United States (USA) — Federal hemp THC ban timetable set; state crackdowns converge (OH, TX, PA, RI) as Schedule III rescheduling remains pending

On the radar

DOJ rescheduling final rule expected within 30–60 days; acting AG Todd Blanche involved in drafting. Schedule III would ease 280E but not legalise state markets.

Regulation — Farm Bill locks in November ‘total THC’ ban as four states crack down on intoxicating hemp; DOJ rescheduling expected within 30–60 days

The US House Agriculture Committee advanced the 2026 Farm Bill with a tightened hemp definition — 0.3% total THC (including THCA) for pre-harvest testing — keeping the November 2026 prohibition of most intoxicating hemp-derived THC products on schedule. State-level crackdowns converged simultaneously: Ohio‘s SB 56 banned unregulated hemp THC from 20 March, Texas prohibited smokeable flower from 31 March, Pennsylvania amended SB 49 to mirror federal standards, and Rhode Island recommended barring THC beverages from liquor-licensed venues.

• Hemp-derived THC beverages entered mainstream venues — Green Thumb Industries‘ RYTHM brand now sells 5mg THC drinks at Chicago’s United Center — while industry estimates put the segment at $28.4bn in revenue and 300,000+ jobs. The alcohol lobby and some MSOs back the federal ban; Curaleaf is exiting hemp THC, while Trulieve, GTI, and Tilray continue producing.
  • Ohio‘s SB 56 banned intoxicating hemp products and THC/CBD beverages from 20 March after a referendum effort failed, reducing extract THC caps from 90% to 70% and capping flower at 35%; an estimated 6,000 businesses are affected.
    • Governor DeWine vetoed a provision that would have given brewers a transition period; companies including Saucy Seltzer and Fifty West Brewing filed lawsuits challenging the law.
  • Texas DSHS banned smokeable hemp flower from 31 March, adopting a ‘total THC’ calculation including THCA and raising annual fees to $5,000 per retail location and $10,000 per manufacturing facility; the state’s hemp market is estimated at $5.5bn with over 9,100 registered retailers.
  • Pennsylvania Senator Dan Laughlin amended SB 49 to mirror the federal hemp definition under H.R. 5371, banning most intoxicating hemp-derived products (delta-8, delta-10, THCA) and proposing the Pennsylvania Cannabis Control Board.
  • Rhode Island‘s Cannabis Control Commission recommended banning THC beverages at liquor-licensed premises, with existing limits at 1mg THC per drink and 5mg per package.
  • South Carolina senators narrowly voted against a total ban on intoxicating THC consumables, opting instead for regulation allowing low-dose drinks with sales restricted to adults 21+.
  • The FDA submitted a CBD compliance and enforcement policy to the White House OIRA for review, after missing its congressional deadline to publish cannabinoid lists and clarify THC serving-size definitions.
    • CMS confirmed its Medicare CBD pilot will allow products containing up to 3mg THC per serving; ~75 ACOs serving 1.7M patients are eligible, but no launch date was confirmed.
  • Congressional Research Service analysts noted that rescheduling to Schedule III would not automatically align state-legal medical markets with federal law; underage use fell to 6% in 2023–24, down from 7.9% in 2011.
  • Arkansas DFA and DEA seized 7,636 illicit products from 28 vape/tobacco shops under Act 590 enforcement.
  • South Dakota ended its state hemp programme, shifting growers to USDA oversight; planted acreage fell 70% to 1,128 acres in 2025.
  • The National Hemp Association requested $652M in federal funding for FY2027 ($300M for rural processing, $200M for market expansion, $50M for regional validation hubs) to establish hemp as a stable commodity.
  • California Assembly Bill 2532 would cap cannabis beverages at 10mg THC per container; operators warned 93.2% of category sales exceed 10mg, with $66M in 100mg beverage sales (83.6% of category revenue) and an estimated $21M annual tax loss.
• Virginia‘s General Assembly passed legislation for retail cannabis sales from 1 January 2027 with a 6% state tax (localities can add 1–3.5%), a 350-licence cap, a $10M conversion fee for existing medical operators, and possession raised from 1 oz to 2.5 oz; projected annual tax revenue exceeds $400M.
  • The bill directs 40% of cannabis tax revenue to early childhood education and 30% to the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund; intoxicating hemp oversight transfers to the Cannabis Control Authority.
  • Massachusetts enacted emergency legislation H.5350 restructuring the Cannabis Control Commission from 5 to 3 commissioners, doubling possession (1 → 2 oz), capping licences (6 retail / 3 cultivator / 3 manufacturer per licensee), enabling statewide delivery, and reserving new medical licences for social equity businesses for 24 months. All current commissioners terminated upon enactment.
    • A hemp-derived cannabinoid study is due December 2026; B2B credit framework takes effect 1 January 2028; mandated excise tax sustainability study due January 2028.
    • Four cannabis business owners sued in the Supreme Judicial Court to block a November ballot initiative that would end adult-use sales, arguing unconstitutional “logrolling”; the social equity trust fund has distributed >$50M in grants since 2024.
• The Florida Supreme Court refused to review 71,000 disqualified signatures, ending the 2026 adult-use legalisation bid backed by >$32M from Trulieve; the 2024 amendment won 56% but failed the 60% supermajority.
• Idaho‘s Medical Cannabis Act surpassed 73,000 signatures (70,725 required), advancing toward a November 2026 vote with 83% of likely voters supporting medical cannabis.
• The 9th Circuit ruled the Dormant Commerce Clause does not apply to state cannabis markets, contrasting with 1st and 2nd Circuit rulings and creating a circuit split likely headed to the Supreme Court; the industry operates across 40 states worth $38bn.
  • Separately, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Hemani, where justices expressed scepticism over the categorical gun ban for cannabis consumers.
• Reps. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Troy Carter (D-LA) reintroduced the bipartisan CLIMB Act, which would allow cannabis companies to list on NYSE and Nasdaq and provide safe harbour for financial services to state-legal operators; the SAFER Banking Act has not been refiled.
• Connecticut‘s General Law Committee approved legislation raising THC limits to 35% for flower and introducing a ‘high-potency’ label for products exceeding 30%.
• Colorado‘s Capital Development Committee voted 5–0 to reject HB 1301, which proposed putting marijuana and alcohol tax increases on the November ballot; cannabis tax revenue has trended down despite sales exceeding $1bn in 2025.
• The US Army dropped the waiver requirement for recruits with a single marijuana conviction, effective 20 April 2026, as part of broader eligibility expansion.
• HHS/SAMHSA confirmed no changes to federal workplace drug testing panels while marijuana remains Schedule I; testing standards unchanged pending rescheduling.
• Colorado regulators recalled a cannabis concentrate batch from Timberline Extracts after detecting chlorfenapyr pesticide; the product was distributed to 32 dispensaries over six months.
• The DOJ is finalising rulemaking to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III following President Trump‘s 18 December 2025 executive order; the industry is valued at $70bn, and the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF rose ~30% since the EO before retreating. Banking, credit-card access, and US exchange listings remain contingent on the final rule’s wording.
  • Personnel churn at the DOJ — specifically the firing of AG Pam Bondi — is not expected to delay rescheduling; acting AG Todd Blanche has been involved in drafting the final rule, with industry observers expecting action within 30–60 days. At least 5 ACOs applied for the CMS CBD pilot.
  • An academic analysis framed rescheduling as a transitional step requiring follow-on banking, commerce, and equity reforms; Schedule III would ease 280E tax constraints but not legalise state markets or enable interstate commerce.
• The National Compassionate Care Council launched to advocate evidence-based federal medical cannabis policy, citing 75% consensus on therapeutic benefits for cancer and 91% of veterans reporting improved quality of life.
  • An NCCC founding member argued evidence-based rescheduling cannot wait, citing a 30% reduction in back pain from full-spectrum cannabis oil and 21% of veterans reducing opioid use.
• Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt‘s push to shut down the medical marijuana industry drew bipartisan backlash over takings risk and lost revenue: the programme generates >$670M annually, supports 315,000+ patients, >4,300 business licences, and >$60M in state/local sales taxes.
• The Georgia House passed a bill expanding the medical cannabis programme with new delivery methods, broadened qualifying conditions, and modernised THC limits.
• D.C.‘s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board extended temporary patient cards from 30 to 90 days amid surging applications (from 2,130 in July 2024 to 6,699 in December 2025).
• The Omaha Tribe advanced a medical cannabis dispensary in Nebraska despite state opposition, aiming to create 100 jobs amid a 60% tribal unemployment rate.
• A patient advocate urged DOH/OMMU reforms to Florida‘s medical cannabis access rules, arguing dosing caps and tighter caregiver criteria restrict physician-directed access.
• Cresco Labs was conditionally awarded a Texas Compassionate Use Program licence — a vertically integrated permit covering cultivation, processing, and dispensing — entering the second-most populous US state (~30M residents).

Market — 280E liabilities reach $1.6bn as pricing compression deepens across mature states; New York surges toward $2.6bn

The IRS told a US Tax Court that potential marijuana rescheduling would not provide retroactive relief for prior-year 280E liabilities, which now exceed $1.6bn across major MSOs: Trulieve ($630M uncertain tax position; $143M refund claim back to 2019), Curaleaf ($531.5M), Verano ($378.3M), and Cresco Labs ($171.4M). Over 40 cannabis operators have challenged 280E in Tax Court, but the IRS position suggests rescheduling — even if finalised — will not erase legacy obligations.

• MSO earnings and refinancing activity confirmed margin pressure but improving capital access.
  • Cresco Labs reported FY2025 revenue of $656M with Q4 at $162M; adjusted gross margin reached 50.2%, operating cash flow $73M, and free cash flow $38M.
  • Verano posted FY2025 revenue of $822M (−6% YoY) with Q4 at $207M and 51% gross margin, but reported a $183M net loss including >$175M in impairment charges.
    • Verano simultaneously closed a $195M senior secured term loan led by Needham Bank at 9.5% interest, maturing March 2029 with $875K monthly amortisation.
  • Ascend Wellness reported FY2025 revenue of $500.6M (−10.9% YoY) with Q4 at $120.5M; adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 25.1% (Q4). The company expanded to 48 retail locations and launched a record 566 SKUs; loyalty members accounted for 88% of retail transactions.
  • Vireo Growth reported Q4 revenue of $104.5M (+318% YoY) with 28.2% adjusted EBITDA margin, reflecting rapid scaling.
  • Charlotte’s Web agreed with BAT unit BT DE Investments to convert a C$75.3M debenture plus ~C$14.2M interest into shares at C$0.94 and raise US$10M, removing ~$65M in debt and giving BAT ~40.8% ownership; annual interest savings ~US$3M.
  • IIP announced the PharmaCann resolution: three properties to be turned over by May 2026. Cannabist and Battle Green defaulted on March rents totalling $1.4M (5.6% of 2025 rental revenues).
  • Native Roots (21 locations, Colorado) agreed a retail buyout by Verdant Capital Partners covering 17 dispensaries, amid a 41% decline in state dispensary sales from $2.2bn (2022) to >$1.2bn (2025).
• Pricing compression deepened across mature western and midwestern markets while new eastern markets surged.
  • Colorado wholesale cannabis prices hit a record low of $608/lb (down from $648 in December, −6.3%), having fallen from $1,721/lb in 2021; licensed cultivations dropped 48% (791 → 488) while dispensary count rose to 689. Retail prices reached $8/eighth and $80/oz.
  • Massachusetts cannabis prices plunged over 70% to ~$4/g (from $14.16 in 2018); revenue plateaued at $1.65bn in 2025 despite 8% transaction-volume growth. Cultivation capacity reached 4.5M sq ft; 24 companies entered receivership, 13 retail stores closed (more than all prior years combined), and 71 licences were surrendered.
    • The Healey–Driscoll Administration awarded $28.8M in social equity grants across 194 recipients; total trust fund distribution exceeded $50M since 2024.
  • Michigan adult-use sales fell 3.1% to ~$3.17bn in 2025 amid price compression; flower holds 45% share, vapes 18% (well below national average). January 2026 sales dropped 8.3% YoY to $226.8M with flower at $945/lb (−11.2% YoY).
  • Illinois adult-use sales sank 20.4% YTD in early 2026 (January $110.7M, −21% YoY); FY2025 totalled $1.51bn.
  • Florida medical sales stalled at $126.1M in February (−0.4% YoY) with patient numbers plateauing at 933,000 despite dispensaries rising 4.7% to 742; the top four operators (Trulieve, Verano, Curaleaf, Ayr Wellness) control 51.2% of dispensaries.
  • New York legal cannabis sales paced $2.6bn for 2026 after reaching ~$250M in February alone; the market surged from ~$170M (2023) to $1.7bn (2025) with 2,161 licensed businesses and 506 retail dispensaries. Production capacity stands at 588,000 lb/yr.
  • Delaware‘s recreational market posted $29.3M in its first seven months — averaging $4.2M/month, far below the $281M annual forecast — constrained by high prices relative to neighbouring New Jersey ($96.2M/month) and Maryland ($79.3M/month).
  • BDSA February data: 15-state sales reached $1.99bn (+2.7% YoY, −3.6% sequentially, +6.7% per-day adjusted).
    • BDSA March data: 15-state sales reached $2.14bn (+1.6% YoY); per-day sales fell 3.8% sequentially. Western markets saw negative YoY growth in 4 of 5 states; eastern YoY ranged from −6.8% (Florida) to +32.7% (Ohio).
  • Whitney Economics forecast US legal cannabis revenue to rise to $30.5bn in 2026 (+4.9% vs 2025) after a 2025 decline, citing pricing compression, supply saturation, and changing consumer patterns; 2026–27 forecasts were revised down to single-digit growth.
• California‘s new DCC director outlined a four-part plan to shrink the illicit market: legal cannabis accounts for just 40% of consumption ($3.9bn legal vs $5.8bn illicit); the DCC oversees ~8,000 licence holders (4,600 cultivators, 1,450 retailers) with a $200M annual budget and ~600 staff. Plans include enhanced pesticide testing (adding 14 compounds to the existing 66) and hemp-cannabinoid integration.
• Cannabis operators face layered tariff uncertainty after the Supreme Court struck down IEEPA duties 6–3; President Trump announced a new 10% global duty (pledged to rise to 15%) on top of existing 25% Section 301 tariffs on Chinese cannabis products. Custom Cones USA reported costs per container surging from $2,000–$4,000 to $15,000–$20,000.
• New state market launches expanded the operational footprint.
  • Alabama‘s medical programme geared for spring 2026 launch with 9 dispensaries licensed and only 9 doctors authorised to recommend; daily dosage capped at 50mg delta-9 THC.
  • Kentucky‘s medical rollout remained constrained by a single processor and only 8 approved dispensaries; ~20,000 patients enrolled since the January 2025 launch.
• Product and brand developments signalled category diversification beyond flower.
  • Cornbread Hemp secured an exclusive supplier contract with Alliant Purchasing for the CMMI Medicare hemp pilot, covering 68,000 healthcare provider locations and offering eligible beneficiaries up to $500/yr in hemp-derived CBD products.
  • Smokiez Edibles partnered with Global Cannabis Exchange for international expansion targeting 26 markets by Q4 2026 and expanded its CBN product line with four sleep-focused gummy SKUs rolling out across 22 US states.
  • Grön launched Pips cannabis-infused chocolate pieces in New York with four cannabinoid-ratio SKUs (5mg THC/piece, 20 pieces/package).
  • Jetty Extracts detailed its deliberate expansion strategy — 10 years in California before entering Colorado and New York — noting solventless vape pricing gaps of $30–40 (CA/CO) vs up to $100 (NY); 90% of brands that started with Jetty are now out of business.
  • The US minor cannabinoids market reached ~$11.5bn in 2023 and is forecast to grow to $33.3bn by 2030 (CAGR ~15%); California CBN edibles grew from 4% to ~25% of the edibles category between 2020 and 2025.
  • The Texas smokeable hemp ban prompted retail closures: CBD Farmhouse (Dallas) shut down; Dallas Hemp Company estimated a 30% revenue loss.

Science — JAMA review finds 30% CUD prevalence and up to 11-fold psychosis risk in adolescents; RCL linked to 45% fewer cannabis seizures

A JAMA Internal Medicine review found that approximately 30% of cannabis users develop cannabis use disorder, with heavy adolescent use linked to a 2–11-fold increased risk of psychosis and daily use associated with a relative risk of 1.76 for psychotic disorders. THC-predominant cannabis showed no benefit for PTSD (low-certainty evidence); CBD may reduce anxiety symptoms but evidence remains limited. THC content in US products now ranges from ~5% to 90%.

