We are delighted to welcome you to May’s cannabis brief. The format has been changed to consolidate country information together: we expect you enjoy it and appreciate your feedback.

In May we are seeing contradictory signals, with the beginning of the formal process of rescheduling in the US coinciding with proposed amendments to close loopholes of the farm bill. Key figures from the last month include:

• German seed sales exploding: 7% of Germans have already bought.
• Canadian exports in the last fiscal year reach C$218m.
• Only 63 prescribers left after failed Israeli reform.
• Brazilian medicinal CBD revenues soar 202% year-on-year.
• 90,000 Polish patients acquired over 2.6 tonnes of cannabis last year.

 

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Infographic of the Month: Medical Cannabis Sales in Italy

Explore the Latest Insights on Italy’s medical cannabis market. Our latest article dives deep into the challenges and opportunities shaping its future. Discover the situation of supply, existing bureaucratic hurdles and the need for streamlined access, and obtain invaluable insights into revitalising the Italian medical sector.

 

🏛️ Regulation

Rescheduling progress in the US, but hemp-derived cannabinoid loopholes might be closed. German clubs get ready to launch from July 1st, while Israeli shift to a prescription-based model is failing. Cannabis advertising crackdown in Australia. Increasingly conservative turn in France and Italy, while South Africadecriminalises.

💼 Market

German cultivation supplies market explodes, with record sales of seeds and cuttings. New export record in Canada despite cooling of the domestic market. New medical market entries in Australia and the UK, and CBD product launches in France and Morocco. Brasil sets new records with over 400,000 units sold in Q1.

🔬Science

Daily cannabis use of cannabis is now higher than alcohol in the United States.

 

🇺🇸 United States:

🇺🇸🏛️ Regulations: the formal process to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug has been initiated. Public comments are accepted until the end of July, process could be completed before November election, but judicial review might delay it for months or years.

• However, an amendment to the Farm Bill to ban hemp-derived cannabinoid sales and restrict THC concentration, closing the THCA loophole and hindering flower sales, has been tabled.THC-infused drinks enabled by the Farm Bill are becoming more popular, with internet searches reaching an all-time high. Some states are starting to regulate.Texas, Ohio, Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and Connecticut target bans on intoxicating hemp, blaming wide availability, marketability to children and potential safety concerns.Nonetheless, a new proposal for a Cannabidiol monograph in the USP has been published, providing specifications for highly purified CBD from Cannabis sativa.
• Eliminating the punitive tax code 280E allowing for business deductions, including on debt costs, the most direct benefit of the reform, which could slash excessive tax burden.
• DEA remains wary of rescheduling as it warns about the dangers of state-by-state cannabis legalisation, including increased THC potency, organised crime, protection of minors.
• 60% of Americans support legalising marijuana, while 30% are opposed, with most Americans believing that cannabis is safer than alcohol and tobacco.
• In Florida, Gov. DeSantis is likely to veto a bill that would regulate and limit the sale of cannabis products in Florida, keeping the hemp industry alive.
• New York fires agency leader after report finds legal market plagued by poor transparency and shifting licensing rules, as illicit storefronts flourish due to bureaucratic stumbles.
• In California, illicit cannabis farms continue to thrive due to strict regulations on legal ops.
• In Delaware, governor signs bill expanding conditions for medical access, patients over 65 can self-certify, longer terms of medical cards.

 

🇺🇸💼 Market: only one public cannabis company, Green Thumb Industries, posted a profit in 2023: despite $9b in revenue losses amounted to $2b last year.

• Solventless extracts like live resin and rosin are becoming more popular than distillate-based vapes, particularly in the West.
• Alcohol distributors are selling THC-infused drinks made with hemp, lobbying to keep the Farm Bill loophole open, while marijuana companies feel their market share is at stake.
• DEA claims average THC potency of illicit flower in the US is 16%, steadily increasing but still lower than in licensed dispensaries.
• Wisconsin Hemp Battery Company receives $5m investment to build new manufacturing facility.
• Papacks to bring hemp-based packaging to the US market, targeting decarbonisation.
• A $630k grant will help transfer French hemp-lime tech for insulation in tribal housing.

