in policy changes in the coming years in Europe. Knowing what to anticipate and getting the timing right is extremely important for investors, operators, and consumers as there will be tremendous opportunities created by the inevitable policy changes.
The perfect time and place to learn more about what to anticipate in Europe is at the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference B2B event in Barcelona on March 10th. The event is part of the world’s largest superconference, with the International Cannabis Business Conference once again teaming up with Spannabis. Jamie L Pearson, Bhang Inc.’s (CSE:BHNG OTCQB: BHNGF) President and CEO will provide the keynote at the B2B event.
Pearson is a proven leader in the cannabis space and brings nearly a decade of experience from operating an internationally-recognized brand in the ever-evolving North American cannabis markets. She will offer her top 10 observations regarding social justice, banking, taxation, wellness, and leadership in her keynote address.
Additional Speakers
The rich cannabis history and culture in Barcelona, Spain make it the perfect backdrop for the next International Cannabis Business Conference being held in March. The conference is co-sponsored by Bhang Inc and Grow Glide. At the conclusion of the superconference the International Cannabis Business Conference will host one of its world-famous after-parties. This year’s after-party will be sponsored by Cansativa.
The most entertaining man in cannabis, Ngaio Bealum, will serve as the International Cannabis Business Conference’s Master of Ceremonies in Barcelona. Additional speakers include:
The path towards adult-use legalization in Mexico has proven to be long and full of twists and turns. For many years Mexico prohibited cannabis in all forms, however, in 2017 it finally legalized cannabis for medical use to some extent.
That following year, in 2018, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that cannabis prohibition as it pertains to personal use was unconstitutional. It was a landmark ruling that was celebrated at the time around the world. Similar decisions were also handed down in South Africa and Italy.
In Mexico specifically, the Court tasked lawmakers with passing legislation to fully implement the Court’s decision and initially gave a one-year deadline. Lawmakers requested an extension and were granted one that expired in April 2020.
Due to the onset of the pandemic, lawmakers requested another deadline. And then another. As it stands right now, it’s anyone’s guess as to when Mexico will finally get a legalization bill to the finish line.
With a new session starting next month, international cannabis enthusiasts are hopeful that a bill will finally be passed this time around. Per Politico (translated from Spanish):
Proposals have been submitted; however, these have not prospered due to the lack of consensus on the subject. In this sense, it is expected that in the next ordinary period, which begins on February 1, the parliamentary groups that have a presence in the Senate will begin with the analysis of the issue.
Parts of Mexico are developed and full of economic opportunity, however, much of the country lives in poverty. It is no secret that Mexico has been ravaged by the War on Drugs, and that cannabis prohibition fueled the issue to some extent. Creating a regulated adult-use industry will do a lot to help Mexico’s citizens.
The desire to legalize cannabis for adult use in Mexico is strong among lawmakers, and it’s not a question of if Mexico will pass a bill, it’s a question of when? Lawmakers in Mexico have argued over provisions of a regulated industry for far too long. Hopefully this session proves to be the one that yields a successful, fair, and equitable legalization measure.
Thailand is rapidly becoming an international leader when it comes to cannabis policy. For many years the nation prohibited cannabis in all forms, with harsh penalties being handed out to people caught possessing, cultivating, and/or distributing cannabis.
That has changed a great deal in recent years after Thailand became the first country in its entire region to legalize cannabis for medical use. It was a tectonic public policy shift at the time given that over half of the countries that have a death penalty for cannabis are located in the same region as Thailand.
Currently, any household in Thailand can sign up to cultivate cannabis for medical purposes and sell it to government-licensed cannabis retailers. Aspiring cultivators can even obtain a government loan to help fund their pursuits, with interest rates being extremely low.
If Thailand’s Health Ministry has its way, cannabis reform will not stop at medical cannabis. Thailand’s Health Ministry recently announced a desire to legalize cannabis for adult use in certain parts of the country. Per Bangkok Post:
The health ministry plans to legalise cannabis for recreational use in designated areas as part of a new draft proposal.
Dr Paisarn Dankum, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said the ministry wants to maximise the benefits of the plant following its removal from the latest list of prohibited drugs (B.E 2564).
The proposals will allow the use of cannabis for recreational purposes in designated sandbox areas. However, there has so far been no guidance as to what will constitute a sandbox and which areas might be eligible.
Thailand is a beautiful country and has long served as a top international tourism destination. Cannabis enthusiasts from around the world have traveled to Thailand for many years to consume local cannabis varieties, albeit in a fashion that was not necessarily legal.
It’s tough to say at this point if the cannabis ‘sandbox’ regions will be geared towards boosting tourism, however, that’s likely to factor in. Legalizing cannabis for adult use will create jobs, create tax revenues and fees, and boost local economies. That is true in Thailand and anywhere else that embraces adult-use cannabis reform.
One of the most popular talking points for cannabis prohibitionists is the ‘what about the children?’ talking point. Cannabis opponents go to that talking point early and often whenever cannabis reform is being proposed in any jurisdiction, including in Europe.