• A state-level analysis of HIDTA seizure data (2010–2023) found that recreational cannabis legalisation was associated with a 45% relative reduction in law enforcement cannabis seizures in states with both medical and recreational legalisation (exp(β) = 0.55), with further decreases one year post-implementation.
  • A scoping review examined cannabis use patterns in first-episode psychosis and schizophrenia, mapping the relationship between consumption trajectories and psychiatric outcomes.
  • Cannabis legalisation was associated with higher atrial septal defect rates in US states: ASDRs were 82% higher in legal states (OR 1.82) and increased supra-exponentially over time, with higher-cannabis-use states showing significantly elevated rates (Cohen’s D = 1.24).
• A Pew Research Center 25-country survey (30,000+ adults) found only 23% of US adults view marijuana use as morally unacceptable — among the lowest globally — vs 91% in Indonesia, 83% in Nigeria, and 82% in Turkey. Education and age gaps were large: in Mexico, the educated–less-educated gap was 31 pp; in Germany, 40+ adults were twice as likely to disapprove as younger adults.
• A retrospective cohort study from UCHealth (Colorado) found that cannabis UDS positivity doubled from 14% to 30% between 2008 and 2015, while overall testing declined from 0.25% to 0.04% of visits, with persistent demographic disparities in testing rates (higher among younger, male, and Black/Hispanic/American Indian patients).
• Research on adolescent and college-age populations highlighted evolving risk profiles.
  • A study using ABCD Study data examined how cannabis legalisation shapes early adolescent expectancies, linking state policy environments to evolving youth attitudes.
  • An analysis found nonmedical cannabis legalisation and adolescent inpatient CUD associations using US hospital data (2008–2020).
  • A study of college students examined relations between depression and cannabis use in evolving state policy environments.
  • A population study found that social isolation drives medical marijuana use via psychological distress mediation, with medical users reporting significantly higher distress and isolation than recreational-only users.
  • A cross-sectional analysis mapped cannabis use prevalence by state legal status, finding higher self-reported use and more favourable perceptions in legal-access jurisdictions.
• Clinical safety studies revealed exposure risks from smoking and hyperemesis patterns.
  • A survey of 1,134 CHS patients found 96.5% used cannabis daily, 65.4% used for >3 years before symptom onset, and vape cartridge users developed symptoms significantly sooner than exclusive smokers (p < 0.0001). Females reported longer hyperemetic episodes; prodromal nausea clustered between 4–8 AM (37.9%).
  • Secondhand cannabis smoke contains carcinogenic PAHs exceeding health thresholds: benz[a]anthracene hourly doses at festival venues reached 13–15 ng/h, surpassing the NSRL (33 ng/day) within 2.3 hours; vaping dispensaries showed 7% of NSRL exposure at 2.3 ng/h. Smoking dispensary PM2.5 averaged 1,257 µg/m³ vs 218 µg/m³ for vaping.
  • A feasibility RCT assessed CBD for exercise-induced muscle injury, evaluating pain reduction and functional impairment outcomes.
  • An in-vitro study found CBD suppresses multiple virulence mechanisms of Listeria monocytogenes at sub-inhibitory concentrations, improving survival in a Galleria mellonella model.
• A proposed framework in Trends in Genetics called for genetic verification and cultivar protection in cannabis, arguing that breeders lack meaningful IP protection under current USDA/UPOV systems; the authors advocate DNA fingerprinting, a centralised registry, and consumer verification tools.
  • A study on hemp cultivar identity and spider mite herbivory found cultivar genotype jointly shapes rhizosphere bacterial communities, with implications for integrated pest management.
• A mouse pharmacokinetic study found significant sex differences in CBD disposition: females exhibited ~1.5-fold higher Cₘₐₓ and ~1.7-fold higher metabolite (7-COOH-CBD) exposure, while males showed ~2.2-fold larger volume of distribution and ~2.2-fold longer half-life, indicating greater tissue sequestration.
• An Epic COSMOS study found early cannabinoid prescribing was not associated with reduced opioid use in GI cancer patients initiating chemotherapy, challenging the opioid-sparing hypothesis; cannabinoids showed only modest benefit for refractory CINV.
• A population-level study mapped cannabis use reasons by demographics and legal status: medical-only use was more prevalent among older adults with chronic conditions; recreational-only use predominated among younger males; dual users showed more frequent consumption and higher-risk behaviours.
• US survey data (2022–2024) estimated synthetic cannabis use at 2.7% lifetime and 0.3% past-year prevalence among adults; 67.3% of past-year users also smoked plant-based cannabis, with socioeconomic vulnerability as the strongest predictor.
• A concurrent-choice rat model found nicotine increased THC self-administration in females without altering THC metabolism, while THC reduced nicotine self-administration; nAChR antagonist efficacy depended on concurrent substance availability.

Germany — MedCanG amendment arc converges: GKV targets flower reimbursement (€180M by 2030) as market crosses €1bn / 201t imports

Regulation — Finanzkommission targets €180M flower reimbursement cut as BGH confirms platform advertising ban

The Finanzkommission Gesundheit recommended ending GKV reimbursement of cannabis flowers, projecting savings of €130M by 2027 and €180M by 2030 on the grounds that extracts offer better standardisation, evidence, and cost-efficiency. GKV cannabis spending runs ~€200M/yr (~half on flowers; 130,350 prescriptions worth €92.8M in Jan–Sep 2025). The BPC called the proposal potentially unconstitutional; Alfredo Pascual termed it not existential, as most of the ~€1bn market is already self-pay.

• A hearing on restricting flowers to oral forms (capsules, drops) reached consensus that inhaled therapies must remain accessible, even as Prof. Streeck advocated oral-only prescriptions and import volumes surged while prescription numbers stayed stable.
  • The EKOCAN evaluation urged evidence-based THC caps for freely prescribable flower: efficacy evidence covers ≤10% THC; risk rises above ~15% THC; average prescribed flower stands at ~25% THC.
• The MedCanG amendment arc escalated as CDU proposed banning e-prescriptions and mail-order, a move that could halve the €1bn market and risk 5,000 jobs. Organigram‘s €250M acquisition of Sanity Group (~€60M 2025 revenue) proceeds despite the regulatory overhang.
  • SPD health policymakers advocated tighter guardrails — stricter documentation and mandatory consultations — rather than blanket bans, warning of supply gaps for patients without local specialists.
  • ABDA and Cansativa clashed on telemedicine restrictions: Thomas Preis (ABDA) demanded in-person consultations; Jakob Sons (Cansativa) warned restrictions would undermine patient access.
  • The amendment package nears finalisation five months after the cabinet adopted draft amendments; stakeholders expect confirmation in coming weeks.
  • Greens spokesperson Linda Heitmann reported the reform is likely deadlocked for months as CDU/CSU and SPD remain divided; 2–3 municipal retail model projects may still be approved this legislature.
    • Heitmann separately criticised the stalled pilot projects, noting no proposals have received permission to launch.
  • GOC NEXUS announced BfArM approval for cold plasma treatment, covering import/trade from 60 cultivators across 15 countries.
• The BGH upheld the prescription-drug advertising ban against an online cannabis platform, ruling that referencing treatable conditions can pressure patients to demand prescriptions — even without naming specific products.
  • A Berlin Landgericht held a pharmacy co-liable for unlawful advertising by partner platform DoktorABC, ruling the questionnaire-based prescription model unlawful; the Apothekerkammer Nordrhein cited the BGH precedent.
  • Prof. Hendrik Streeck defended the online prescribing ban at a Stada parliamentary evening, citing 15 doctors issuing 1.7M prescriptions/yr as systemic abuse. SPD‘s Serdar Yüksel said the bill will not pass in its current form.
• Club licensing rates diverge sharply by state: Saxony leads at 68.6% approval vs Bavaria at 20.5% and Saarland at 12.5%. Per-capita density diverges further — Lower Saxony ~1.02 clubs per 100k residents vs Bavaria 0.07.
  • BCAv data shows 836 applications and 397 approvals nationally, with 62 rejections and 102 withdrawals. NRW leads with 209 applications (113 approved).
  • EKOCAN‘s 2nd interim report prompted federal ministries to call for action: home cultivation rose from 5.4% to 21.4% (H1 2024→H2 2025); social supply remains top channel at 35.2%; clubs supply ≤3.5% of users; customs seizures up >4× YoY.
    • Innenminister Dobrindt (CSU) called the law “youth-endangering and crime-promoting”; Gesundheitsministerin Warken (CDU) cited the blurred medical/recreational boundary. SPD‘s Christos Pantazis countered that black-market displacement with stable consumption represents a public-health success.
  • The BLE rejected 16 of 74 research proposals including model project applications, confirming the research clause cannot support a commercial supply chain.
  • The GdP (210k-member police union) opposes CDU calls to reverse KCanG, arguing it has inadvertently strengthened the black market but advocating improvements rather than reversal.
  • Hessen‘s interior minister reported the black market has grown since legalisation in April 2024, with continued large-scale seizures contradicting displacement expectations.
  • The BvCW published state-election questionnaire responses from parties in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate on cannabis regulation and research funding.

Market — 1,992 SKUs and €6/g pricing signal commoditisation as leading operators cross €50M

Germany’s pharmacy market crossed €1bn in sales for the first time in 2025, with imports reaching 201.1t (+176% YoY) from 25+ countries and the estimated patient count surging to ~900,000. Average gram prices fell ~40% to ~€6 in under two years as supply outpaced prescription growth, creating the conditions for rapid commoditisation.

• EKOCAN pricing data (April 2026) documented the first legal-illicit price crossover in European cannabis. The cheapest tracked online pharmacy averaged €5.95/g by December 2025 — 32% below the BKA-monitored darknet median of €8.25/g (4,392 flower observations, Jul 2024–Dec 2025). The BKA street price remained stuck at a national average of €9.95/g (modal €10/g in 8 of 16 states, unchanged since 2012). Darknet prices declined 14–15% over the monitoring period (≤25g); bulk quantities (50g–5kg) fell up to 25%. EKOCAN frames the convergence as “plausible” competitive pressure but explicitly avoids monocausal attribution, citing growing illegal imports from Thailand, Canada, and the US as an alternative driver. This is the first time a European government has published systematic, comparable price data from both legal and illicit channels using BKA raw market data rather than survey estimates.
• The Grünhorn × Business of Cannabis Q1 2026 report mapped the structural shift: listings reached 1,992 SKUs by December 2025, with demand concentrated in the 20–25% THC band and irradiated flower share falling from 40% to 12%. Only 27.8% of patients re-order the same product — signalling low brand loyalty and pharmacy-driven substitution.
  • PHAGRO‘s Thomas Porstner warned that >170% import growth vs ~9% GKV prescription growth signals structural oversupply across ~1,000 cultivars; viability is shifting from per-gram margin to volume efficiency, and applying AMPreisV to flower would raise self-pay prices.
• Product innovation and new supply corridors expanded the market beyond standard flower.
  • Airo Brands and SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals launched the CE-certified Airo Medical Inhalation Device — among the first cannabis inhalation medical devices in Europe — paired with EU-GMP purified extract cartridges in four formulations.
  • ADREXpharma rolled out three BLS Australia flower cultivars (Mimosa, Tropical Blues, Tamarindo) for its DrWatson portfolio, building a genetics-forward import pipeline from Phylos, Anesia Seeds, and Cannarado.
    • BLS separately won an Aurora contract for GMP oils and vapes targeting Australia, the UK and Germany.
  • GOC Nexus moved from validation into full-scale operations after EU-GMP approval, presenting IP-protected cold plasma decontamination technology at ICBC Berlin.
  • The Beemine Lab will export medicinal cannabis APIs to Germany from June 2026 via Canify AG and Logista Pharma — claiming to be the first Spanish exporter — targeting 0.5–1t in 2026 and 5t by 2027.
  • The BCPS® (Berlin Cannabis Profile System) introduced a standardised framework replacing strain names with medically relevant parameters (effect direction, potency, cannabinoid ratio) for telemedicine prescriptions.
  • Domestic cultivation remains marginal: BfArM reported 13.7t planned for 2026, up from ~5% of total supply in 2025. Aurora and Demecan announced capacity expansions; four additional licence applications were filed post-MedCanG.
• Corporate results confirmed revenue scaling, with multiple operators crossing the €50M threshold.
  • Cantourage reported FY2025 revenue of €92.8M (+82.3% YoY) and EBITDA of €5.7M; the UK contributed >20% of group revenue. Management shifted to premium products as discount-segment margins compressed.
    • Montega reiterated a Buy rating at €8.00 (43% upside), forecasting €105M for FY2026 at 6.9× EV/EBITDA.
  • Bloomwell scaled to ~US$55M annual revenue at ~30% margin, connecting 100,000+ patients with 60 doctors; Forbes estimates 15–20% market share. Targeting 25–30t distribution in 2026 (vs ~2t in December 2025).
  • enua doubled revenue to >€50M in 2025 and plans European market entry by end-2026, joining German operators expanding internationally amid domestic regulatory uncertainty.
  • High Tide posted Q1 FY2026 record revenue of C$178.3M (+25% YoY); subsidiary Remexian grew German import share to 10.3% (from 6.5% QoQ), with February 2026 reaching €7.5M / 2.6t — its highest-revenue month.
  • A Prohibition Partners report confirmed UK and Germany markets both doubled in 2025, driven by telemedicine expansion, while flagging policy risk from potential restrictions.
• Distribution consolidation and competitive repositioning reshaped the operator landscape.
  • Tilray Medical, CC Pharma, and 14U Pharma formed a strategic alliance with gesund leben (Alliance Healthcare Deutschland), effective 1 April 2026, reaching ~3,600 member pharmacies on top of CC Pharma’s 16,000-pharmacy footprint.
  • MG Health and Canify AG signed an MoU to merge into a vertically integrated platform combining EU-GMP cultivation in Lesotho with Canify’s 7-country distribution; completion pending definitive agreements and regulatory approvals.
  • Avant Brands reclaimed blk mkt™ rights in Germany and Switzerland after terminating its Adjupharm (IM Cannabis) deal; partner selection under way for Germany, Avant’s largest export market.
  • The OLG Dresden dismissed Dr Ansay‘s lawsuit against Grünhorn in full (Az. 14 U 979/25) — reportedly the third unsuccessful action — finding no basis for allegations of unlawful prescription allocation.
• Recreational supply: Discount retailer Netto added cannabis seeds to its catalogue, promoting three varieties under the home-cultivation allowance — a signal of retail normalisation.

Science — CBD extracts outperform dronabinol (NNT = 2, 85.7% response) as DIW finds consumption stable post-reform

The CARE study from the German Pain e-Registry found that CBD-dominant oral cannabis extracts achieved an 85.7% composite response vs 21.9% for THC/dronabinol in 968 propensity-matched elderly chronic pain patients over 24 weeks (OR 21.5; NNT 2). ADR-related discontinuation was 5.6% vs 19.2%; strong opioid discontinuation reached 85.3% vs 54.9% — with analgesic co-medication falling from 4.9 to 1.6 drugs.

• The DIW Berlin published a comprehensive analysis of Germany’s drug market two years post-reform: cannabis use shows no structural change (12-month prevalence 9.8% in 2024; wastewater THC-COOH stable); cannabis offences fell to ~one-third; street prices held at ~€10/g. Author Anna Bindler: “a renewed ban is not the most effective lever.”
  • Cocaine and methamphetamine use has been rising independently for years: cocaine offences rose from 20,964 (2022) to 27,703 (2024); wastewater cocaine levels ~4× higher in 2025 vs 2015. Public opinion is evenly split — 38% favour reversal, 38% favour keeping the CanG.
• A review in European Archives of Psychiatry assessed VER-01’s Phase 3 trial for chronic low back pain (N = 820): statistically significant but small analgesic effect (MD = −0.6; NNTB 6.8 for ≥30% reduction), with stronger results in the neuropathic subgroup (MD = −1.5). Responder rates compare favourably with opioids; no signals of misuse or dependence over 12 months — but AE-related discontinuation was 17.3% vs 3.5% placebo.
• A Pew Research Center 25-country survey (30,000+ adults) placed Germany among the most accepting: only 25% view marijuana use as morally unacceptable (vs Canada 19%, Indonesia 91%). Within Germany, adults 40+ are twice as likely to disapprove (30% vs 15%).

Australia — TGA scheduling review puts schedule 9 on the table as market approaches A$1B; WA introduces first adult-use bill

On the radar

ACMS interim scheduling decision expected June 2026 (final ~Aug); schedule 9 explicitly on the table for high-potency THC. Avecho Phase III CBD insomnia interim also due June.

Regulation — ACMS begins THC risk review with schedule 9 still in play; sub-national patient reforms advance unevenly

The TGA submitted a medicinal cannabis discussion paper to the ACMS to begin reviewing THC’s risk profile under the Poisons Standard — with schedule 9 (prohibited substance) explicitly remaining on the table. At the UIC 2026 conference, TGA officials offered no assurances that high-potency THC would not be reclassified; next step: the scheduling committee — including AMA president Dr McMullen — reviews the discussion paper.

• NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed during budget estimates that the government will reform roadside drug-testing laws for medicinal cannabis patients, addressing zero-tolerance testing that penalises THC presence rather than impairment. Bioxyne claimed the reform could double the domestic medicinal cannabis market; pending: legislation drafting.
  • The reform follows legislation introduced by Alex Greenwich and Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis Party) targeting the long-standing issue of patients risking licence loss despite not being impaired.
• Victoria’s Legislative Council voted down the Equal Opportunity Amendment (Medical Treatment) Bill 2026, which sought to prohibit discrimination against people taking prescribed medications — including medicinal cannabis — by employers, landlords, and service providers. Introduced by Legalise Cannabis Victoria MPs.
• Adult-use legislative activity gained momentum at sub-national level, though electoral results were mixed.
  • Dr Brian Walker (Legalise Cannabis WA) tabled the Misuse of Drugs (Lawful Personal Use of Cannabis) Amendment Bill 2026 in Western Australia, permitting adults to cultivate up to six plants, possess 50 g, and gift 50 g; public consumption and sales remain prohibited. Existing cannabis infringement notices would cease to have effect.
  • Legalise Cannabis SA unveiled a mock dispensary in Adelaide’s CBD ahead of the state election, claiming a regulated market could generate ~A$1 billion over four years — but failed to win a seat in either chamber, polling 2.4% of the Legislative Council vote (8.3% quota required) and 0.9% in the House of Assembly.

Market — A$660M sector approaches A$1B with profitable leaders and record SAS-B approvals; TGA review chills prescribers as Montu sheds ~80 jobs

The local medicinal cannabis sector turned over A$660 million in FY2024–25 — 6.5 million dispensed units across 1,500 products, over 3,000 authorised prescribers, more than one million patients. Bioxyne CEO Sam Watson says the market is approaching A$1 billion annually, while the proposed Little Green Pharma–Cannatrek merger signals consolidation among operators holding a combined ~19% market share.