 

🇺🇸🔬 Science: In the USA, daily or near-daily cannabis use now surpasses alcohol use, indicating a shift in patterns of substance use in the country.

• Innocan Pharma breakthrough pre-clinical trial finds that liposomal-CBD injection improves mobility in an amputee donkey, indicating potential for broader medical applications.
• A safety assessment of Delta 8 THC oil, confirmed its safety profile at all administered doses.
• Investigation of intrinsic cannabinoid activity of hemp-derived and semisynthetic cannabinoids found some THC homologues to have higher potential for CB1 activation compared to THC.
• Terpenes from Cannabis sativa show potential as therapeutics for chronic neuropathic pain via activation of adenosine A2A receptors, enhancing antinociception when combined with morphine.
• Cannabis use before sex to ease achievement of female orgasm is suggested by survey.
• Increased tampering in employees drug tests and rising cannabis positivity in the US workforce, especially in states with legal recreational use.
• Study finds detectable cannabinoid concentrations in human milk, which might be associated with maternal factors and perceived risks.
• Cohort study on perinatal outcomes of combined cannabis and nicotine exposure in pregnant individuals provides insights into the risks associated with combined exposure during pregnancy.
• Cannabis sativa pangenome analysis reveals surprising genetic and structural variation: low diversity in cannabinoid synthase genes, despite being in a variable region.
• Cross-pollination in the US hemp industry leads to seed contamination and crop destruction, requiring risk assessment measures.

 

🇩🇪 Germany:

🇩🇪🏛️ Regulation: In Germany, pharmacies demand a switch to over-the-counter for medical cannabis prescriptions in response to increase in cannabis prescriptions after legalisation, some of which coming from other European countries:

• Cannabis associations are accepting members and prepare applications for permits to be issued starting July 1st, but clubs are uncertain about the prices which are likely to be relatively high and vary from club to club. Industry associations representing the clubs has been founded.
• Agricultural Minister announces the abolition of the controversial “intoxication clause” for industrial hemp, reducing bureaucracy to promote sustainable potential of industrial hemp.
• Health Minister criticises conservative states like Bavaria for hypocrisy regarding cannabis and alcohol, with bans on public cannabis consumption at heavy-drinking events like Oktoberfest.
• Companies study the introduction of THC drinks, but Novel Foods remains a hurdle.
• Liberation of cannabis prisoners continues: 125 released, over 216,000 cases were reviewed.
• Government plans to increase THC limits in traffic from 1 ng/ml to 3.5 ng/ml.

 

🇩🇪💼 Market: German market positive trend after legalisation perseveres, with most medical cannabis players seeing up to 100% growth. German production in 2023 amounted to 1.7 tonnes of cannabis, while nearly 8 tonnes of flower were imported in Q1 2024.

• Trade in cultivation supplies, cuttings and seeds is also exploding, given that trade is allowed. A survey found that 7% of Germans, particularly the youth, have already bought seeds for home growing.
• Cantourage has entered into a strategic partnership with Portuguese processor and extractor Portocanna to expand its processing capacity and product assortment. The German distributor announced strong growth in 2023, and 160% year-on-year growth in April 2024.
• Industrial hemp and cannabis group Synbiotic acquires distributor Weeco Pharma. Its bioeconomy project Hanf Farm has received a grant of €1.6m.
• Cannamedical enters into cooperation with Krieger and Otto Geilenkirchen, with all its products available through both pharmaceutical wholesalers.
• Iuvo Therapeutics is launching Bathera’s Portuguese craft cannabis, expanding its portfolio.
• Canadian LP Safari Flower Company ships first shipment of packaged flower to Enua.

 

🇩🇪🔬 Science: Advanced athletes respond differently to oral CBD application on recovery and performance.

 

🇨🇦 Canada:

🇨🇦 🏛️ Regulation: Cannabis growers in Canada are advocating for a shift in regulatory oversight from Health to Agriculture, as they face challenges accessing credit programs and farmer economic policies.

 

🇨🇦 💼 Market: In Canada, medical cannabis exports reached a record high of CA$218 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year, despite continued fall in domestic medical sales, dropping 13% in the last fiscal year.