In recent years medical cannabis reform has spread across the European continent, with countless patients now being able to safely access medical cannabis products where they live. Not all countries’ medical cannabis programs are created equal, as proven by a comparison between the United Kingdom and Germany.
Germany is home to the most well-established medical cannabis program in Europe and the largest medical cannabis industry on the continent. Patients can easily acquire medical cannabis products from licensed pharmacies. Compare that to the United Kingdom where only three patients had received any medical cannabis products as of last summer.
With so much medical cannabis reform sweeping the European continent, many are wondering if it had any impact on youth consumption rates on the continent? After all, cannabis opponents tried so hard to convince people that reforming cannabis laws would lead to a doomsday scenario in Europe. A study was recently conducted that sought to answer that question, and spoiler alert – it was not favorable to the claims of cannabis opponents.
Youth Consumption Rates Spanning 20+ Years
A team of researchers in Sweden recently examined data of self-reported cannabis use spanning a period from 1994 to 2017. During that span of time many countries in Europe reformed their cannabis laws in one way or another, including the countries where data was sourced from (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom).
“Cannabis policy varies greatly across European countries, but evidence of how such policy impacts on recreational cannabis use among young people is conflicting. This study aimed to clarify this association by investigating how changes in cannabis legislation influenced cannabis use.” the study’s authors stated.
“Available data on self-reports of recreational cannabis use among individuals aged 15-34 years was retrieved from EMCDDA. Information on cannabis policy changes was categorized as more lenient (decriminalisation or depenalisation) or stricter (criminalisation, penalisation). Countries that had implemented changes in cannabis legislation or had information on prevalence of use for at least eight calendar years, were eligible for inclusion. We used interrupted time-series linear models to investigate changes in country-specific trajectories of prevalence over calendar time and in relation to policy changes.” the researchers stated regarding their methodology.
The researchers concluded that “Our findings do not support any considerable impact of cannabis legislation on the prevalence of recreational cannabis use among youth and young adults in Europe.”
The Same Will Likely Prove True For Adult-Use Legalization
Europe’s cannabis community experienced a major milestone at the end of last year when Malta became the first country on the continent to legalize cannabis for adult use. The new law makes it legal for adults to cultivate, possess, and consume cannabis. The measure will also legalize cannabis clubs, although it will not legalize adult-use sales.
Legalization efforts are well underway in other European countries as well, with Luxembourg, Germany, and possibly Italy legalizing cannabis for adult use in the near future. That will increase pressure on other countries, including Spain where our next event will be held in March, to ramp up adult-use legalization efforts as well.
Unfortunately, that ramping up of legalization efforts across the continent will likely be paralleled by claims from cannabis opponents that cannabis legalization will result in a stoned youth epidemic. Feel free to point to the results of the study contained in this article to debunk their claims. Just as those claims proved to be unfounded when it came to medical cannabis reform, the same will likely be true for adult-use reform.
The left-wing France Unbowed party is taking the fight to a still resistant government as recent polls show public opinion shifting towards cannabis legalization
Last week, French legislators discussed a bill to legalize cannabis. Put forward by the France Unbowed party or LFI, it is widely seen to be a legislative attempt to put the conversation in the national air rather than pass anything even though there was clear support for reform from five parliamentary groups including even the ruling party (LREM). The government so far has been widely resistant to full cannabis reform, implementing both a much-delayed medical trial only last year as well as finally regulating the CBD business which, as of January 7, will include the sale of flowers. This is a major victory over the government in the first week of the year as the country’s Supreme Court also just overturned the ban on cannabis flowers put forward by the government on December 30 in the plan to regulate the CBD industry.
The last such attempt put forward in 2014 was also rejected by the government. But times they are obviously a’changin’. Beyond the victory on CBD recently, as of June 2021, an Ifop survey showed that 51% of the French public was in favour of at least decriminalization – the highest number since the issue has been tracked (1970).
Things are certainly getting interesting in the French conversation. The question is, with the CBD conversation now formalized in France and a medical trial underway on a national level, how fast can cannabis reform happen on a national level here?
The Need for A Trigger…
It is not just France that is now on the edge of further reform. Germany has yet to even formalize its CBD industry, even though the new coalition here has made cannabis reform an issue for its plank of projects to get accomplished. These two countries, along with Italy, now also poised for a legislative mandate on the topic this year, are far more than say Malta or Spain, are absolutely the bellwether countries for cannabis reform in Europe, simply because they have the most economic clout.
That said, the inevitable is clearly in the air. Full and final cannabis reform is no longer an outlandish but rather a mainstream topic in every European country.
The question is what will be the exact trigger to force the widespread legalization of the plant. It could be Switzerland’s market, due to kick off this year. It could be that legalizing formal industries in places like Portugal and the seed market in Luxembourg will also pave a path.
But no matter what “it” is, at least talk of full and final reform will be abloom in every European political capital this spring.