• Profitable operators extended their lead amid Australian dried flower price declines of over 20% in the past 12 months.
  • Bioxyne posted record H1 FY26 revenue of A$31.3 million (+148%), EBITDA of A$8.3 million (+137%), and net profit of A$7.3 million (+124%); guiding FY26 revenue to A$65–75 million (Australia 70%, Germany 25%, UK 5%). Bioxyne single-handedly built the pastilles category, now ~18% of prescriptions.
  • ECS Botanics reported H1 FY26 revenue of A$11.3 million (+16.5% YoY), returning to profitability (A$0.04 million PBT vs A$1.98 million loss) with two consecutive positive cash flow quarters; branded B2C products exceed 60% of revenue.
    • Will relaunch the Terphogz range over the next six months after a genetics dispute derailed its quasi-recreational venture.
  • The People’s Plant (Ausmedicann) raised A$1.55 million via OnMarket crowdfunding from 1,014 investors at a A$30 million pre-money valuation, with licensed capacity of up to 9.5 tonnes annually; infrastructure nearly complete.
• Market stress hit operators exposed to the TGA’s scheduling review, which subdued prescriber confidence in late 2025.
  • Cann Group reported H1 FY26 sales of A$4.5 million (−30% YoY), blaming the TGA’s regulatory consultation for subdued prescriber activity.
    • Secured AU$750K via convertible securities from Obsidian Global (18-month maturity, 0% interest, A$0.015 conversion) to support liquidity.
  • Montu has shed ~80 jobs since January, with departures including GM of medical sales Craig Thompson and VP of corporate affairs Jodie Thomas.
  • ANTG shut down its entire R&D unit and cut staff as part of a strategic shift to a partnership model.
• Supply and distribution partnerships expanded market access domestically and internationally.
  • Vitura Health signed a distribution agreement with MedReleaf Australia (Aurora Cannabis subsidiary), making its portfolio available on the Canview platform across ~4,700 pharmacies; potential ~A$15 million additional annual revenue. Vitura’s revenue grew from A$21.7 million (FY21) to A$124 million (FY25).
  • Tilray Medical announced its largest portfolio expansion in Australia, introducing products under the Redecan and Good Supply brands across flower, extracts, vapes, and pastilles.
  • ADREXpharma rolled out three BLS-grown Australian flower cultivars — Mimosa, Tropical Blues, Tamarindo — under its DrWatson brand for the German market, leveraging genetics from Phylos, Anesia, and Cannarado.
  • Oz Medicann struck an exclusive Asia distribution deal with South Korea’s NeoCannBio for cannabinoid medicines (excluding China and India), targeting schedule 3 OTC pathways; clinical trials underway for sleep disorders, endometriosis, and arthritis.
  • Avicanna subsidiary SMGH completed its first commercial CBG flower export to Australia from Colombia (300,000 sq ft; ~26,400 kg annual yield), now supplying 21 markets.
  • Bioxyne subsidiary BLS signed a manufacturing agreement with Aurora Cannabis to produce GMP-certified cannabis oils for Australia, with scope covering vape products for AU, UK, and Germany.
• Industry consolidation and structure continued to reshape the sector.
  • The TGA is still investigating potential advertising breaches involving Cannatrek as Little Green Pharma shareholders prepare to vote on their proposed merger; pending: shareholder vote. Combined market share: ~19% (Cannatrek ~14%, LGP ~5%).
  • The AMCA–MCIA merger formally completed, establishing the Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia (MCCA) as the unified peak body; CEO search underway.
  • Office of Drug Control data show 32 licensed cultivation facilities active across all Australian states (not territories), led by Queensland (11) and Victoria (10); 39 authorised holders lack cultivation permits; 12 applications undecided.
  • A former Cannatrek cultivation manager launched a living soil operation, signalling niche differentiation in domestic production.
  • The Compass compassionate access scheme reopened to new patients after a six-month suspension (since September 2025) for corporate governance improvements.
  • Vitura Health appointed former HIF chief Justin James as new CEO on a A$500K contract.
• TGA data show SAS-B approvals reached 20,166 in March — only the third month ever above 20,000 — from 905 prescribers. Pastilles accounted for ~30% of approved prescriptions; Q1 2026 totalled 56,122 (+9.5% YoY).

Science — Lancet meta-analysis of 54 RCTs finds limited cannabinoid efficacy for mental health; TGA rapid review exposes evidence gap above 22% THC

A Lancet Psychiatry meta-analysis of 54 RCTs (2,477 participants) found cannabinoids have limited efficacy for mental disorders — modest benefits for cannabis withdrawal (SMD −0.70), Tourette’s tics (SMD −0.68), and insomnia, but higher adverse-event risk (OR 1.75; NNTH = 7). No RCT evidence for depression; 44% of studies had high risk of bias. Australian industry called the review outdated.

• Evidence reviews highlighted critical gaps between prescribed products and the research base.
  • A Monash University / TGA-funded rapid review of higher THC products (15 studies: 6 RCTs, 9 observational) found no evidence on efficacy or safety for Category 5 products above 22% w/w THC — far below the 88% THC available on prescription. Category 5 products now account for half of all SAS-B approvals (~96,354/190,217); chronic pain (42.4%) and anxiety (32.8%) dominate indications.
  • An epidemiological study found Australian cannabis use and CUD prevalence remained stable from 2007 to 2020–22 at 6.7% (past-12-month use) and 0.6% (CUD), but vulnerability among 16–25-year-olds rose significantly (OR 2.39 for CUD). Mean daily consumption: 2.60 g (users) vs 5.49 g (CUD).
  • A cross-sectional analysis of self-reported reasons for cannabis use in Australia provided further context on the overlap between medical and non-medical consumption patterns.
• Clinical R&D pipeline advanced across multiple Australian operators.
  • Avecho completed recruitment of ∼215 participants for its Phase III CBD insomnia trial (TPM-enhanced capsules); interim analysis expected June 2026. CEO described June as “huge” — targeting Australia’s first OTC CBD medicine in a market projected to exceed US$125 million annually.
  • Nexalis Therapeutics screened its first participant for a Phase 1 inhaled CBD trial targeting panic disorder (IRX-616a, 2.5 mg CBD/actuation); up to 24 healthy volunteers, dosing to complete by June 2026.
  • Neurotech International shares rallied 10% on Phase II/III ASD trial momentum for its NTI164 cannabinoid product, which met primary and secondary endpoints; potential FDA approval 2027–2029.
• A US study found recreational cannabis laws linked to a 9–11% drop in daily opioid use among 28,069 people who inject drugs across 13 states — relevant to Australia’s harm-reduction policy discussions as the TGA reviews scheduling.

United Kingdom — Prescribing concentration under scrutiny as market doubles; MCCS to revise standards

On the radar

UK–EU ‘reset’ trade talks may force alignment with EFSA’s 2 mg/day CBD limit (vs UK’s 10 mg), putting ~12,000 products in the novel food pipeline at risk. SPS agreement target: mid-2027.

Regulation — MCCS tightens prescribing standards after coroner’s report; UK–EU ‘reset’ puts 12,000 CBD products at risk

The Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society will publish revised Good Practice Guidance in April 2026, strengthening expectations for psychiatric risk assessment, prescribing decision-making, monitoring, and clinical governance — directly informed by the Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report following Oliver Robinson‘s death. Products with THC above 25% will require peer review through a multidisciplinary team.

• The Robinson family launched ‘Oliver’s Law’ on 31 March, demanding statutory contraindications for serious mental illness, mandatory psychiatric oversight for mental health patients, and centralised adverse-event reporting via the MHRA. Curaleaf Clinic stated it had implemented material governance changes; pending: ACMD review of the CBPM framework (timeline not disclosed).
• The UK is seeking exemptions from EU novel food rules in ‘reset’ trade talks to maintain its 10 mg daily CBD limit — five times EFSA‘s 2 mg/day safe intake set in February 2026. The FSA warned businesses that dynamic alignment under a veterinary agreement could require EU market authorisation for GB products; pending: negotiation outcome.
  • The UK government aims to implement the SPS agreement by mid-2027. Of ~12,000 CBD products in the UK novel food pipeline since 2022, over 700 have already fallen out; more than half could be overtaken by stricter EU rules. EIHA‘s two portfolios alone cover 4,000 products still under consideration.
• Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi launched the Hannah Deacon Campaign calling for a £2 million observational trial for children with drug-resistant epilepsy — only four children currently receive NHS cannabis prescriptions despite legalisation in 2018, while families pay ~£15,000/year privately. Next step: PM pointed to £8 million in RCTs but did not commit additional funding; pending: ministerial response.

Market — Prescribing surges to ~85,000 items/month amid rapid concentration; Cantourage UK crosses 20% of €92.8M group revenue

The UK medical cannabis market more than doubled in 2025, driven by telemedicine expansion, but growth has exposed extreme prescribing concentration: 10 consultants issued >800,000 items — more than half of all UK prescriptions since 2019 — with dispensing surging from <400 items/month in 2020 to ~85,000/month by early 2025.

• One unidentified consultant alone accounted for >1 in 10 items (~46,000 in the first five months of 2025). Most private-clinic patients present with psychiatric conditions, yet products reach 34% THC versus street cannabis at 14–16%; the Royal College of Psychiatrists says evidence for cannabis in mental health is insufficient.
  • An estimated 100,000 patients now use private clinics, with Mamedica reporting 12,500 patients — the majority for psychiatric conditions. Initial consultations cost ~£100; patients typically spend £80–300/month.
  • Patient Protect, founded by advocate Alex Fraser and cannabis lawyer Robert Jappie, launched on 1 April to provide structured support for patients facing discrimination in housing, employment, policing, and driving — the first UK-wide advocacy service for clinics.
• International operators expanded their UK positions amid rapid market growth.
  • Cantourage Group SE reported FY2025 revenue of €92.8M (+82.3% YoY) with the UK contributing >20% of group sales, validating the Fast-Track-Access model beyond Germany. EBITDA reached €5.7M; Montega reiterated Buy with €8.00 target (43% upside).
    • Together Pharma initiated its first Israel-to-UK cannabis export via Cantourage UK, positioning the shipment as an international growth milestone.
  • Tilray Brands completed a £33M acquisition of BrewDog — brand, IP, UK brewing operations, and 11 brewpubs — closing 38 bars with 484 redundancies (733 jobs preserved). Expected $200M annual revenue and ~$8M adjusted EBITDA; pending: US and Australian asset negotiations.
  • Bioxyne guided FY26 revenue of A$65–75M, with the UK contributing 5% alongside Australia (70%) and Germany (25%). H1 FY26 revenue hit record A$31.3M (+148%).
    • Subsidiary Breathe Life Sciences signed a manufacturing deal with Aurora Cannabis for GMP-certified oils and vape products across Australia, the UK, and Germany.
• New supply origins and UK-based product innovation broadened the market’s sourcing base.
  • New Zealand producer Puro dispatched its first UK shipment — seven pallets of organic flower (five strains) to IPS Pharma under a NZ$16M supply deal, the first New Zealand-grown cannabis supplied to the UK.
  • 113 Botanicals commenced Sphericann® validation batches for controlled-release medicinal cannabis capsules at its UK facility, transitioning from lab-scale R&D (with University of Sussex) to commercial-scale GMP manufacturing.

Science — MHRA approves Phase 2 CBD trial for endometriosis at up to 875 mg/day; NMA maps CUD treatment landscape

Ananda Pharma received MHRA and NHS HRA approval for the ENDOCAN Phase 2 trial of its MRX1 CBD oral solution for endometriosis-associated pain — a double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomising up to 100 women over 12 weeks at doses up to 875 mg CBD/day (12.5 mg/kg), conducted through NHS Lothian and NHS Grampian in Scotland. Endometriosis affects ~190 million women globally and costs the UK ~£8.2 billion/year; 40–50% experience symptom recurrence within five years post-surgery.

• The UK government awarded £912,000 through Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme to Precision Plants to develop three hemp varieties (grain, fibre, dual-crop) suited to British conditions, with field trials open to farmers. UK hemp acreage remains small — only 136 licences were active in 2023 against a target of 80,000 hectares by 2030; pending: parliamentary approval to raise the THC limit from 0.2% to 0.3%.
• A network meta-analysis in Addiction (57 RCTs, 6,277 participants) found low-certainty evidence that DBT/ACT and MET-CBT with contingency management reduced cannabis use frequency in CUD. Limited evidence suggested CBD (OR 2.91), N-acetylcysteine (OR 1.30), and varenicline (OR 4.85) may promote abstinence versus placebo — though all pharmacotherapy effects remain highly uncertain and several (mixed-action antidepressants, benzodiazepines, bupropion) showed more adverse events without effectiveness signals.

Isle of Man — MannCann receives first GSC medicinal cannabis licence for importation, storage, and exportation

MannCann became the first company on the Isle of Man to receive a GSC medicinal cannabis licence, covering importation, storage, and exportation. The company will now progress to DHSC and MHRA stages for manufacturing and distribution authorisation. The island’s medicinal cannabis framework has been expanding since the 2023 pilot — Medicann’s Douglas clinic (opened 2025) operates alongside 420 PHARMA, the island’s only dedicated cannabis pharmacy.

Guernsey — Cannabis legalisation debate withdrawn after UK constitutional warning on Royal Assent

Guernsey’s Policy & Resources Committee warned that advancing cannabis legalisation ahead of the UK could risk the UK refusing to recommend the legislation for Royal Assent, citing precedents in Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands. The committee said decriminalisation (outside medical prescriptions) may be more feasible than full legalisation. The requête — signed by 7 States members, calling for a cross-committee working group to report by end-2027 — was withdrawn by lead proponent Deputy Marc Leadbeater amid a code-of-conduct complaint linked to his involvement with cannabis retailer Bailiwick Botanicals.

Canada — Earnings season: industry leaders report record results as govt revenue crosses C$2.5B and GDP contribution nears C$11.6B

On the radar

Cannabis Act five-year legislative review still not launched. Mi’kmaw treaty rights dispute over on-reserve cannabis sales escalating in Nova Scotia.

Regulation — Licence issuance halves year-on-year as RCMP raids on First Nations cannabis stores trigger Nova Scotia highway blockades

Health Canada issued just six new cannabis production licences in 2026 as of 9 March — all micro producers (three in British Columbia, two in Ontario, one in Québec) — down from 14 by the same point in 2025 and 13 in 2024. Rising revocations and suspensions signal market maturation and mounting compliance pressures.

• The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) ordered cannabis retailers to remove “dispensary” from websites and online platforms under Standard 6(2)(4), which prohibits association with medicine or health. Retailers including Stok’d Cannabis and Highland Cannabis warned the directive hands search visibility to illicit operators, as “dispensary near me” remains the top consumer search term.
  • The AGCO reversed course on 13 March, confirming retailers may use the term provided usage does not imply medical advice or context.
• RCMP raids on Mi’kmaw cannabis stores in Nova Scotia triggered highway blockades by Millbrook, Sipekne’katik, and Potlotek First Nations after officers seized products from the Sikku Shop in Potlotek; two arrests were made. Mi’kmaw leaders assert on-reserve cannabis sales are protected by treaty rights, while RCMP describe the stores as illegal.

Market — Record earnings as government revenue crosses C$2.5B and GDP nears C$11.6B

Statistics Canada reported that federal and provincial governments earned C$2.5 billion from recreational cannabis in 2024/25 (+11.5% YoY), while the broader industry contributed nearly C$11.6 billion to GDP — licensed producers alone accounting for C$10.6 billion (+31%). Full-year 2025 retail sales totalled C$5.62 billion; January 2026 dipped 8.4% sequentially to C$466.1 million.

• Earnings season delivered record results, with multiple operators reaching profitability milestones and first-ever break-evens.
  • SNDL posted record FY2025 revenue of C$946.4 million (+2.8%) and its first-ever adjusted operating break-even, with free cash flow doubling to C$18.0 million. Cannabis operations revenue surged 32.1% to C$144.7 million; unrestricted cash: C$252.2 million, no debt.
  • Village Farms achieved record net income of US$21.0 million and US$49.9 million adjusted EBITDA, with Canadian cannabis sales up 10% and international exports +384%. Q4 Canadian gross margin: 43%; year-end cash: US$86 million.
  • High Tide reached record Q1 FY2026 revenue of C$178.3 million (+25% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA of C$11.5 million (+62%), with Canna Cabana at 220 stores (12% national share) and Remexian growing German import share to 10.3%.
  • Rubicon Organics returned to operating profitability with FY2025 net revenue of C$59.5 million (+22%) and C$1.1 million net income. The Cascadia facility completed first harvests February 2026, adding 4,500 kg rated capacity.
  • Nextleaf Solutions posted Q1 FY26 net income of C$259K on C$3.0 million net revenue (+4.6%), its fifth consecutive quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA.
• Growth and M&A reshaped the competitive landscape as operators scaled through acquisitions and brand consolidation.
  • Canopy Growth completed its acquisition of MTL Cannabis (41.2 million shares + C$18.5 million cash), targeting C$10 million in run-rate synergies within 18 months; pending integration of profitable operations toward positive EBITDA by fiscal 2027.
  • Avant Brands reported 19% recreational revenue growth to C$14.8 million in FY2025 with record operating cash flow of C$5.7 million, reversing the prior year’s C$1.7 million gross loss.
    • Retired C$1.77 million of debt at C$0.935 per unit, leaving ~C$0.9 million on the debenture.
    • Shipped over 5,000 kg internationally in FY2025, with Germany as the largest market (>3,000 kg); also supplies Australia, the UK, and Israel with 50+ active SKUs anchored by multi-year agreements.
    • Terminated its Adjupharm licensing deal and reclaimed blk mkt™ rights in Germany and Switzerland, effective May 2026; seeking a new distribution partner for its largest export market.
  • Cannara Biotech CFO cited 50,000 kg annualised production with a roadmap to ~100,000 kg by 2030 and 27% Québec vape market share.
• Distress and restructuring at overleveraged operators.
  • Simply Solventless Concentrates secured 84% secured-creditor backing from Plaza Capital and Altek Acquisition Partnership for CCAA restructuring; nearly C$10 million in CRA tax arrears outstanding.
    • Subsidiaries Massive Hash Factory, CannMart, and ANC launched a court-approved SISP; Phase 1 bids due 8 May 2026; monitor: MNP. Stay extension to 20 June 2026 requested alongside a C$1.5 million DIP loan.
• Health Canada data show total cannabis sales rose 21% YoY in Q3 2025, with extracts gaining share to 28% (from 24%) while dried flower slipped to 48%. Licensed indoor area grew 11% QoQ; destruction rates fell to 7.9% from 12.1%.
  • Non-medical units reached 75.4 million (+19% YoY); medical units 3.2 million (+12%). Licensed outdoor area surged 22% YoY.
• The NLC reported cannabis sales of C$27.9 million in Q3 FY2025-26 (+4.5%) across 61 retailers in Newfoundland and Labrador, with whole flower at 35% and pre-rolls at 19%.
• Rising oil prices could compress EBITDA margins from ~15% to ~10% via a 30% logistics cost increase at ~160 cents/litre diesel, threatening leveraged operators.
• Organigram Global launched SHRED Shotz, a 65 mL/10 mg THC nano-emulsion beverage (~15-minute onset), extending the SHRED brand (>C$200 million retail in 2025) into beverages across Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
• International medical cannabis growth drove strategic pivots among Canadian LPs.
  • Aurora Cannabis exited the adult-use market to focus solely on medical globally; medical now accounts for 81% of revenue (CA$94.2 million total, +7% YoY) and 95% of adjusted gross profit. Licences in Germany, Australia, and Poland.
  • MediPharm Labs reported FY 2025 international medical revenue of $25.2 million (+43%, >50% of $45.1 million total); virtually debt-free with $10.8 million cash. Expansion cited in Brazil, France, and New Zealand.
  • Avicanna subsidiary SMGH completed its first commercial CBG flower export to Australia, now supplying 21 markets from Colombia (300,000 sq ft; ~26,400 kg annual yield).
  • PharmaCielo achieved its first profitable quarter (Q3 FY2025 net income C$407K), though revenue fell to C$606K from C$1.13 million.
• Hong Kong Customs and the CBSA seized over 160 kg of cannabis and hash in outbound shipments linked to Canada, highlighting illicit export diversion risks.