• Stores in Ontario report nearly C$2 billion worth of cannabis sold in 2023, a 12% increase from the previous year, while adding 80 new licensed cannabis stores.
• Californian cultivation giant Glass House Brands seeks to raise up to C$782m in equity shares in Canada, after closing 2023 with U$271m in revenue, a 56% increase vs 2022.
• Canopy reported 7% yoy net revenue increase, significantly reducing massive losses, as it raised approximately $50m in working capital from an institutional investor and plans to exercise options to acquire edible and extract producers Wana and Jetty in the US.
• Organigram reported a 9% increase in gross revenues to C$57m in the last quarter, including C$2.1 in international sales, including to Sanity Group (Germany) and 4C Labs (UK).
• MediPharm Labs reported a 67% increase in revenue to C$9.8M in Q1, including C$1.4m in Germany and C$1.8 in Australia.
• Rubicon Organics reports net revenue of C$8.9m in Q1 while holding 2% market share for flower and pre-rolls and launching new vape line.
• Avicanna reports its best quarter in Q1-24 with C$6.5m revenues and positive adjusted EBITDA.
• Pure Sunfarms introduces Kush God strain, a cross of Pink Kush and Pineapple God.
• Decibel announces 16% decrease in net revenues in Q1 2024.
• Uniform production company receives C$5m in federal funding for new state-of-the-art hemp processing plant in Northern Alberta, expected to be operational by mid 2025.

 

🇨🇦🔬 Science: Avicanna completes study on CBD topical cream to treat Epidermolysis Bullosa, showing improvements in wound healing, pain, and itch.

• Increased cannabis use among seniors in Canadian long-term care facilities highlights the need for tailored healthcare policies.
• Post-legalization, cannabis offenses among adolescents decreased, but exposure to cannabis ads remained significant and exposure to ads has not been reduced.
• Biotechnological tools such as gene editing may produce more stable and tailored cannabis varieties for specific medicinal needs, improving yields and reducing costs.
• Some cannabis cultivars such as Gelato 33 show natural resistance to hop latent viroid, which causes significant losses to growers.

 

🇮🇱 Israel:

🇮🇱🏛️ Regulations: Failure looms over recent Israeli medical cannabis reforms, following a steep market contraction after moving patients to prescription-based model from the previous licenses.

• The shortage of specialist doctors with only 63 prescribers have hindered the implementation of the reform, with patients going back to personal cultivation and illicit market.
• Cries to allow CBD in food products and regulating both local production and imports are spreading, but regulator warns of potentially long product approval procedures and Novel Foods authorisation after CBD is removed from the drug ordinance list.

 

🇮🇱💼 Market: Israeli market continues to contract following the change from a license to a prescription model in April, with 4000 patients less in May.

• A survey conducted by Cannabis Magazine finds joints are the dominant format of consumption in Israel among both consumers (84%) and patients (69%). 44% spend over 1,000 shekels a month ($270), but patients pay significantly less than recreational users.
• Compound Genetics launches official brand with three strains cultivated by Green Fields.
• Half a tonne of Ugandan cannabis from Together Pharma disappears in the plane.

 

🇮🇱🔬 Science: CBD treatment has high adherence (75%) among autistic children, study exploring factors influencing adherence to medical cannabis treatment finds.

 

🇦🇺 Australia:

🇦🇺🏛️ Regulation: In Australia, crackdown against unlawful medicinal cannabis advertising is underway, as unconventional promotion and aggressive advertising by clinics have caught the TGA’s attention:

• Doctors are being paid by cannabis suppliers to prescribe its products.
• The Dolphins NRL club have removed Alternaleaf branding from their jerseys and stadium signs after being engaged by the TGA to address potential advertising violations.
• Online clinic Better Leaf has been fined A$171,972 for alleged unlawful advertising of medicinal cannabis referencing treatment of serious diseases without approval from the TGA.
• Australian potential market size estimated at 441 tonnes per year in a fully legalised model, delivering over A$13b in tax revenues in the first decade after legalisation.