Science — Transport Canada research challenges per se THC limits as CHS hospitalisations plateau at 3.8 per 100,000

Two CAMH-led studies funded by Transport Canada found no next-day cognitive or driving-simulator impairment 12–15 hours after smoking legal cannabis (mean 30% THC) in frequent users (n = 65 per group) versus matched controls — despite blood THC exceeding 2 ng/mL. The findings directly challenge per se THC thresholds in traffic law.

• Within the cannabis group, infused joints produced large-effect deficits in delayed verbal recall (d = 0.84); higher %THC correlated with poorer recall (r = −0.36). Blood THC was the strongest impairment correlate; residual subjective intoxication elevated on 9 of 10 VAS items.
• A separate crossover trial found smoked cannabis acutely worsened driving control at medium (12.5%) and high (22% THC) potencies — SDLP and reaction time both significant (p < 0.001) — underscoring that acute dose-dependent impairment persists where next-day effects in regular users do not.
• CHS hospitalisations rose 2.5× from 1.5 to 3.8 per 100,000 between FY2016–17 and FY2024–25 (AAPC 13.1%), then stabilised post-FY2020–21. Highest rates among ages 20–24; fastest early rise among ages 45–64 (APC 27.4%).
• Canadian clinical R&D advanced pharmaceutical pipelines across multiple operators.
  • Avicanna launched a Phase I THC dose-finding trial at the University of Calgary — 24 participants, three doses (6/9/15 mg oral THC), assessing anxiety response and cannabinoid absorption via proprietary AVCN319301b capsules.
  • Segra International and GreenCare Pharma secured a C$600K IRAP grant for a multi-year R&D programme targeting CBG-rich cannabinoid profiles for medical applications.
• An Ottawa Hospital survey (n = 154) found 77% of neuro-otology patients willing to consider cannabis for dizziness; 21% of prior users reported moderate-to-large relief. Lower THC/higher CBD associated with benefit.
• A Pew Research Center 25-country survey found only 23% of U.S. adults deem marijuana use morally unacceptable (vs 91% in Indonesia, 83% in Nigeria); education and age drive global divergence.

Brazil — Pharmacy market reaches R$250M (+20.5% YoY) as RDC 1015 reshapes retail; Anvisa authorisations hit record 194,682

On the radar

RDC 1015/2026 takes effect 4 May — expands routes, prescriber base, and permits domestic seed cultivation. PL 399 / PL 5511 revival pending plenary deliberation.

Regulation — 200+ MPs relaunch federal cannabis bills; São Paulo debates RDC 1015 modernisation

Over 200 cross-party parliamentarians relaunched the Mixed Parliamentary Front in Defence of Medicinal Cannabis and Industrial Hemp on 4 March, aiming to convert ANVISA resolutions into federal law by reviving PL 399/2015 (cultivation for medicinal, veterinary, scientific, and industrial purposes) and PL 5511/2023 (national guidelines for cultivation, production, and dispensing). The coalition — 116 centre/right MPs (~57%) and 87 left (~43%) — drew institutional backing from the Ministry of Agriculture, Embrapa, and Fiocruz; pending: plenary deliberation in both chambers.

• In São Paulo, the state Parliamentary Front for Medicinal Cannabis held a 26 March hearing on the RDC 1015/2026 update (effective 4 May), highlighting domestic seed cultivation now permitted, expanded administration routes (inhalation, topical, sublingual), broader patient eligibility, and a formal role for universities in developing national pharmaceutical inputs.
• The Brazilian Epilepsy Association warned of CBD shortages in São Paulo’s SUS, affecting children with drug-resistant epilepsies (Lennox-Gastaut, Dravet, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex). Families report resorting to loans and fundraising to avoid treatment gaps; ABE called for a contingency plan with safety stock and emergency protocols.

Market — Pharmacy market surges to R$250M as RDC 1015 reshapes retail; record 194,682 Anvisa authorisations sustain import-led growth

Brazil’s medical cannabis pharmacy market reached R$250M (MAT September 2025, +20.5% YoY), with pharmacy-channel sales surging 58.4% in value and 75.9% in units. Prati-Donaduzzi leads with 38.3% share (R$95.6M), followed by Greencare (16.7%) and Hypera (14.6%). RDC 1015/2026 (effective 4 May) adds inhalation, topical, and sublingual routes, extends prescribing to dentists and veterinarians, and authorises CBD compounding in pharmacies.

• Anvisa issued a record 194,682 import authorisations in 2025 (+16% YoY from 167,337), bringing the cumulative total to 653,120 since 2015 — a >200× increase from 850 in the first year. October peaked at 19,710, the highest single month on record; two-year validity sustains structural demand through renewals.
• Domestic operators and international entrants expanded infrastructure alongside import-led growth.
  • GrowerIQ became the first international seed-to-sale platform to formalise Brazil operations through an alliance with genetics firm Milgrows (560+ cultivars), ahead of ANVISA‘s 4 August 2026 traceability deadline; over 300 patient associations may apply for cultivation rights under the new Regulatory Sandbox.
  • Cannabis Company (Curitiba) launched a hybrid pharmacy-plus-consultant model targeting national franchise expansion in a market estimated at R$1.1B for 2026, deploying regional consultants to bridge prescribers and patients before physical rollout.
  • In São Paulo’s ABC region, the Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos do ABC and Associação Flor da Vida have provided 600+ workers and families with affordable cannabis oils and consultations since 2023, driven by chronic occupational pain and autism spectrum demand where SUS access remains impractical.

Science — Segra International secures $600K IRAP grant for CBG R&D with GreenCare Pharma

Segra International secured a $600K IRAP grant for a multi-year pharmaceutical cannabis R&D programme with GreenCare Pharma, targeting CBG-rich cannabinoid profiles for medical and pharmaceutical applications. GreenCare produces ANVISA-regulated, GMP-certified products; the collaboration positions both firms to advance clinically relevant cannabinoid research ahead of downstream therapeutic use.

France — HAS decree targeted by June as ~700 pilot patients await generalisation; Interior Ministry pushes AFD fines to €500

On the radar

HAS evaluation decree targeted by June; reimbursement opinion expected Oct/Nov 2026. If confirmed, first routine prescriptions in 2027 — ~700 pilot patients on continuity extensions until then.

Regulation — Medical cannabis rollout timeline crystallises: evaluation decree by June, reimbursement opinion by November, routine prescriptions potentially 2027

French health authorities set a concrete timetable for medical cannabis generalisation: the HAS evaluation decree is targeted for adoption by late June 2026, with a reimbursement opinion expected in October/November 2026. Routine prescriptions could begin in 2027, while continuity of access for approximately 700 pilot patients is anticipated to extend to 31 December 2026.

• The DGS convened on 18 February to open public consultation on the draft decree, with ANSM product submissions expected by summer. Prices range from €14 to €190 per unit; the reimbursement framework features tiered rates of 65%, 30%, 10%, and 0%, with long-term illness patients likely receiving 100% coverage — prices fixed for three years.
  • Stakeholders raised concerns over patient access and limited product formats: the pilot served ~3,000 patients, but the absence of flower and insufficient physician training remain barriers.
  • Patient associations urged the Conseil d’État to fast-track decree validation.
• The RECANN registry found a 3% serious adverse drug reaction rate among 3,164 patients in the first three years of the experiment — including six acute coronary syndromes and eight suicidal ideation cases — informing the safety profile ahead of generalisation.
• Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez signalled a tougher enforcement package against drug use: AFD fines would rise from €200 to €500, repeat users could face driving-licence suspension, and municipal police could be empowered to issue AFDs. 40% of all AFDs issued in 2024 were for drug use; opponents cite weak impact on consumption.

Market — Boiron partners with Panaxia Malta; PGP Farmer closes €3M for 30-tonne EU-GMP site

Boiron Laboratories signed a strategic partnership with Panaxia Malta, with an option to acquire a majority stake by 2029 for €3.2M — positioning France’s largest homeopathy group for medical cannabis distribution across 21 EU countries where medical cannabis is legal.

• PGP Farmer closed a €3M funding round to build a 9-hectare EU-GMP production site targeting 30 tonnes annual capacity, positioning France as a potential key European supplier.
• Stenocare (Denmark) filed products and secured a strategic partnership for first-mover advantage ahead of generalisation.
• The first Platinum CBD Cup was held at Cann’Agri Expo in Nantes across five categories with a public jury; results announced 31 March.

Science — OFDT data show continued youth cannabis decline; parental separation accelerates psychiatric comorbidity onset in heavy users

The OFDT’s EnCLASS 2024 survey confirmed continued decline in cannabis use among French secondary school students: experimentation dropped from 22.5% to 16.1% and past-year use from 17.6% to 11.4%. Synthetic cannabinoid use was noted at 3.4%, marking a new surveillance concern.

• A Larribiosière Hospital study found that parental separation/divorce accelerates the onset of anxiety and mood disorders in heavy cannabis users (n=342), adding to the evidence on social risk modifiers for cannabis-related psychiatric comorbidity.

Spain — Medical cannabis hospital supply takes shape (only 2 companies registered; 31.2t JIFE forecast); GMP operators position Spain as EU processing hub

On the radar

Only 2 companies registered for hospital supply so far; AEMPS has 6 months to authorise or reject. MoH review on extending dispensing to community pharmacies due by end-2026.

Regulation — Only two companies register for hospital cannabis supply despite 31.2t production forecast; dispensing review due by end-2026

Only two companies have registered with the AEMPS to manufacture standardised cannabis preparations for hospitals since the register opened on 19 January — despite JIFE forecasting 31.2 tonnes of Spanish medicinal production for 2026 (+23% vs 2025) and 20 active cultivation licences. The Royal Decree (October 2025) restricts dispensing to hospital pharmacy, limits indications to four (chronic pain, MS spasticity, severe epilepsy, chemotherapy nausea), and caps daily doses at 32.4 mg THC; flower is excluded. Pending: AEMPS has 6 months to authorise or reject applications.

• The decree’s implementation drew both institutional caution and signals of future flexibilisation.
  • The SEFH warned the decree could generate an “additional care burden” in hospital pharmacy services, calling on authorities to assess impact, provide staffing and resources, and integrate cannabis into clinical practice through a “scientific, prudent, and patient-centred” approach.
  • The Ministry of Health said evidence will determine whether dispensing moves beyond hospitals; autonomous communities may adopt non-face-to-face or alternative dispensing for distance/vulnerability cases. Review expected by end-2026.
    • The Ministry had earlier opened the door to community pharmacy dispensing, signalling a potential pathway if implementation evidence supports it.
• Licensing activity and enforcement continued across distinct tracks.
  • Police linked two underground tunnels connecting Morocco and Ceuta to a hashish network with claimed capacity of ~2 tonnes per week. Operation Ares: 27 arrests, 228 kg hashish + 88 kg cocaine + €1.4 million cash seized.
  • Quorum Biomedical received its third consecutive AEMPS research cultivation renewal and announced a genetics collaboration with Sovereign Genetics (Basque Country) for plant variety development.

Market — Extraction Solutions pitches Spain as Portugal’s GMP successor; Beemine Lab targets €3M from German API exports

Extraction Solutions (Villajoyosa) argued that compliance problems in Portugal are pushing European buyers toward Spanish GMP processing, positioning Spain as an alternative hub for APIs, flower, and R&D on novel extract formats such as live resin. The company, GMP-certified since 2022, said German importers are actively seeking alternatives and cited joint R&D talks with one of Germany’s largest cannabis companies.

• Spanish operators scaled export capacity for the German medical market.
  • The Beemine Lab will begin exporting medicinal cannabis APIs to Germany from June 2026 via Canify AG and Logista Pharma — claiming to be the first Spanish exporter of such therapies. Targets: €3 million revenue (+70% YoY); 0.5–1 tonne in 2026, scaling to 5 tonnes by 2027. OTC portfolio (Alivium CBD) across 1,500 Spanish pharmacies.
• The CBD and wellness market showed growing retail penetration and investor momentum.
  • The Spanish CBD market reached €81 million in 2022 with 200+ brands and 500+ specialised points of sale; CBD cosmetics in parapharmacies rose from 2 (2019) to 80+ (2022).
  • Votum Labs reported 67% revenue growth to >€400K in 2025 (CAGR 74% since 2022; gross margin >80%), reaching 600+ points of sale across 24 provinces. Targets: €1.2 million revenue and €3.1 million Series A in 2026; expansion to Portugal and Mexico.

Science — Tricostimulant™ boosts cannabinoid content by up to 47% in field trials; CSC governance study maps rise and judicial closure

Biotech Tricopharming Research (Tenerife/Barcelona) published field trial results for Tricostimulant™, a botanical biostimulant that selectively enhanced cannabinoid content in Cannabis sativa across three trials in Spain and Colombia. In the CBD-dominant variety Carmagnola Selezionata, vegetative-stage application at 2 mL/L yielded: CBD-A +31.8%, CBG +47.5%, CBD +8.7%, CBN +20%. THC-dominant varieties showed +37% THC (0.074% dw, below regulatory threshold). Product registered in Czech Republic, Portugal, and Spain.

• A socio-legal analysis traced Spanish cannabis social clubs’ expansion through legal ambiguity in Catalonia and the Basque Country post-2012, then decline after 2015 Supreme Court rulings and Constitutional Court annulments of regional laws — highlighting structural fragility of bottom-up drug policy experimentation within multilevel governance.

Netherlands — 111–39: Tweede Kamer locks in wietexperiment as full supply chain goes live

On the radar

Wietexperiment formal evaluation due by end-2029; pilot increasingly seen as irreversible. Worldline main proceedings (bodemprocedure) on coffeeshop payments pending.

Regulation — Path dependency deepens: court secures payments, all growers active, evaluation not until 2029

The Tweede Kamer rejected a ChristenUnie amendment to phase out the wietexperiment by 111–39 (74% against), confirming a comfortable parliamentary majority for the pilot’s continuation. CU, SGP, PVV, BBB, DENK, Groep Markuszower and Mona Keijzer voted for phase-out; all others — including CDA (bound by coalition agreement) and JA21 — voted against, clarifying for the first time where PVV splinters and 50PLUS stand. Even stripping CDA’s 18 coalition-bound seats leaves 93 (62%) pro-experiment.

• Legacy Brands, the tenth and final licensed grower, began delivering in early March — all ten certified producers are now active across the pilot municipalities, completing the regulated supply chain.
  • The new cabinet held its first parliamentary drug policy debate on 3 March with the wietexperiment as the central agenda item.
  • APR: One year in, growers, retailers and municipalities describe the pilot as broadly successful: stable coffeeshop sales, improved product transparency, and path dependency that makes reversal a “recipe for chaos”, per researcher Nicole Maalsté. Next step: formal evaluation by end-2029.
• The Preliminary Relief Judge in Utrecht prohibited Worldline from terminating payment agreements with more than fifty coffeeshops, ruling that debit card services — used for over 80% of payments — are essential and that categorical sector exclusion without individual assessment is unlawful. Pending: main proceedings (bodemprocedure).
• The Council of State ruled that Tilburg‘s 2022 mayoral letter withdrawing a tolerance arrangement for home-grown medicinal cannabis does not constitute a formal decision, leaving ~50 patients without legal recourse against enforcement by police or housing corporations.

Market — CanAdelaar and Village Farms invest in compliance and capacity as grower economics take shape

CanAdelaar, the country’s largest wietexperiment grower, completed a €3 M+ odour filtration upgrade in March — 200+ carbon filters and 70+ ASPRA roof units — and reported a noticeable drop in complaints from Hellevoetsluis residents. The investment doubles as pre-integration infrastructure: Cronos Group‘s pending acquisition (€57.5 M upfront) will bring global R&D resources while keeping cultivation and employment in the Netherlands.

• Village Farms reported record FY2025 profitability — US$21 M net income, US$49.9 M adjusted EBITDA — with its Dutch subsidiary (Leli Holland) now supplying 96% of participating coffeeshops (+5 pp QoQ). Netherlands Q4 sales reached US$3.3 M with positive adjusted EBITDA (US$0.7 M); Phase II in Groningen (~10 t annualised) is on track to plant first rooms in late Q1 and complete during Q2.
• Arnhem municipality launched a March–December 2026 fibre hemp pilot on farmland in Arnhem Noord, subsidising participating farmers and connecting growers with local businesses and education institutions to test agronomic results, market development, and circular processing applications in construction and manufacturing.

Science — Dutch No-Veg technique lifts annualised yield 12% while cutting energy 30%

A Dutch consortium of Innexo, Fluence and Grodan published controlled trial data on a “No-Veg” cannabis cultivation method that skips the vegetative phase entirely, placing clones straight into 12/12 flowering. Although per-cycle yield drops 13% (622 vs 712 g/m²), six annual cycles instead of four lift annualised output to 4,621 g/m²/year (+12%), with 30% less energy, 37% less labour and 75% more Grade A flower — while larf drops from 25% to 5%.

• A Pew Research Center 25-country survey (28,000+ adults, Jan–Apr 2025) found 32% of Dutch adults consider marijuana use morally unacceptable — mid-range among Western peers (Germany 25%, UK 35%, Canada 19%). Education is the strongest divider in the Netherlands: 19 pp gap between more-educated (19%) and less-educated (38%) respondents.

Poland — Centrum files depenalisation bill: 15 g, one plant, zero penalties

On the radar

Centrum depenalisation bill (15 g / 1 plant) now in the Sejm — first cross-party filing; parliamentary timeline TBD. Kombinat Konopny trading expected to begin within ~2 weeks of debut.

Regulation — Cross-party working group pushes first depenalisation bill into Sejm

Centrum MP Ryszard Petru filed a depenalisation bill in the Sejm on 27 March that would remove criminal penalties for possessing up to 15 g of cannabis and cultivating one plant for personal use. The bill emerged from a cross-party parliamentary working group spanning all governing coalition parties and Konfederacja; sponsors argue the current three-year imprisonment threshold is disproportionate, costs the state hundreds of millions of zlotys in prosecutions often dismissed, and pushes users toward the unregulated black market — citing Portugal, Germany, Czech Republic, and Malta as European precedents.

Market — PLN 362 M pharmacy sales and 100× patient upside; Kombinat Konopny hits NewConnect

Cosma estimates Poland’s medical cannabis market could serve up to 8 million patients — roughly 100× the current 50–60,000 — after pharmacy sales reached PLN 362 M in 2025 (875,000 products dispensed, +50,000 YoY). The company closed 2025 with PLN 17 M revenue (2.5× YoY) and reached operational profitability by Q4; physician reluctance to prescribe remains the primary bottleneck.

• Medical cannabis supply expansion: Aurora Cannabis exited the adult-use segment globally to focus solely on medical, which accounts for 81% of revenue (CA$94.2 M, +7% YoY); CFO Simona King cited Poland, Germany, and Australia as priority higher-margin markets.
  • Aurora launched Electric Honeydew (29% THC) on the Polish market from 7 March; the strain shares a registry entry with Sourdough, requiring batch-code verification (EHD vs SRD) to prevent dispensing errors.
  • Curaleaf International rebranded its Polish subsidiary Fitokan to Curaleaf Centrum Medyczne from 1 April, aligning the clinic’s identity with the wider group; operations and leadership remain unchanged.
• Hemp & IPO: Kombinat Konopny debuted on NewConnect on 1 April after GPW resolution 476/2026 admitted series B–H ordinary bearer shares (ticker KMB), becoming Poland’s first publicly listed hemp-focused company.
  • The company built a ~2,500-strong retail investor base through crowdfunding rounds totalling PLN 23 M since 2020, expanding hemp textile and herbal supplement sales into Germany and Italy.
  • Buy orders far exceeded available shares on debut day, with the theoretical opening price surging to PLN 0.90 (+800%) and triggering a trading delay; CEO Maciej Kowalski expected trading to begin within ~2 weeks.

Science — CBD and hemp extracts fail to inhibit inflammation in vivo; harvesting and biomass gaps persist

Polish researchers found that CBD and whole-plant extracts from the Tygra and Dora cultivars failed to inhibit inflammation in a carrageenan-induced rat model, with some doses increasing expression of pro-inflammatory markers — while ASA (aspirin) performed as expected. The results contrast with in vitro evidence and highlight model- and dose-dependency as critical variables for CBD anti-inflammatory claims.

• A separate Polish study found that hemp leaves and inflorescences show distinct antioxidant profiles across Kompolti and Finola cultivars (TPC: 52.36 mg GAE/g DM in inflorescences vs 37.08 in leaves), supporting the commercial valorisation of leaf biomass as a secondary antioxidant source for food, cosmetic, and nutraceutical applications.
• A Poznań University of Life Sciences review of seed hemp harvesting techniques identified shattering losses, moisture variability, and the absence of hemp-specific combine attachments as the main bottlenecks constraining economic viability for European growers — particularly relevant for Poland as a leading EU hemp producer.

Israel — Licensing integrity under siege: Cannomed trafficking arrests, Colibri forced closure, Supreme Court challenge to 400+ intelligence-based disqualifications

On the radar

Supreme Court hearing pending on first-ever challenge to 400+ intelligence-based licence disqualifications — could overturn the entire ‘safe check’ mechanism. Greencom and Green Fields rulings also pending.

Regulation — Supreme Court backs intelligence-based closures as first-ever appeal challenges the legal authority behind 400+ disqualifications

Israel‘s medical cannabis licensing regime faced its most serious integrity test in March, with Cannomed‘s farm owner arrested for trafficking “on unprecedented scale,” the Supreme Court upholding Colibri‘s forced closure based on classified intelligence, and a first-ever appeal challenging the legal authority behind 400+ disqualifications — exposing a systemic tension between enforcement reach and due-process safeguards.

• Three enforcement actions reinforced a pattern of intelligence-based shutdowns across licensed operators.
  • Israel Police arrested five suspects — including Cannomed farm owner Ortal Arbel and his deputy — for systematically diverting medical cannabis from the licensed Jordan Valley farm to black-market distribution centres. Hundreds of kilograms seized; the farm’s licence was revoked in 2022 over similar concerns but later restored.
    • The case extends a pattern of diversion from licensed farms: Talekan (1.2 tonnes stolen, December 2024) and Vaknin shell companies (NIS 80 million laundered, August 2025).
  • The Supreme Court (Justice David Mintz) rejected Colibri‘s request to delay its forced closure in Hadera, ruling classified intelligence constituted “solid administrative evidence” of “tangible and immediate danger to public safety.” Colibri ordered to vacate by 12 March; pending: Greencom and Green Fields Supreme Court rulings.
    • Canndoc and Seach are exploring a joint acquisition of Colibri’s GMP facility — driven by Basalt‘s insolvency, Canndoc’s previous packer. Seach previously purchased the Derech Lachaim factory for ILS 2.3 million.
  • A first-ever Supreme Court appeal argues the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance does not grant the Health Ministry authority to revoke licences based solely on classified police intelligence. If accepted, 400+ disqualifications issued via the “safe check” mechanism — without hearings or disclosed evidence — could be overturned; pending: Supreme Court hearing date.
• The Knesset approved another extension of the Iron Swords emergency law, automatically prolonging by 3 months all medical cannabis patient and practitioner licences expiring between 28 February and 31 May 2026. Industry quality certificates (IMC-GAP/GMP/GDP/GSP), research permits, and practice licences also covered.

Market — Together Pharma initiates first Israel-to-UK export via Cantourage; Canndoc and Seach pursue shuttered Colibri GMP facility

Together Pharma initiated its first Israel-to-UK cannabis export in collaboration with Cantourage UK, positioning the shipment as an international growth milestone anchored in regulatory compliance and quality control. Together targets European channels starting with the UK, where consistency and documentation are baseline requirements.

• Domestic operators repositioned supply chains and product strategies amid enforcement-driven market disruption.
  • Canndoc and Seach are exploring a joint acquisition of the shuttered Colibri facility in Hadera — a strategic move after Basalt, Canndoc’s previous packer, entered insolvency. Seach previously purchased the Derech Lachaim factory for ILS 2.3 million but needs larger GMP-standard capacity.
  • Trichome launched nitrogen-flushed (N2) can packaging for medical cannabis flowers — the first in Israel — after a 2+ year development with Boston Analytics pharmaceutical-sector certification. First strain: GP (Grapefruit × Purple Punch, T20/C4); TC, RS11, Mali, and Triple C to follow.

Science — CBG suppresses neutrophil-driven RA inflammation; CBD and CBG reprogram hepatic energy buffering in steatotic liver disease

Researchers at Rambam Health Care Campus (Haifa) demonstrated that purified CBG suppresses neutrophil-driven inflammation relevant to rheumatoid arthritis — reducing TNF-α by 68% and IL-6 by 72% in human neutrophils, with 48% lower leukocyte recruitment and 98% systemic IL-6 reduction in a CAIA mouse model (35 mg/kg sublingual). No approved therapy directly targets neutrophil mechanisms in RA; CBG’s non-psychoactive profile strengthens its candidacy.

• Further Israeli research identified novel cannabinoid mechanisms across therapeutic and cultivation science.
  • A Hebrew University of Jerusalem study in the British Journal of Pharmacology found CBD and CBG ameliorate steatotic liver disease in obese mice by shifting hepatic energy buffering towards phosphocreatine (~4-fold elevation with CBD) and restoring lysosomal lipid degradation — a novel, endocannabinoid system-independent mechanism. CBG lost efficacy in a choline-deficient model, confirming phospholipid pathway dependence.
  • A study in the Journal of Cannabis Research found both zinc excess and deficiency decrease cannabinoid content in cannabis without raising consumer toxicity concerns — underscoring the importance of precise zinc management for cultivators.

Italy — Catalogue breadth signals wider authorised medical supply (23 products, 8 providers) as Cassazione reaffirms hemp cultivation legality

Regulation — Cassazione declares Sassari prosecutor’s appeal inadmissible, reinforcing Law 242/2016 protections for hemp flower

The Corte di Cassazione (Sentenza 11058/2026) declared inadmissible a Sassari prosecutor’s appeal to seize a hemp operation, ruling that the presence of flowers does not constitute proof of criminal activity under Law 242/2016. The decision reinforces the legal status of industrial hemp cultivation in Italy amid ongoing tensions between prosecutors and the sector — particularly relevant as the Security Decree challenges continue.

• Canapa Sativa Italia launched Osservatorio Art. 18, a searchable archive documenting 15 legal cases across 8 regions involving hemp seizures, with 7 product restitutions and 5 favourable judicial outcomes — providing the sector’s first systematic transparency tool on enforcement patterns.
• PazientiCannabis APS presented a technical report at the University of Messina highlighting limited access to therapies in Sicily: only 3 of 6 conditions are reimbursed under Regional Law 18/2020, prescriber shortages persist, and digitalisation remains absent. The association proposed a regional technical committee.

Market — SCFM catalogue reaches 23 products from 8 providers as Dutch export withdrawal raises supply concerns

AIFA and SCFM confirmed the orderability of Linneo Health’s Hindu Kush and Billy Buttons’ Lemon Skunk strains, bringing the full catalogue to 23 approved medical cannabis products from 8 providers — including SCFM, Bedrocan, Tilray, SOMAÏ, and LGP — spanning 13–26% THC inflorescences and extracts.

• The Dutch Office of Medicinal Cannabis announced that 2026 will be its final year of exports, raising concerns among Italian patients over potential shortages of Bedrocan phytocomplex products; the office may not meet full demands this year.
• Kombinat Konopny (Poland) targets Italy as a key growth market for hemp textiles and herbal supplements, alongside Germany, as it prepares for its NewConnect IPO.

Science — Trichoderma seed treatment enhances hemp growth; terpene profiling advances therapeutic personalisation

APSETS published a comparative terpene profile analysis of Tilray (THC 18%, 25%, 9%/CBD 9%) and Bedrocan (Bedrocan, Bedica, Bediol, Bedrolite) products available in Italy, demonstrating that terpene composition — not THC content alone — is critical for therapeutic personalisation. The analysis advocates for mandatory analytical transparency from producers.

• Italian researchers found that Trichoderma seed treatment significantly improved hemp plantlet growth — increased height and root biomass with elevated proline levels indicating enhanced stress tolerance — supporting biocontrol agents as effective growth promoters for industrial hemp.
• A study on Cannabis sativa ‘Carmagnola’ confirmed the cultivar’s phytoremediation potential for soils contaminated with chromium, copper, nickel, and lead exceeding Italian regulatory limits, with a pyrolysis process proposed for biomass valorisation.

New Zealand — Helius enters administration and stock shortages hit thousands as 265,731 dispensings outpace supply, while Government targets wine-style export boom with 56% faster licensing

Regulation — Medsafe cuts export licence turnaround 56% as Government pursues ‘wine-style’ cannabis model

Associate Health Minister David Seymour is pursuing a wine-industry-style export strategy for medicinal cannabis, backed by Ministry of Health OIA data showing flower exports surging from 49 kg to 1,180 kg between 2021 and 2024 — doubling year-on-year. Medsafe now processes export licences in 10 working days (down 56% from 22.5 days in 2022/23), prioritising cannabis applications “wherever feasible”.

• Top export destinations: Australia, Portugal, and Uruguay. Licence applications rose from 26 (2022/23) to 65 (2024/25).
• The Government is exploring multi-consignment export licences to replace the per-shipment model, reducing recurring red tape for established operators.
• Medsafe has automated fee invoicing and streamlined online submissions; additional exporter guidance is being finalised.

Market — Helius enters voluntary administration as dispensings surge 54-fold yet stock shortages and regulatory costs strain operators

Helius Therapeutics, one of New Zealand’s earliest medicinal cannabis manufacturers (founded 2018), was placed in voluntary administration after sustained trading losses driven by high operating costs and a challenging regulatory environment. The East Tāmaki manufacturing facility will close; administrators Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners will trade at reduced capacity for ~6 weeks to sell remaining stock. The Cannaplus clinic network (owned by Helius Group) is unaffected.

• Cannabis Clinic CEO Waseem Alzaher reported widespread stock shortages affecting thousands of patients, with treatment discontinuations and forced product switching. A legislated three-month shelf-life requirement limits import planning despite identical products carrying 12-month shelf lives overseas.
  • Dispensings surged from 4,875 (2020 scheme launch) to 265,731 (2025); over 80 products verified, including 25 new products last year — yet supply responsiveness has not kept pace.
  • The Ministry of Health said it has not been alerted to widespread shortages but “regularly engages with the industry” and continues processing new product applications.
• Puro completed its first UK shipment — seven pallets of flower (five strains) to distribution partner IPS Pharma under a NZ$16M supply deal, marking the first New Zealand-grown organic cannabis medicine to reach the UK market.
• Rua Bioscience reported H1 FY26 sales up 92% to NZ$1.33M, now operating across five markets (Germany, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Czech Republic).

Science — Coronial study finds 1.32 cannabis-involved deaths per 100,000 person-years, driven by road crashes and poly-drug poisonings

A population-level study (R. Lilley et al., MDPI Safety) linked coronial and toxicology records to identify 273 cannabis-involved deaths among 3,599 unintentional/assault injury fatalities in New Zealand (2012–2016) — a rate of 1.32 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 1.17–1.49). Primary fatal circumstances were road traffic crashes and multi-drug poisonings; concomitant alcohol use was prevalent across categories.

• High-risk groups: males aged 15–44, Indigenous Māori, and residents of socioeconomically deprived areas — populations for whom postmortem toxicology testing was also more frequently conducted.
• The study reports cannabis-involved (not cannabis-caused) deaths: cannabis was detected in toxicology but may not be the sole or primary causal factor. The data provide a pre-referendum baseline (NZ held a narrowly failed legalisation referendum in 2020) for evaluating future policy impacts on cannabis-related mortality.

Thailand — Cannabis shops forced into medical model (~3,000 of 18,000 remain); post-election regime locks in medical-only framework

Regulation — Government requires cannabis shops to convert into staffed medical facilities; ~85% of outlets already closed

Public Health Minister Pattana Phromphat announced that cannabis shops seeking licence renewal will be required to upgrade into medical facilities staffed by doctors or Thai traditional medicine practitioners, with a 3-year transition period. Only ~3,000 of the original 18,000 outlets (~15%) remain after Thailand reclassified cannabis as a ‘controlled herb’ in June 2025, reverting to medical-only sales with prescriptions. The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine outlined three enforcement pillars: expanded administrative authority, mandatory shop-to-clinic conversion upon renewal, and a nationwide outlet mapping system with licence-display stickers.

• The policy shift followed the 8 February 2026 election, where most parties endorsed a medical-only framework. The 2022 decriminalisation had triggered rapid quasi-recreational retail expansion in tourist hubs, but rising hospitalisations and poison-centre reports prompted the reversal. Cannabis extracts remain part of the long-term export and economic strategy.

Science — Thai universities advance hemp cultivation tools and cannabis analytics

Researchers at Naresuan University (Phitsanulok) published the first study on AMF and endophytic fungi for hemp (Cannabis sativa RPF3), finding that inoculation with Rhizophagus aggregatus and Lasiodiplodia theobromae increased cellulose, fibre fractions, and cannabinoid content — especially CBD — without synthetic fertiliser, in a 90-day pot experiment.