 

🇦🇺 💼 Market: In Australia, May saw new commercial agreements, facilities being inaugurated and market entry by additional foreign suppliers:

• Citrus grower MedTech Pharma completes first outdoor harvest in South Australia.
• Spring Sciences Australia opens first indoor growing rooms in Queensland.
• ECS Botanics inks A$380k yearly contract with Elite Medical Solutions as it expands sales force.
• Biortica Agrimed announces collaboration with Treehouse Distribution to gain genetics, partnerships and expertise.
• Danish Stenocare launches new patented oil “Astrum”, improving bioavailability.
• Althea partners with Canadian LP Rocket Factory to launch flowers also in Germany and UK.
• Cannaponics crowdfunding has raised over A$1.5m from 1000 investors as it prepares to get greenhouse EU-GMP certified.
• Stanley Brothers crowdfunding campaign has raised A$746k from 439 investors.
• Cann Group secured a A$5 million debt facility to fund operations and execute growth plans.

 

🇦🇺🔬 Science: Open-label trial of transdermal CBD sponsored by Avecho Biotechnology shows promise for managing hand osteoarthritis pain.

• Pilot trial found no significant next-day impairment in insomnia patients using oral medicinal cannabis, regarding their cognitive and psychomotor performance compared to placebo.
• Medicinal cannabis-related products are being explored as an emerging therapy for opioid use disorder, with preclinical studies suggesting that it may reduce cravings and withdrawal effects.
• Swinburne University leads a trial on driving safety under prescribed medical cannabis, supported by a $4.9 million investment.
• A randomised controlled trial found use of CBD safe on endurance exercise, but it did not enhance the subjective responses to endurance exercise.
• Cannabinoid biosynthesis, its abundance in Cannabis glandular trichomes and terpenoid content change throughout the day.

 

🇬🇧 United Kingdom:

🇬🇧 🏛️ Regulation: Survey in the United Kingdom finds 80% of Gen Z support legalisation of cannabis.

• 🇯🇪 In Jersey, decriminalisation of personal use of cannabis is being proposed.

 

🇬🇧💼 Market: In the UK**, Growth Industries Pharma**, the first cannabis production facility in Ireland, has been granted permission to convert an industrial unit in Co Antrim, to begin production in 2025.

• Lyphe Clinic launches a subscription program to address the affordability of medical cannabis appointments in the UK, offering discounts, improved management, and free shipping.
• Organigram signs 1,700kg, three-year flower supply agreement with Avida Medical.
• Canadian LP Cronos Group brings Peace Natural brand in collaboration with Grow Pharma.
• Curaleaf International partners with UK Task Force for cannabis research revolution.
• Celadon secures contract with a US business and announced 2023 results with £75k in revenue.
• Broughton receives Schedule 1 Home Office Licence, allowing it to test cannabis materials.

 

🇬🇧🔬 Science: Avata Biosciences, previously Sapient Therapeutics, is developing solid dose cannabinoid medicines for epilepsy and other neurological diseases.

• UK Medical Cannabis Registry Study on Multiple Sclerosis patients finds improvements in quality of life and sleep among patients using cannabis-based medicinal products.
• Double-blind, placebo controlled trial shows potential benefits of CBD for reducing behavior symptoms in Alzheimer‘s disease, supporting further evaluation.
• Study examines the acute effects of various types of cannabis on resting-state brain networks, suggesting that different types of cannabis can have distinct effects on brain connectivity.
• A study assessed the awareness of current legislation among UK police officers regarding medical cannabis: 28.5% of police officers did not know the legal status of cannabis in the UK.
• Study identifies variations in the endophytic bacterial community among hemp cultivars sourced from Europe.

 

🇫🇷 France:

🇫🇷🏛️ Regulation: In France, doubts over the generalisation of the medical scheme planned for 2025 are increasing due to the lack of governmental support: Health Minister is against going further than the experimentation, following the withdrawal of flowers from the scheme.

• France bans synthetic cannabinoids with psychoactive effects, such as H4-CBD.

 

🇫🇷 💼 Market: French medical cultivator LaFleur ventures into CBD flower with the launch of its own range of the Enectaliana variety.

• Online market leader CBD.fr has experienced over 800% growth since its acquisition by Swiss Phytocann after launching own storefronts and expanding to UK market.
• Hemp cultivation in France has tripled in the past decade, with 23,600 hectares sown in 2024 to cover growth in demand of composites for building and textile industries.
• UK CBD seltzer brand Goodrays launches in France with Carrefour, the world’s seventh largest retailer, despite French brands affected by novel foods.
• France Botanique Services has unveiled three new feminised varieties of CBD hemp available in the French market, each meticulously developed by Pure 5.