• Kasetsart University quantified 10 cannabinoids across 36 varieties using HPLC, applying PCA, HCA, and LDA to build a hierarchical chemotaxonomic classification with high discriminatory accuracy — directly applicable for regulatory compliance testing and seed certification as Thailand’s legal framework tightens.
• Chulalongkorn and Kasetsart universities developed the first electrochemical gas sensor for Δ9-THC detection in cannabis smoke — LOD 4.5 ppb, linear range 25–250 ppb, sensitivity 0.06 μA/ppb — offering a low-cost portable alternative to GC–MS for air quality monitoring in legal consumption areas.

Switzerland — Pilot projects halve illegal purchases as CanPG faces cantonal complexity pushback ahead of autumn debate

On the radar

CanPG parliamentary debate begins autumn 2026; referendum possible December 2028. Basel ‘Weed Care’ pilot extended to January 2027.

Regulation — Grashaus data strengthens legalisation case; CanPG consultation splits cantons

Two-year results from the Zurich Grashaus pilot show that access to legal cannabis shops halved illegal-market purchases (~20 → ~10 days/month), with 84% of flower sourced from pilot outlets after six months and trust in budtenders rising from 53.4% to 79.2%. The findings add to the evidence base ahead of parliamentary debate on the Cannabis Products Act (CanPG) this autumn.

• The Federal Council‘s CanPG public consultation drew over 150 submissions with broad support for regulation but a narrow cantonal majority — including Zurich and Bern — opposing the draft’s complexity. Parliamentary debate is expected from autumn 2026; a referendum could follow in December 2028.

Market — Linnea secures EDQM CEP for CBD isolate; pharmacy pricing gaps exposed

Linnea, a Swiss botanical API manufacturer, obtained EDQM CEP certification for its CBD isolate, enabling customers to reference the dossier in EU marketing-authorisation applications rather than undergoing full active-substance assessment — a significant step for pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid supply in Europe.

• A saldo investigation found medical cannabis oil prices vary up to 34-fold between Swiss pharmacies, highlighting standardisation gaps in the medical market.
• Avant Brands reclaimed blk mkt™ rights in Germany and Switzerland after terminating its licensing deal with Adjupharm, effective 31 May 2026.
  • Pure Holding positioned itself as ‘future-ready’ amid reform momentum, noting ~700 companies now operate in Switzerland‘s CBD sector.
• PrimeEnergy faces fraud charges after €8.1m from ~2,000 Swiss investors was allegedly diverted into a Portugal medical cannabis venture; the company entered bankruptcy at end-2024.

Science — Basel ‘Weed Care’ reports reduced problematic use and mental health gains after three years

Basel-Stadt‘s Weed Care pilot reported positive three-year interim results across 378 participants: problematic cannabis use decreased, tobacco-mixed joint consumption fell, non-smokable products reached 18% of sales, and mental health indicators improved. The study has been extended to January 2027.

• Addiction Suisse mapped the Vaud illicit market: flower averages 13–15% THC at ~10 CHF/g, with pilot shop prices competitive at 9–12 CHF/g — supporting the economic viability argument for regulated supply.
• A Swiss pharmacy-access study found bidirectional links between psychopathology and cannabis use: problematic use predicted depression/anxiety, while anxiety predicted increased consumption frequency.
  • A separate cohort study (n=90) linked cannabinoid therapy to pain relief and tumour-response signals in prostate cancer patients, with faster PSA declines in the combined chemotherapy-plus-cannabis group (p=0.013).
  • A scoping review of 53 studies found opioid use reduces work ability in chronic pain, though cannabis-specific evidence remains limited.

European Union — EFSA sets 2 mg/day CBD safe intake (5× below UK’s 10 mg); EIHA pushes for 1% THC under CAP reform

Regulation — EFSA’s provisional CBD threshold creates 5× divergence with UK as Commission proposes whole-plant hemp recognition

EFSA set a provisional safe daily intake for CBD at 0.0275 mg/kg/day (~2 mg for a 70 kg adult) — five times below the UK’s 10 mg limit — citing uncertainties around long-term effects on liver, neurological, reproductive, and immune systems. The assessment excludes individuals under 25, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people on medication; EFSA applied an additional safety margin due to incomplete evidence. The level could be reassessed as new data becomes available.

• EIHA acknowledged the EFSA level as “particularly conservative” and called for a harmonised 1% THC cultivation threshold under the CAP 2028–2032 review, replacing the current 0.3% limit. The association argues the current threshold no longer reflects agronomic and climatic realities — natural environmental variations can cause compliant crops to marginally exceed it, exposing farmers to disproportionate sanctions.
  • The European Commission proposed recognising all parts of the hemp plant (including flowers and leaves) within the EU agricultural framework. EU Parliament Agriculture Committee discussions were expected to begin in March 2026; some Member States are resisting the whole-flower authorisation.
  • EIHA Managing Director Francesco Mirizzi benchmarked EU policy against countries with higher thresholds (Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) to build the case that 0.3% is agronomically outdated.

Market — Enecta’s Carmanecta hemp variety wins EU catalogue listing at ~16.9 t/ha

Enecta’s Carmanecta hemp variety was approved for the Dutch national catalogue, triggering EU-level listing and clearing cross-border seed marketing across the bloc. In Dutch VCU trials, Carmanecta posted an estimated dry biomass yield of ~16.9 t/ha, outpacing a trio of leading French varieties and one Ukrainian variety — and potentially historic Italian fibre cultivars including Carmagnola.

• Planting seeds will be commercially available for the 2028 growing season. The approval marks a recovery for Enecta after Italy shut down its CBD e-commerce site in 2025, causing €150K–€200K in losses.

Uruguay — Second evaluation: 46% legal penetration, 6.7% trafficking; exports triple to 45t; IRCCA explores non-resident access

Regulation — Second evaluation finds 46% legal market reach but 30% grey market persists; IRCCA explores non-resident cannabis access

The Observatorio Uruguayo de Drogas published its second evaluation of Law 19.172, finding the regulated market now reaches 46% of current users while traditional drug trafficking fell to 6.7% as primary access route — but a persistent ~30% grey market (unregistered home growers) limits further displacement. Key metrics: 74,583 pharmacy acquirers; 15,258.7 kg dispensed since 2017 (~USD 30M); 475 clubs with 15,681 members. Classified as a mid-term diagnosis; recommends targeted reforms.

• The evaluation and related studies identified both consolidation and structural constraints in the regulated regime.
  • A UDELAR study found medical cannabis registration is slower for higher-THC medicines, arguing Uruguay is “amputating” its ability to serve the most internationally demanded segment. On the adult-use side, higher-THC pharmacy varieties (Gamma ≤15% THC, Epsilon ≤20%) drove a registration surge.
  • The IRCCA published its annual medicinal cannabis report (USO MEDICINAL 2025), covering licences, product registrations, and regulatory changes within the broader public health framework.
• The IRCCA is evaluating a mechanism to allow tourists, students, and foreign workers to purchase regulated cannabis under conditions similar to registered residents, arguing that current exclusion channels non-residents toward the illicit market. Director Martín Rodríguez said the goal is parity with the existing resident regime.

Market — Exports nearly triple to 45 tonnes (FOB USD 2.6M); pharmacy prices rise as higher-THC varieties drive demand

Uruguay exported 45,057 kg of cannabis-derived products (FOB USD 2,620,605) in 2025, nearly tripling the 2024 volume of 17,371 kg, according to Instituto Uruguay XXI. Low-THC seeds dominated by volume (34.3 tonnes, mainly to Argentina). By value, flower and medicines led: Switzerland imported 5.6 tonnes of <1% THC flowers (>USD 1.1M, partly re-exported to France, Belgium, Italy); Brazil absorbed 2.1 tonnes of CBD oils and pharma products (>USD 359K); Portugal received 636 kg (~USD 813K); Czech Republic 1,226 kg (USD 125K).

• Domestic operators and pricing reflected the market’s continued formalisation.
  • GreenMed, a Uruguayan cannabis laboratory, is positioning for global expansion in cannabis-based pharmaceutical products, investing in R&D and regulatory compliance to scale international operations from Uruguay’s early-mover regulatory base.
  • Adult-use pharmacy prices rose by UYU 5 across all four varieties (Alfa, Beta, Gamma, Épsilon) — cheapest now UYU 485, most expensive UYU 615 — as the pharmacy channel absorbed growing demand from higher-THC strains.

Science — Decade-long CSC study: 518 clubs supply 46% of all legally dispensed cannabis; cooperative model faces identity tension

A peer-reviewed commentary in the International Journal of Drug Policy (Pardal, Queirolo, Repetto & Rychert) analysed ten years of regulated Cannabis Social Clubs. As of September 2025: 518 active CSCs with 17,446 members across all 19 provinces; CSCs dispensed 3,375 kg in 2024 vs 3,206.9 kg by pharmacies — outselling pharmacies in both 2022 and 2024. Cumulatively, CSCs supplied 46% (12,952 kg) of all legally dispensed cannabis (28,210 kg total). Only 36 of 475 CSCs registered since 2015 have closed.

• The study identified three forward-looking challenges: a growing tension between cooperative origins and transactional “quasi-dispensary” models run by “new guard” operators; narrowing product differentiation as pharmacy varieties reach ≤20% THC (Epsilon); and an emerging legal grey zone around patient associations advocating CSC-supplied medical cannabis — currently restricted to non-medical supply.

Argentina — INASE grants 120-day reprieve for 1,400 operators as ARICCAME licensing freeze leaves seed sector in limbo

Regulation — REPROCANN automates patient approvals while seed operators navigate INASE–ARICCAME jurisdictional standoff

INASE published Resolution 121/2026 on 27 March granting 120 additional days for cannabis operators to renew registration in the national seed registry (RNCyFS), shifting the deadline from 31 March to 1 October 2026. The extension — requested by ARICCAME and endorsed by the National Seed Commission (Act No. 531, 17 March) — prevents mass deregistration of operators who had not completed the ARICCAME licensing required under Resolution 484/2025.

• Sector organisations warned of an unprecedented legal vacuum affecting 635 breeders, 597 retailers, 92 nurseries, and 79 authorised production projects, with 220 pending variety applications also frozen.
  • INASE suspended new inscriptions and renewals while awaiting ARICCAME‘s definition on how seed and industry regulatory frameworks will articulate — a jurisdictional standoff that risks criminalising formal operators and reactivating informal seed markets.
• The Ministry of Health launched automated approval for low-risk REPROCANN self-cultivation applications, cutting wait times that had exceeded a year. Cases involving patients under 21, complex mental health diagnoses, and NGO/solidarity cultivators remain subject to manual review.

Market — Flowers & Terps and Universal Growing form cultivation partnership

Flowers & Terps and Universal Growing announced a cultivation partnership aimed at strengthening cannabis growing capabilities in Argentina, signalling continued private-sector investment despite the regulatory uncertainty surrounding seed licensing.

Science — UNAJ/CONICET hemp field trial tests three planting windows as MASLD study shows liver recovery with cannabis oil

UNAJ and CONICET launched a hemp field trial at Chacra El Pato in the Buenos Aires horticultural belt, evaluating three planting windows (20 Oct, 29 Dec 2025, 19 Jan 2026) to assess adaptability, biomass, and grain yield per square metre. The third window included inter-cropping with tomato, squash, and maize — aligned with diversified horticultural systems.

• Researchers at CIM-CONICET-UNLP (Santa Fe) published a preclinical study showing full-spectrum cannabis oil (CBD:THC 2:1) reversed diet-induced liver steatosis in female Wistar rats — NAFLD activity score dropped from 3 to 1, with oxidative stress markers and fibrosis indicators restored to control levels. First study to evaluate a full-spectrum preparation in a female-specific MASLD model.

Portugal — Hemp enforcement wave triggers 20 trafficking proceedings as export model strains under licence delays and <1,000 domestic patients

On the radar

Infarmed NDSWEB platform goes live 8 May (info session 22 Apr); export licence delays now >2 months, straining shelf-life and revenue for flower exporters.

Regulation — Coordinated ASAE–PJ–AT raids seize 19,058 g across 23 premises as Infarmed digitises trade controls via UNODC platform

Portuguese authorities launched a nationwide crackdown on hemp retailers on 2 March under Operation ‘Portugal Always Safe 2026’, with joint ASAE–PJ–AT teams seizing thousands of euros in products that merchants say comply with the EU 0.3% THC threshold. The follow-up Operation ‘Planta Segura’ deployed 121 officers, arrested four, charged 10, and opened 20 drug-trafficking proceedings after confiscating 19,058 g of cannabis leaves across 23 premises.

• Casta CBD closed its Porto shop after two inspections in three months seized over €5,000 in stock; daily revenue collapsed to €8 as client stigma spread. Several other hemp shops across Portugal have also shut.
• The International Cannabis Confraternity Portugal issued an open letter to government officials condemning the campaign as legally unfounded, arguing that qualitative-only field tests cannot distinguish legal hemp from controlled substances and violate CJEU case law on free movement of hemp products.
  • Enforcement escalated since November 2025; PJ and PSP raids have seized an estimated €60,000–€100,000 in stock, affecting over 120 specialist shops in a retail market valued at €15–25 million annually.
• A Público review of Portugal’s medical cannabis framework underscores the access gap: 61 licensed companies exported 32,558 kg in 2024 (+172% YoY), yet only 15 products are authorised (10 available), priced €64–€193 with no public reimbursement, and only 2 of 27 logistics platforms can distribute — creating pharmacy stock-outs.
  • Cannacare, Lda. no longer appears on Infarmed’s authorised lists; the Lisbon-based company, established in 2019, had planned EU-GMP certified dried flower for export. No official explanation provided.
• APR: Infarmed is finalising rollout of NDSWEB, a UNODC/INCB-developed platform for electronic import/export certificates of controlled substances including medicinal cannabis, replacing the Licenciamento+ portal. Information session scheduled 22 April; from 8 May, all requests must use NDSWEB exclusively, with suspension/revocation risk for non-compliance.
  • APR: CANNA.BIZ was reinstated on Infarmed‘s licensed operator lists after the regulator admitted the Torres Vedras–based cultivator had been improperly removed due to a “lapse in entering a date on the licence document”.
• ICAD president Joana Teixeira addressed the 69th UN CND in Vienna, reporting ambulatory waits down 55% (45 → 30 days) and inpatient waits down 35% (93 → 59 days) under the €79 million ICAD 2024–2026 Strategic Plan. Portugal voiced “unequivocal” opposition to the death penalty for drug offences.

Market — €150M+ invested yet only 6 products reach pharmacy shelves as wholesale THC deflates and Spain’s GMP operators pitch to German buyers

A Portocanna report documents Portugal’s export-vs-access paradox: €150 million+ invested and the world’s 2nd-largest export position, yet fewer than 1,000 patients have domestic access — of 15 authorised products only 6 are commercialised, priced €64–€193 with no SNS reimbursement. OPCM has petitioned Infarmed for co-payment; the regulator referred the decision to the Government.

• OPCM president Carla Dias told Valor Magazine that Portugal now has 11 pharmacy preparations (up from one in 2021) but none are subsidised, leaving many patients unable to start treatment while licensed producers focus overwhelmingly on export.
• Export licence timelines have stretched from ~3 weeks to >2 months following a 2025 compliance episode, with leading companies reporting >4.5 months of revenue losses. Longer permit lead times erode usable shelf-life for flower, forcing smaller, more frequent shipments that further stress the system.
• APR: A CannaReporter analysis argues pharmacy pricing is diverging from deflating wholesale benchmarks: GACP flower trades below €1/g and EU-GMP flower near €2/g on the German broker market, while Portuguese pharmacies charge ~€9–10/g for 22% THC flower and up to €544/g for Sativex. The piece warns co-payment risks entrenching inflated margins.
  • Extraction Solutions, a Spain-based GMP operator, argues German importers are shifting sourcing away from Portuguese processing amid compliance concerns, positioning Spain as an alternative hub for EU-GMP processing, APIs, and R&D on next-generation extract formats including live resin.
• Expresso reported that ~€8.1 million from ~2,000 Swiss retail investors was allegedly diverted from PrimeEnergy Cleantech SA ‘green’ bonds into SMC Therapeutic, an Infarmed-licensed cannabis company in Vila Verde. PrimeEnergy’s founder and CEO have been in pre-trial detention since September 2025; SMC holds EU-GMP certification but recorded only €236 in sales.
• Iberfar, a century-old pharmaceutical group, outlined an integrated medical cannabis strategy with 8 market authorisations and 5 new formulations in development including oral liquids and transdermal systems, controlling the full chain “from seed to patient” via its FAI Therapeutics unit.
  • Iberfar and Italian Herbolea Biotech announced a GMP solventless cannabis API with ≥90% total cannabinoids and >80% THC, produced without chemical solvents; commercial availability expected from November 2026, with pre-bookings open.
• Cânhamor hemp-lime blocks demonstrated moisture resilience during the January–February 2026 Atlantic storms in the Leiria region — walls absorbed and released water without structural damage after winds exceeding 200 km/h and 14 days without mains power.
  • Cânhamor partnered with German Von Hanf to export hemp ecoblocks, produced at a rate of 300 houses/month from its 8,000 m² factory (operational since August 2025, €30 million private investment) to the German sustainable construction market.
• PJ reported cannabis seizures more than doubled in 2025: 14.8 tonnes of hashish (+103% YoY) plus 13.1 tonnes of flower, totalling >28 tonnes. Maritime routes accounted for ~90% of quantities seized; average price rose to €4.39/g (+41% YoY), with 4,454 individuals linked to cannabis offences.

Japan — MHLW bans CBN from June, closing ¥10B consumer market, as cannabis arrests hit record 6,832

On the radar

CBN ban takes effect 1 June, closing the ¥10B consumer market. Patient exemption certificates must be filed by 17 April; business inventory reports required semi-annually.

Regulation — CBN designated as controlled substance after reversal of earlier postponement; exemption framework sets 17 April patient deadline

MHLW classified cannabinol (CBN) as a “designated drug” effective 1 June 2026, banning manufacture, import, sale, possession and use of all consumer CBN products. The ban — which reverses an earlier indefinite postponement — will shut a market estimated at ¥10 billion (~$62.6M annually), affecting gummies, oils, vapes and edibles sold online and in-store.

• MHLW published detailed exemption procedures on 18 March: patients with intractable conditions must submit medical certificates to the Surveillance and Guidance Division by 17 April 2026; confirmation certificates valid until 31 December 2028.
  • Business operators must submit pledges to the Narcotics Control Department and file semi-annual inventory reports; importers require per-shipment pre-clearance.
  • Advertising CBN products to the general public is prohibited; internet sales and in-store display banned.
• The Japan Cannabinoid Federation warned the blanket ban could devastate small businesses forced to discard large inventory with little transition time, arguing CBN has “extremely weak” psychoactive properties.

Market — Record 6,832 cannabis arrests in 2025; social media drives access among under-30s

Japan’s National Police Agency reported a record 6,832 marijuana-related arrests in 2025 — more than double the 3,008 recorded in 2017 — with ~70% of those arrested under 30 (1,373 aged ≤19; 3,633 in their 20s). Among under-30s, >40% found their dealer online, with ~90% using platforms such as X and Telegram.

• 527 foreign nationals among possession/usage arrests (~8%); largest groups from Brazil (113), Vietnam (108) and the US (55).
  • Foreign nationals accounted for ~18% of 617 commercial-purpose cases and ~25% of 54 cultivation-for-commercial-purpose arrests.
• Organised gangs comprised ~15% of selling arrests and 22% of cultivation arrests.
• NPA Commissioner-General Yoshinobu Kusunoki announced expanded youth awareness campaigns and stronger measures to remove illegal online content.

Colombia — Avicanna SMGH completes first CBG cultivar export to Australia (21 markets); PharmaCielo posts first profitable quarter

Regulation — Constitutional cannabis movement tests congressional influence as Invima technical regulations near deadline

The Movimiento Constituyente Cannábico de Colombia hosted a forum with congressional candidates on 3 March to advance cannabis policy reform, seeking to embed legalisation and regulation into the legislative agenda ahead of upcoming elections.

• Invima faces a March 2026 deadline to establish mandatory quality and traceability standards for medical cannabis, including good manufacturing practices, updated dispensing protocols, and analytical standards for THC and CBD. Expected revenues for the sector: US$26.9 billion by 2026.

Market — SMGH reaches 21 export markets from 300,000 sq ft Colombian facility; PharmaCielo achieves first profitable quarter

Avicanna subsidiary SMGH completed its first commercial CBG flower export to Australia, including a proprietary CBG cultivar, from its 300,000 sq ft GACP- and USDA Organic-certified facility in Santa Marta (~26,400 kg annual yield). The shipment extends SMGH’s reach to 21 international markets, positioning Colombia as a scaled API and raw-material origin.

• PharmaCielo achieved its first profitable quarter — Q3 FY2025 net income of C$407K — though revenue fell to C$606K (from C$1.13M in Q3 FY2024). Nine-month net loss narrowed sharply to C$2.28M (from C$6.72M YoY).
• Greenlab Colombia completed a 150 kg cannabis flower export to Europe, reinforcing recurrent export operations and positioning Colombian flower as a dependable high-quality option for international buyers.
• Earth’s Healing Colombia convened a “Mesa de Sinergias” targeting licensed producers and GACP-certified companies to accelerate dried cannabis flower exports; COO Luisa Arango stated “Colombia has everything to lead this market.”
• OCIC reported that 24.5% of Colombians have used medicinal or cosmetic cannabis products, with market growth estimated at 25–35%. Oils account for 78% of sales; 20% growth expected in 2026.
• Green Marketplace opened Colombia’s first specialised cannabis pharmacy in Medellín with SENA Antioquia backing, aiming to create a replicable model of science, regulation, and patient care.

Science — Tricostimulant™ lifts CBG +47% and CBD-A +32% in Spanish–Colombian field trials

Field trials across Tenerife (Spain) and Tocanciprá (Colombia) demonstrated that the novel biostimulant Tricostimulant™ enhanced cannabinoid content in Cannabis sativa: CBG +47.5%, CBD-A +31.8%, THC +37%, and CBD +8.7% versus untreated controls. The product is registered in the Czech Republic, Portugal, and Spain.

• The Universidad Nacional de Colombia opened a specialised course on dried cannabis flower production (30 places, starting 11 April 2026), targeting cultivators with training on safe practices and risk reduction.

South Africa — Convictions collapse 96% as cannabis pivots from courtroom to pharmacy counter and regulatory sandbox

Regulation — Decriminalisation frees prosecutorial capacity as SAPS pivots to grey-zone retail enforcement

Drug-related convictions in South Africa fell from 156,158 in 2017/18 to just 5,575 in 2024/25 — a 96% decline — following the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling that decriminalised private cannabis possession. Convictions for other serious crimes rose slightly from 170,591 to 178,009 over the same period, suggesting freed-up prosecutorial capacity, though overall numbers remain far below the 239,000+ peak recorded in 2009/10.

• KZN police raided four cannabis shops across greater Durban on 19 March, seizing R1.3 million worth of stock and arresting five suspects for dealing. The Provincial Organised Crime Narcotics Unit targeted a single network operator with outlets in Montclair, Brighton Beach, Umbilo and Amanzimtoti.
  • APR: SAPS intensified enforcement nationwide through March, with over 40 arrests and seizures totalling more than R8.5 million across seven provinces. The largest operation seized a R5 million cannabis consignment in northern Johannesburg (10 arrested); in Durban, the Sativa Premium retail chain was raided across four outlets plus a warehouse, with R1.3 million in edibles, vapes and cannabis products confiscated.
• APR: SACCA launched Project Indlela, a national cannabis survey hosted on the Afrimeter platform, to collect structured data from clubs, growers and stakeholders. The pilot has attracted 83 applications since a March 2026 webinar and MoU signing; aggregated, anonymised data will form a submission to the DTIC on regulating non-commercial cannabis — including the role of private clubs as mechanisms for legacy growers and township-based participants.

Market — Saphex debut demands pharmaceutical integration as eThekwini and Bergville pilots test formalisation on the ground

The Medical Cannabis Business Conference (MCBC) was hosted for the first time at Saphex in Sandton on 24 March, marking medical cannabis’s formal entry into mainstream pharmaceutical events. SANCAP founder Juan Fourie called integration with the pharmaceutical supply chain “a necessity, not an option” and said formalisation and regulatory clarity were essential for South Africa to become a high-quality international partner. SAHPRA-licensees including Rascal, Cilo Cybin and Green Pharma Wellness Choice attended; start-up Curated launched symptom-based cannabis prescribing software for doctors.

• Royal Queen Seeds South Africa, the local subsidiary of the Barcelona-based seed bank, secured a three-year partnership with eThekwini Municipality to launch the Cannabis and Hemp Commercialisation Pilot Programme, approved on 24 March. The fully RQS-funded project will operate as a regulatory sandbox targeting emerging farmers, cooperatives and heritage growers — though no funding figure was disclosed.
  • APR: KZN Treasury transferred R5 million and financial control of the Okhahlamba Insangu cannabis processing hub from the municipality to the CSIR, after CoGTA found a R34.6 million cash deficit. The R10 million facility targets oil and fibre production and small-grower incubation in Bergville; the CSIR is already procuring a portable NIR cannabinoid screening device.
• Karoo Bioscience detailed its 6,600 sqm greenhouse operation in the Klein Karoo (Western Cape), producing 4,000 clones fortnightly and harvesting 2,500 plants per batch on a strict two-week cycle. The facility runs on 85% solar power and exports to the UK, Germany, Australia and Canada via Wellford, employing ~110 staff.
• Cross-border cannabis smuggling from eSwatini intensified, with SARS and the Border Management Authority seizing 671.5 kg (R2.8 million) at Oshoek on 15 March; the UEDF confiscated 2,266 kg in Q4 2025. A Gauteng retailer reports eSwatini cannabis wholesales at R3–5/g — roughly three times the domestic price — underpinning the low end of the illicit retail market.
  • The divide between rural legacy growers and licensed export-focused farms deepened, highlighting tensions over equitable access to the emerging legal market.

Science — Cannabis treatment demand rises 23 pp among young adults as aquaculture research explores leaf-extract bioactivity

A SAMRC study led by Prof Nadine Harker found cannabis treatment demand among adolescents and young adults rose from 43.4% to 56.2% of admissions between 2020 and 2023 — a 23 pp increase. The rise followed the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling and was compounded by COVID-19 stressors; earlier initiation (age 14 or younger) and daily/weekly use were key risk factors. The study notes a lag between policy change and observable trends, consistent with international patterns (e.g. Canada post-legalisation), and flags relevance for monitoring the 2024 Cannabis Use Act.

• A South African study found acetone leaf extracts of Cannabis “Gorilla Glue 1” demonstrated antibacterial, anti-biofilm and anti-quorum-sensing activity against fish pathogens (E. tarda, P. fluorescens), with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.02 mg/mL, >50% biofilm inhibition, and 98.61% violacein-production inhibition at 1.25 mg/mL — supporting potential development as protective feed additives in aquaculture.

Mexico — Supreme Court ends automatic criminalisation above 5 g; ANICANN urges precision in hemp regulation

Regulation — Supreme Court requires case-by-case context for cannabis possession; ANICANN draws lessons from US Farm Bill loophole

Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that exceeding the 5 g cannabis threshold can no longer presume trafficking or trigger automatic criminalisation; authorities must assess objective and personal context factors case by case. The ruling arose from an injunction involving a person experiencing homelessness arrested with 14.26 g. The 5 g reference remains in the General Health Law as an indicative threshold, but the decision was one vote short of a broader declaration of unconstitutionality.

• ANICANN president Guillermo Nieto argued the US Farm Bill’s hemp THC redefinition — closing the 2018 loophole with a 0.3% total THC cap and ~0.4 mg per-container limit — offers Mexico a clear lesson: regulate cannabis and hemp with precision from the outset rather than correcting ambiguities later. Mexico is still debating its legal framework for cannabis and hemp.

Science — Mexican review traces cannabis from traditional herbal medicine to phytocannabinoid source

A peer-reviewed CIATEJ review traced Cannabis sativa from its integration into the Mexican Pharmacopoeia of 1846 through to its current recognition as a source of 125 classified cannabinoids across 5 chemotypes. The review highlights that COFEPRIS has no formal health registry for approved cannabinoid medicines (Marinol®, Epidiolex®, Sativex® are not registered), and cannabis derivatives with <1% Δ9-THC have been authorised only as supplements — not standardised medicines. The authors call for dose standardisation, long-term safety evaluation, and clinical protocols comparable to Canada and the Netherlands.

Czech Republic — Reduced cannabis sentences under new §283a (max 5 yr vs 8–12 yr); declining use trend continues but synthetic substitutes rising

Regulation — Courts apply §283a for the first time: suspended sentences replace prison for cultivation

Czech courts began applying the new §283a cannabis amendment (effective 1 January 2026), issuing suspended sentences for cultivation cases that previously carried 8–12 years imprisonment. In one early case, a disabled patient (Miloš) received a suspended sentence instead of multi-year prison time; maximum penalties under the new provision are capped at 5 years. The reform reflects a broader legislative acknowledgment that cannabis-specific sentencing had been disproportionate.

Market — Drug report confirms declining cannabis use as medical programme grows 46% and synthetic substitutes emerge

The national drug report confirmed a declining cannabis use trend — ~8% of the 15+ population used cannabis in the past 12 months, 3.2% in the past 30 days — while synthetic cannabinoids (notably HHC) are rising as substitutes. Average THC in seized samples climbed to ~11% (up from 10%).

• SÚKL reported the medical cannabis programme grew 46% in 2025: 390 kg dispensed across 305 prescribers. Extracts surged 153% to 76 kg; adults may cultivate up to 3 plants from January 2026. Domestic producers now support cross-border trade.
• S-LAB (Poland) completed its first medical cannabis shipment to the Czech Republic, introducing a balanced 10/10 flower and a high-THC 25/1 flower sourced from Tilray, with additional products planned.
• Rua Bioscience (New Zealand) reported the Czech Republic as one of its five active markets alongside Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

Science — University of Chemical Technology tests 76 cannabinoids and flags synthetic mislabelling risks

The University of Chemical Technology (Prague) Metrology and Testing Laboratory, led by Prof. Jana Hajšlová, analyses cannabis extracts detecting 49 natural and 27 synthetic cannabinoids. The lab flagged risks from mislabelled products containing undeclared synthetic compounds and urged public education on cannabis safety — particularly relevant as HHC and other synthetic substitutes gain market share.

North Macedonia — 40+ tonnes seized from licensed companies; 18 licences revoked; PM predicts 100-tonne total haul

Regulation — Health ministry confirms 18 licence revocations after inspections of all 43 producers; OJO GOKK opens smuggling investigation

North Macedonia’s Ministry of Health confirmed inspections across all 43 licensed medical cannabis producers and the revocation of 18 licences (14 confirmed + 4 in process), from ~60 originally licensed. Cumulative seizures: ~40 tonnes of marijuana valued at €7–10 million — the country’s largest anti-drug operation. Controls involve MALMED, the Agricultural Inspectorate, and other agencies; Health Minister Azir Aliu announced a new law aligned with EU directives once all inspections are completed.

• On 24 February — the same day six licences were revoked — police seized an additional tonne from Green Life’s facility in Josifovo, Valandovo. A seventh company, Alfa Farm, is separately implicated: its Serbian co-owner was arrested after 5 tonnes were seized in Konjuh, Serbia on 29 January — the trigger for the broader Macedonian action. The OJO GOKK (Organised Crime Prosecutor) opened a criminal investigation into 6 suspects on 20 February.

Morocco — AMMPS–ANRAC protocol promises 10× faster certification for 116 registered products as first CBD medicine reaches refractory epilepsy patients

Regulation — Inter-agency protocol formalises registration streamlining while beldia planting season faces weather disruption

AMMPS and ANRAC signed a protocol agreement on 13 March formalising registration procedures for cannabis-derived health products under Law 13.21. According to Médias24, certification timelines could be reduced by up to 10× — a major bottleneck removal for operators navigating what had been complex and unclear submission processes. The agreement strengthens inter-agency coordination and aligns Morocco with international pharmaceutical standards to bolster its export credibility.

• ANRAC disclosed that 116 cannabis-derived products are now registered (56 food supplements, 59 cosmetics, 1 medicine), sold via 600+ authorised points of sale. A first locally manufactured CBD medicine for refractory childhood epilepsy has received marketing authorisation; a second is in the pipeline.
  • Five medical specialties (internal medicine, neurology, dermatology, geriatrics, paediatric gastroenterology) have validated prescription recommendations; oncology, psychiatry, rheumatology, and pain medicine are under validation.
  • A clinical trial at CHU de Tanger is evaluating CBD efficacy for severe childhood epilepsies resistant to conventional treatments.
• AMCUC urged the government to accelerate the clinical phase of the therapeutic programme, citing delays that risk limiting patient and practitioner access.
• Heavy rain and snow disrupted the 2026 beldia planting season in Al Hoceima and Chefchaouen, leaving fields too wet to plough during the January–February window. ANRAC rules allow extension to 31 March; cooperative head Farid Ahitour said growers received indications the deadline could stretch to mid-April.
  • Farmer participation in the regulated framework has risen by up to 50% in some cooperatives, despite beldia’s lower yields versus hybrid varieties. Imported seed varieties (“Romiya”) are expected to be planted between April and June.
• Spanish police dismantled two narcotunnels linking Morocco and Ceuta under Operation Ares (26 March), arresting 27 suspects and seizing 228 kg hashish, 88 kg cocaine, and €1.4 million in cash. Authorities said the tunnels — one with rails, winches, and a 19 m access shaft — could move up to ~2 tonnes of hashish per week.

Science — Urology congress data show ~65% pain reduction and 58% fewer hospital visits; Casablanca team identifies cannabis compounds with skin cancer target affinity

At Morocco’s 14th urology surgery congress, Carola Pérez (president of the Spanish Observatory for Medical Cannabis and IACM Patient Council member) presented clinical data showing medical cannabis patients with chronic pain reported ~65% pain reduction, 58% fewer hospital visits, 55% fewer GP consultations, and ~65% lower daily medication consumption.

• Sleep quality improvement was among the principal benefits, with reduced disturbances positively impacting family and social relationships.
• Researchers at Hassan II University of Casablanca screened 49 cannabis phytoconstituents via molecular docking and dynamics simulations against three skin cancer targets (EGFR, BRAF V600E, TGF-β). Three compounds (THCV, CNB, Δ9-THC) outperformed reference drugs in binding affinity and showed favourable ADMET profiles; the study is computational only — no in-vitro or in-vivo validation.

India — First government cannabis research grant since 1985; Jammu medicinal cannabis PPP project enters human trial stage

Regulation — CSIR-IIIM’s Jammu cannabis project enters third stage under Rs 55 crore PPP with French company

Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that India’s first cannabis-based medicinal project is advancing in Jammu under a PPP model with an unnamed French company, led by CSIR-IIIM. The project aims to produce export-quality painkiller medicines for cancer and diabetic neuropathy from cannabis grown at IIIM’s Chatha cultivation farm. The project has entered its third stage (testing and trials), with human trials to follow.

• A foundation stone was laid for a new Rs 55 crore (~€6M) facility covering 8,000 sqm — described as a “totally green construction”. Special relaxations were obtained because cannabis is classified as a narcotic substance under Indian law; the model is now being replicated in Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand.