 

🇳🇱 Netherlands:

🇳🇱🏛️ Regulation: New coalition government in the Netherlands to emphasise a strict approach to drug possession, sales, and production.

• Future of the Weed Experiment is uncertain, but it could lead to stricter enforcement on Coffee Shops, more frequent inspections, and increased scrutiny from banks.However, mayors of cities were the experiment is to take place reaffirm their commitment.
• Closures of illicit cannabis farms, nurseries, drying plants, and grow shops have been dropping in the Netherlands at a rate of 23% per year from 2019 to 2023.

 

🇳🇱💼 Market: Dutch illicit market estimated at €1.6 billion, with only €200 million from imports.

• Recreational experiment grower Holigram unveils facility: at under 2,800sqm, maximising efficiency and productivity is crucial.

 

🇪🇸 Spain:

🇪🇸🏛️ Regulation: In Spain, Madrid regional government pushes against cannabis and CBD with a law to protect minors from consumption; Spanish Health Minister insists only medicinal cannabis is on the cards.

• Agricultural Ministry reiterates support for industrial hemp in the presentation of the Industrial Hemp Cluster industry association.
• Food security regulator removes HHC gummies from the market.
• 🇮🇨 The Parliament of the Canary Islands supports development of the medicinal cannabis industry, seeking to leverage its tropical climate allowing for year-round cultivation.

 

🇪🇸💼 Market: In Spain, Cannaflos Genetics has obtained authorisation by the AEMPS to commercialise genetics from its facility in Valencia.

• CBD company VotumWorld obtains startup certification by Industry Ministry and launches two new lines: CBD for pets V.Pets and a sports line V.Sports.

 

🇪🇸🔬Science: Phytoplant Research and the University of Córdoba will collaborate on researching the use of cannabis derivatives in extending the shelf life of agricultural products.

• Basque university project uses hyperspectral imaging and machine learning to classify medical cannabis, rapidly ensuring traceability and quality control.

 

🇧🇷 Brasil:

🇧🇷🏛️ Regulation: In Brasil, medicinal regulator publishes an evaluation of the current regulatory framework:

• Authorisations should be made available for topicals and sublingual products.
• Pharmacies ought to be allowed to produce magistral preparations from CBD isolate.

 

🇧🇷💼 Market: Brazil sets new record in medicinal cannabis sales in Q1 2024, with over 417,000 units being sold, a 151% increase year on year, generating R$163.7 million revenues (U$31.2m), a 202% increase from the previous year, despite average prices dropping by 7%.

• CBD distribution in pharmacies of the SUS in São Paulo has begun, produced by tender winner Ease Labs Pharma.
• Canadian Thronus Medical launches new product line, including nanoemulsified CBG full spectrum products.

 

🇲🇦 Morocco:

🇲🇦 🏛️ Regulation: Moroccan cannabis reform intensifies with the approval of the first CBD products in its domestic market and calls to open up to recreational products, in order to fight illicit drug trafficking, and reap economic benefits.

 

🇲🇦💼 Market: Potential of cannabis in Morocco estimated capable to generate 4 to 6.3 billion dirhams ($400-$630m) by 2028, holding 10-15% market share in the European market. The domestic CBD market is seeing approval of first locally-manufactured products:

• Indigenous Moroccan variety “Beldia” is becoming more popular among authorised growers due to its natural suitability to local climate conditions and requiring minimal irrigation.
• Cannaflex begins commercialisation of oils, capsules and cosmetics in Moroccan pharmacies through a dedicated platform.
• Kyff, subsidiary of Oksa Group, will launch CBD chocolate, teas, snus, and pouches in June.
• Indoka Laboratories, natural food supplements specialist, enters cannabis market with an investment of over 30 million dirhams ($3m) to expand its product range and increase exports.

 

🇲🇦 🔬 Science: Chemical analysis identified linoleic acid, oleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and palmitic acid as main components of Moroccan Cannabis sativa seed oil.

 

🇿🇦 South Africa:

🇿🇦 🏛️ Regulation: South African president signed a law decriminalising cannabis in a surprising move hours ahead of elections, which saw the ruling ANC losing its majority despite remaining the largest party.