Science — Delta Botanicals awarded India’s first government-funded cannabis breeding grant since 1985 NDPS Act

Delta Botanicals and Research (Bhubaneswar) secured India’s first government-backed cannabis research grant since the 1985 NDPS Act, funded by the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana’s National Farmers Development Scheme and supported by Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV R-ABI). The multi-year programme will phenotype and genotype cannabis landraces from the Himalayas and Odisha to develop stable seed varieties for industrial hemp and pharmaceutical-grade cannabis.

• Co-founder Vikramm Mitra described the genetics gap as the sector’s most critical bottleneck: “Without stable genetics, you cannot standardise extracts, and without standardisation, you cannot build a pharmaceutical market.” Success could position India — supplier of 20% of global generics — as a credible cannabis pharma origin.
• The grant addresses a root cause upstream of licensing, product development, and regulation: India’s growing Ayurveda-based cannabis market lacks cannabinoid standardisation, and regulators are increasingly demanding India-specific clinical and agricultural data.

Chile — 50 MPs petition for home cultivation (6 plants, 40 g) as veterinary cannabis trial shows 39.6% pain reduction

Regulation — Cross-party bloc files Law 20,000 reform: 6 plants, 40 g possession, 500-member cannabis clubs

A cross-party bloc of 50 Chilean deputies, led by Ana María Gazmuri (Acción Humanista), filed a bill to reform Law 20,000 proposing legalisation of home cultivation (up to 6 plants per household or 2 m² indoors), personal possession of 40 g, annual retention of 500 g of dried flowers, and non-profit cannabis social clubs of up to 500 members — modelled on Barcelona, Germany, and Malta precedents.

• Sponsors argue the current three-year imprisonment threshold is disproportionate and pushes users toward the black market; Gazmuri stated “the narco who sells pasta base and cocaine is the main beneficiary of cannabis prohibition.” Next step: Commission of Health, then full Chamber and Senate — a process that could take months or years.

Science — Full-spectrum cannabis oil reduces canine osteoarthritis pain by 39.6% with no adverse effects

A Universidad Mayor (Chile) randomised, double-blind trial evaluated a full-spectrum Cannabis sativa oil extract (CBD-A/CBD/THC-A/THC, max 2 mg/kg) in 27 dogs with chronic osteoarthritis over six weeks. The cannabis group showed a 39.6% reduction in CBPI pain scores by day 28 (vs 24.7% placebo, +1.6% control), and 55.5% of treated dogs improved one stage on the COAST scale — with no adverse effects reported. The first study of its kind conducted in Chile.

China — Chinese labs advance cannabinoid science: trichome–cannabinoid feedback loop, Alzheimer’s TrkB pathway, IBD meta-analysis

Science — CsYABBY3–CsAS1 feedback loop defines engineerable circuit for cannabinoid yield; CBD activates TrkB via FRS2 in Alzheimer’s model

Researchers led by Wei Sun (multi-institutional, China) identified a CsYABBY3–CsAS1 transcriptional feedback loop that coordinates glandular trichome differentiation with cannabinoid biosynthesis in Cannabis sativa. CsYABBY3 directly activates CsPT4 and CsCBDAS by binding a conserved TAATTAA promoter motif; the R2R3-MYB CsAS1 amplifies this output through physical association and reciprocal upregulation. A single residue (M199) in CsYABBY3 is required for the interaction — defining an engineerable regulatory circuit that connects trichome fate with specialised metabolism and provides a practical route to improve cannabinoid yield.

• A Shenzhen University study in Molecular Psychiatry identified FRS2 as a direct molecular target of CBD, showing CBD activates TrkB signalling independently of BDNF — suppressing tau hyperphosphorylation via the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β pathway and attenuating neuroinflammation and amyloid pathology through JAK2/STAT3/SOCS1 inhibition in 3×Tg-AD mice. Genetic knockdown of FRS2 abolished all neuroprotective effects, establishing a mechanistic framework linking CBD to disease-modifying pathways in Alzheimer’s disease.
• A Chinese-led meta-analysis of 27 pre-clinical studies (408 animals) found exogenous cannabinoids significantly reduced disease activity index (SMD = −2.99), histopathological scores, and MPO activity (SMD = −4.55) in IBD models, along with reductions in TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. The authors note substantial heterogeneity and call for standardised, adequately powered studies to support translational pathways.

Ghana — NCC opens 11-category cannabis licensing as US$45,000/ha fee structure triggers Supreme Court challenge

Regulation — Foreign investor interest surges while smallholder farmers contest constitutionality of licensing costs

Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NCC) opened applications for its 11-category cannabis licensing regime on 11 March, covering cultivation, processing, breeding, import, export, and sales of cannabis with THC ≤0.3% (dry weight). Formally launched on 26 February by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the framework — grounded in Act 1019 and L.I. 2475 — targets industrial and medicinal uses; applicants must be Ghanaian citizens or entities with ≥50% Ghanaian ownership.

• The Chamber of Cannabis Industry received over 1,000 enquiries within six months of formation, 60%+ from foreign investors (mainly US and Canada); President Mark Darko projects a US$1 billion annual windfall for the local cannabis economy.
  • Entry-level cultivation licence costs US$11,500 for 0.4 ha, with a non-refundable US$1,000 application fee; Hempire Association of Ghana (HAG) CEO Nana Kwaku Agyemang called the fees “the highest in the world”, arguing the tiered structure favours established entities over smallholder farmers.
• Bono East Region farmer Mariam Alhassan filed a Supreme Court challenge to the licensing framework’s constitutionality, arguing fees and entry requirements effectively disbar small farmers; pending hearing.
  • Parliament made minor concessions under LI 2025: Export and Distribution & Sale fees cut from US$10,000 to US$3,000; per-hectare cultivation fees now decrease with scale — but Category 2 (5–20 ha) still costs US$45,000/ha.
• Zambia’s newly formed Cannabis Control Authority (ZCCA), led by Dr Prosper Sievu, offered to engage with NACOC to share its farmer-inclusive hemp model, responding to HAG‘s plea for pan-African support at a Cheeba Africa webinar (31 March); next step: bilateral engagement between ZCCA and NACOC.

Malta — Tiered club stock limits (up to 3.5 kg) and €50K penalties; regulatory gap exposed by for-profit low-THC retail

Regulation — ARUC tightens club compliance as for-profit low-THC shop near school exposes jurisdiction gap

Malta amended its cannabis regulations with S.L. 628.01 (revised) and new S.L. 628.02 on 18 February, introducing tiered stock limits for cannabis clubs based on membership: 350 g (≤50 members), scaling to 3.5 kg (350+ members). The maximum penalty for breaches was raised from €10,000 to €50,000, reflecting stricter compliance expectations as the club model matures.

• ARUC received 140 complaints about cannabis smells and conducted home inspections, prompting Releaf Malta to denounce the practice as a privacy violation and question the legitimacy of smell-based investigations.
• A for-profit outlet selling low-THC cannabis products (<0.2% THC) opened near Stella Maris College, exposing a regulatory gap: ARUC stated it lacks authority to regulate commercial low-THC sales. A new bill for formal regulation is in the drafting stage, with emphasis on protection for minors.
  • Drug policy researcher Karen Mamo highlighted Malta’s lack of annual drug consumption data: cannabis use at 3.2% past-month, 6.1% daily. Prescribed antidepressant use reached 36.4% daily among 18–39-year-olds — underscoring the need for improved data collection and evidence-based reform.

Ireland — CannEpil secures full reimbursement at €467/unit as Epidiolex crosses $1B globally

Market — Argent BioPharma ships largest CannEpil batch under Irish reimbursement; Tilray’s BrewDog deal brings Dublin brewpub

Argent BioPharma shipped its largest CannEpil batch — 1,000 units — to Ireland via distribution partner Georgelle Pharma, with the pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid epilepsy formulation fully reimbursed under the Irish National Health Insurance scheme at €467/unit (total retail value ~A$783K). Around 30% of refractory epilepsy patients fail to achieve adequate seizure control on conventional therapies.

• Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported Epidiolex/Epidyolex net product sales of $1.1 billion in FY2025 (+9% YoY), achieving blockbuster status as the first FDA-approved plant-derived CBD medicine to cross the $1B mark. Sativex sales declined to $16.3M (from $18.9M in 2024).
• Tilray Brands completed a £33M acquisition of BrewDog‘s brand, UK brewing operations and 11 brewpubs — including one in Dublin — preserving 733 jobs while closing 38 UK bars. Acquired assets expected to generate $200M annual revenue.

Lebanon — Cannabis regulator finally established 5 years after law; first harvest unlikely in 2026

Regulation — Regulatory Authority takes office but timeline too tight for 2026 cultivation as Bekaa farmers demand season start

Lebanon’s Cannabis Regulatory Authority was formally established in summer 2025 — five years after the enabling law was passed — with Dany Fadel appointed to lead the institution. The authority is preparing the framework for a medical cannabis industry positioned as an economic opportunity, but Fadel said the timeline is too tight for a first harvest in 2026.

• Farmers in hemp-growing regions, including parts of the Bekaa Valley (notably Saideh), are calling for the season to begin. The current phase remains one of institutional set-up and rulemaking rather than operational cultivation at scale.

Pakistan — Senate passes 2026 amendment to Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Act

Regulation — Amendment streamlines cannabis authority governance following Supreme Court directive

Pakistan’s Senate passed the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amending the 2024 Act after prior approval by the National Assembly. The amendment follows the Supreme Court’s Mustafa Impex v. Government of Pakistan (PLD 2016 SC 808) judgment on collective cabinet decision-making, reassigning routine administrative powers from the federal cabinet to appropriate authorities to reduce delays and allow the cabinet to focus on policy and strategic matters.

Science — Menthol-thymol green solvent outperforms conventional extraction; protected cultivation review targets climate-resilient production

Researchers developed a menthol-thymol hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (HDES) system (1:1 molar ratio) that achieved superior extraction efficiency of cannabinoids and phenolics from cannabis leaf biomass compared to conventional organic solvents. The system uses natural GRAS-status components, positioning it as a greener, potentially pharmaceutical-grade extraction medium — relevant for valorising cannabis leaves typically discarded during inflorescence harvest.

• A separate review of protected cultivation technologies for medicinal hemp (IHCE 2025 proceedings) highlighted CO₂ enrichment (1,200–1,500 ppm), LED vs HPS light spectrum management, and VPD control as key levers for yield and quality optimisation. Capital and operating costs remain the primary barriers to adoption in lower-income production regions.

Greece — Hemp irrigation optimisation under Mediterranean conditions; Greece cited as GMP target market

Market — Spain’s GMP operators cite Greece as target market amid Portugal’s compliance problems

Extraction Solutions (Spain) cited Greece as one of several markets positioned to absorb European processing volume as Portuguese compliance issues push buyers to alternatives. The company’s founder also operates Grecan, a GMP-certified cultivation facility in Greece, positioning the country within a broader EU GMP corridor alongside Spain and Germany.

Science — Soil hydraulic properties optimise hemp irrigation under Mediterranean conditions

Researchers at the University of Thessaly published a field study integrating soil hydraulic property measurements into irrigation management for industrial hemp (cv. Felina 32) under Mediterranean summer conditions. Incorporating water retention curves and hydraulic conductivity into scheduling maintained water use efficiency and yield while reducing consumption risk — providing a practical framework for water-efficient hemp cultivation in water-scarce southern European regions including Greece, Spain, and Italy.

Romania — HempFlax exits after 14 years; Romanian researchers advance MRI radiomics for cannabinoid-tumour phenotyping

Market — HempFlax sells 800-hectare Transylvania portfolio for up to €7M, refocuses on Dutch and German value-added operations

HempFlax Group (Netherlands) is exiting Romania after 14 years, selling nearly 800 ha of farmland and buildings in the Sebeș–Alba Iulia region (Transylvania’s Mureș River basin) for an estimated up to €7M (~€9,000/ha). CEO Mark Reinders said the company will “retreat from Romania in total” to focus on its Dutch decortication facility (Oude Pekela) and German hemp insulation factory (THERMO HANF, 80% acquired by Kingspan in 2023).

• HempFlax first grew hemp in Romania in 2012 and invested €5M in an Alba County processing factory (2015, 4 t/h stalk capacity). At peak (2015) the company managed ~4,000 ha across three countries; current acreage is 600 ha. The exit reflects a strategic shift from bulk production to vertical supply-chain integration and value-added activities.

Science — MRI radiomics detects cannabinoid-linked tumour phenotypes; CBD mitochondrial modulation review

Romanian researchers demonstrated that MRI-based radiomics detects compound-specific tumour phenotype changes from cannabinoid formulations (synthetic JWH-182, Cannabixir® Medium, Cannabixir® THC full extract) in a 4T1 murine breast cancer model — even when conventional imaging showed no significant volumetric differences. Radiomics identified structural features consistent with reduced aggressiveness in JWH-182-treated tumours, supporting its value as a pharmaco-imaging tool.

• A separate mini-review (Jorgovan et al.) positioned mitochondrial modulation as a unifying mechanism across CBD’s diverse therapeutic applications — anti-tumour (intrinsic apoptosis), cardioprotective (ischaemia-reperfusion), anti-inflammatory (pulmonary), and muscle-protective (mitophagy inhibition). The authors flagged a translational gap: most studies use CBD concentrations exceeding clinically observed plasma levels.

South Korea — Oz Medicann grants NeoCannBio exclusive Asian distribution rights for cannabinoid medicines

Market — NeoCannBio secures exclusive Asian distribution rights from Australia’s Oz Medicann

Oz Medicann Group (Australia) granted South Korea-based NeoCannBio exclusive rights to distribute cannabinoid medicines across Asia, excluding China and India. The deal leverages Australian clinical trial data (sleep disorders, endometriosis, arthritis, skin infections) to support parallel regulatory pathways targeting schedule 3 OTC approval — potentially enabling patient access without prescription. CEO Rohit Bhuta said similar deals are being explored in other regions as the company builds a “scalable, international pathway anchored in Australian science”.

Costa Rica — First GACP-certified medical cannabis export to EU as operator faces wetlands raid and $100M court dispute

Market — Hybrida Farms completes landmark EU shipment while environmental and legal disputes cloud the sector’s flagship operator

Hybrida Farms (Vantage Point Global CR S.A.) completed Costa Rica’s first pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis export to the EU on 13 March 2026 — the country’s first and only dual-licensed operator (THC medical cannabis + industrial hemp) under Law 10113, with licences from MAG, the Ministry of Health, and ICD. The shipment carried GACP certification (WHO-defined, EMA-accepted) and was executed in compliance with the UN Single Convention. The company operates hybrid greenhouse/indoor cultivation powered by Costa Rica’s >95% renewable energy grid.

• The milestone is overshadowed by an Environmental Prosecutor raid over alleged damage to the protected Coris Wetland adjacent to the farm; two staff members were named as defendants. Separately, US parent Vantage Point Global Corp. faces a $100M fraud and conspiracy lawsuit in Travis County (Texas), with former consultant Craig Aumann alleging he was pushed out of the venture. The company described the raid as a “regulatory visit” and said certified scientific analysis was being prepared through proper channels.
• Smokiez Edibles partnered with Global Cannabis Exchange for international expansion targeting 26 markets by Q4 2026, including Costa Rica.

Luxembourg — At-home cannabis gardening service launches; 4 plants per household legal since 2023

Market — First at-home cannabis gardening service launches alongside Differdange grow shop

Four entrepreneurs launched Luxembourg’s first at-home cannabis cultivation service, offering house visits to coach clients on growing, cultivating, and extracting from their legal plants. The team also opened Popeye’s Passion in Differdange in early February. Up to 4 cannabis plants per household have been legal for personal consumption since summer 2023, though selling and public consumption remain illegal. The founders argue the service helps reduce black-market sourcing; they also note the 60 g per 28-day medicinal cannabis limit is insufficient for many patients.

Lesotho — MG Health/Canify AG merger MoU creates vertically integrated platform across 7 countries

Market — MG Health and Canify AG sign MoU to merge EU-GMP Lesotho cultivation with 7-country distribution

MG Health and Canify AG signed an MoU to merge into a vertically integrated medical cannabis platform combining MG Health’s EU-GMP cultivation facility at 2,000 m altitude in Lesotho with Canify’s distribution network across 7+ countries. Canify reported ~€21M estimated 2025 revenue with 55 employees.

• The combined entity would control the full chain from high-altitude African cultivation through European processing and multi-market distribution — targeting Germany as the primary market at a time when imports surged from 71.1t (2024) to 201.1t (2025). Completion is pending definitive agreements and regulatory approvals.

Eswatini — Cross-border cannabis smuggling to South Africa intensifies; 671.5 kg seized at Oshoek

Market — Law enforcement scales up seizures as eSwatini cannabis underpins Gauteng’s illicit low-end market

Multiple agencies in eSwatini and South Africa are intensifying efforts against cross-border cannabis smuggling. SARS and the Border Management Authority seized 671.5 kg (R2.8 million street value) at Oshoek on 15 March; the UEDF confiscated 2,266 kg in Q4 2025 and 160 kg at Sivule on 4 March. A Gauteng retailer reports eSwatini cannabis wholesales at R3–5/g — roughly three times the domestic price — underpinning the low end of Gauteng’s illicit retail market. The UEDF says smuggling occurs daily along porous border sections.

Kenya — Rastafarian Association challenges cannabis prohibition as violation of religious freedom

Regulation — Rastafarian Association argues cannabis is a holy sacrament; High Court hearings continue

The Rastafarian Association of Kenya appeared in the High Court on 13 March arguing that cannabis (‘bhang’) is a holy sacrament essential to spiritual worship and that prohibition violates religious freedom. Lawyers Shadrack Wambui and Danstan Omari cited global precedents for religious/cultural decriminalisation. Cannabis remains outlawed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 1994, with penalties of up to 8 years. Hearings continue. Separately, Cornelius Kiprotich pleaded guilty in Eldoret to growing cannabis “for aesthetic pleasure” and awaits sentencing.