• The new law expunges criminal records and allows personal possession and growing up to 4 plants, but does not contemplate legal sales. The bill removes cannabis from the list of controlled substances, enabling further reforms in medicinal and plant legislation.

 

🇿🇦💼 Market: In South Africa, The Health Company exported its first batch of medical cannabis to Australia.

 

🇮🇹 Italy:

🇮🇹🏛️ Regulation: Italian right-wing government proposes amendment to the 2016 Hemp Law forbid ‘cannabis light’, outlawing the entire legal hemp flower supply chain.

• Minister claims that a loophole has allowed a secondary market of flowers of up to 0.6% THC causing risks to public health. Some 3,000 businesses integrate the Italian supply chain.

 

🇮🇹 🔬 Science: Minor phytocannabinoids such as CBG, CBC, CBN, and CBDV show promise as anticancer agents for multiple myeloma.

 

🇵🇱 Poland:

🇵🇱 🏛️ Regulation: Polish Deputy Minister of Health suggests that standards for importing medical cannabis should be increased, as the Ministry investigates the threefold increase in prescriptions.

 

🇵🇱💼 Market: In 2023, 2.6 tonnes of medical cannabis were sold in Poland, benefiting 90,000 patients, with a value of 185 million PLN ($47m).

• Canopy Growth replaces Lemon Skunk and LA Confidential strains for Jack Haze.
• Consumption app Cannabe launches in collaboration with local rapper.

 

🇨🇿 Czech Republic:

🇨🇿 🏛️ Regulation: Czech lower chamber approves sales of ‘low risk’ drugs such as HHC and kratom from 2025, while vowing to prevent access to children, also banning minors from acquiring e-cigarrettes.

 

🇨🇿💼 Market: In the Czech Republic, CBD grower Zenplanto Farms has obtained GMP certification and intends to produce medical cannabis for both Czech and international markets.

 

🇨🇿🔬 Science: Activation of cannabinoid receptors has unique properties between HHC compared to THC, showcasing potential of HHC as a therapeutic compound with distinct pharmacodynamics.

 

🇨🇭 Switzerland:

🇨🇭💼 Market: In Switzerland, German LP Demecan will deliver medical cannabis products to Switzerland through a partnership with Pure Pharma.

• CBD indoor grower Marry Jane is producing THC cannabis for the German medical market.
• Greenhouse CBD grower Swiss Extract supplies the Grashaus pilot project with living soil flower.

 

🇨🇭🔬 Science: New method allows for the simultaneous quantification of terpenes and cannabinoids.

 

🇨🇴 Colombia:

🇨🇴💼 Market: In Colombia, only 18 cannabis companies remained active in 2023, with nearly 70% not reporting operations last year.

• The Colombian government launches a strategy for the industrial development of cannabis and hemp, including specialised training, project co-financing, networking and intelligence studies.
• Medcann Pharma exports micro-propagated genetics to Europe in partnership with FASPLAN. The company has also received a grant from the Ministry of Science.
• Sannabis ships Cannabis Essential Oil to the US to produce terpene sprays.
• Colombian delegation visits Yunnan, China to explore textile Industrial Hemp cooperation.

 

🇩🇰 Denmark:

🇩🇰💼 Market: In Denmark, Tetra Pharm Technologies partners with Kvantify to accelerate endocannabinoid system drug discovery using quantum computing, AI, and computer-aided drug design.

• DanCann Pharma sold 14,000 packages in Denmark in 2023, generating sales of DKK 6.1 million (U$ 890k) and a net loss of DKK -62.3 million (U$9.1m).

 

🇩🇰 🔬 Science: Danish study finds cannabinoid and terpene contents in available medical cannabis tea to be highly variable, limiting its potential as a dosage form.

 

🇳🇿 New Zealand:

🇳🇿 🏛️ Regulation: In New Zealand, a judge expressed concern about licensed growers sourcing seeds and plants from illicit sources, as it appears as government-sanctioned cultivation of cannabis.

 

🇳🇿💼 Market: In New Zealand, Aurora Cannabis has completed its first shipment of branded dried flowers.

 

🇹🇭 Thailand:

🇹🇭🏛️ Regulation: Thailand‘s Public Health Minister announced that only cannabis buds will be relisted as a narcotic, with a planned directive clarifying regulations and establishing new licensing system.

• Survey finds 76% support among local population to limit cannabis for medicinal use.
• Industry calls for a pragmatic approach, limiting existing dispensaries to medical use.

 

🇧🇪Belgium:

🇧🇪💼 Market: In Belgium, Flemish firefighters are using hemp to decontaminate soil polluted with PFAS.

 

🇧🇪🔬 Science: Some songbirds almost exclusively feed on hempseed, while others show no clear preference.

 

🇲🇹 Malta:

🇲🇹 🏛️ Regulation: In Malta, despite legalisation-light and clubs, consumers are still criminalised over CBD flower.

 

🇲🇹🔬 Science: University of Malta and Cannaflos Research Labs collaborate on medical cannabis research, aiming to establish Malta as a competence center.

 

🏛️ Other regulatory updates:

🇯🇵 In Japan, the Ministry of Health is accepting public comments on cannabis regulations concerning cultivation licenses, enforcement measures and THC testing rules.

• Cultivation license types include industrial hemp, R&D, and cultivation for extraction of pharmaceutical raw materials, with higher THC and tight security conditions.

 

🇸🇮 Slovenians will vote on cannabis legalisation in a non-binding referendum together with European elections in June 9: for both medical purposes and for limited personal use.

• Slovenian Medical Association opposes proposed changes to cannabis legislation, considering sufficient the current, very limited medical use.

 

🇳🇵 Nepal legalises cannabis cultivation for medicinal production, government is now developing detailed regulations to ensure controlled and responsible use of cannabis for medicinal production.

 

🇺🇳 A global treaty intends to regulate intellectual property and genetic resources of indigenous peoples and traditional communities.

 

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe wants to explore large-scale cannabis production as an alternative crop to tobacco.

 

🇦🇩 🏦 Shopkeepers in the small Pyrenean nation of Andorra advocate for CBD regulation.

 

💼 Other market updates:

🇵🇹 In Portugal, Somaí expands partnership with Cookies to produce branded products for Germany, UK and other global jurisdictions, from its recently acquired cultivation facility.

• Somaí is also partnering with Canadian brand Ghost Drops for distribution in Germany and the EU, UK, and Australian cannabis markets.
• Hemp cultivation began on multiple islands in the Azores, considered a historic event in 2024.

 

🇺🇾 In Uruguay, Goland Hemp Foods sales grew 400% in one year as it expanded distribution to large supermarkets, Amazon in the US and other Latin American countries.

• Flextem Biopharma began exporting finished extracts as the first Uruguayan laboratory to obtain registration to export high-THC pharmaceutical products.

 

🇦🇷 In Argentina the first legal clone distribution center, Clon Factory, opened in Buenos Aires offering an information and advisory hub for genetic qualities and characteristics.

• First edible hemp oil has been allowed after incorporation into the National Food Code.

 

🇸🇪 Curaleaf launches medical cannabis clinic in Sweden through UK subsidiary Sapphire Clinics, contributing patient data to a new observational study at the Karolinska Institute.

 

🇪🇨 Hemp biomass exports from Ecuador to the US are exploding, with Barad SA shipping 30 tonnes after cultivating 25 hectares and an investment of U$300,000.

 

🌎 New UN report shows U$213 million of hemp seeds and fibers were traded in 2022, despite data discrepancies between national and international organisations.

 

🇺🇦 Ukrainian company Ma’rijany Hemp is building one of Europe’s largest hemp factories to produce long and short hemp fiber, as well as shives.

 

🇲🇰 In North Macedonia, Ohrid Organics inks first order to the UK: 50kg per month priced at €2.5/gr.

 

🔬 Other science updates

🌍 Global survey on small-scale cannabis growers’ distribution practices finds that only 8% grow primarily to sell, despite 69% sharing, giving away or swapping with friends and family.

 

🇮🇳 Phytocannabinoids show promising neuromodulatory effects for personalised neuropsychiatric treatment.

 

🇨🇳 Chinese review finds CBD exhibiting diverse therapeutic effects, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antipsychotic properties.