Europe

The Ukraine Parliament gave initial approval this week to a medical cannabis legalization proposal. The law still could see additional amendments and must pass a second reading before heading to President Volodymyr Zelensky for his signature.

Luxembourg this week became the second European Union member nation to legalize adult-use cannabis. Under the new law, adults can home-grow up to four cannabis plants and publicly possess up to three grams of cannabis flower.

Jersey Hemp, the only farm in the British Isles that is licensed to grow hemp to manufacture CBD products, has shut down operations after the UK government said it found THC in the company’s CBD exports and declared their products illegal.

Malta, which became the first European Union country to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2021, still hasn’t licensed any non-commercial cannabis clubs despite having received 26 applications since the application window opened about four months ago.

With multiple EU members looking to legalize cannabis at the national level, the influence of Europe’s cannabis social clubs as the region’s earliest legal retailers is more important than ever.

European cannabis advocates their eyes on the Czech Republic, where officials have expressed support for legalizing adult-use cannabis but also recently took measures to crack down on the sale of CBD products.

While Germany’s efforts to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis suffered a minor blow following last week’s revelations, the country remains on track to launch a five-year adult-use cannabis pilot program and, in the meantime, intends to decriminalize cannabis possession and home growing.

According to a recent survey, 53% of Fins believe that cannabis use and possession should not be a crime in Finland but just 24% said that cannabis should be fully legalized.

Germany announced the watering down of its cannabis legalization efforts after talks with EU officials but the plan is to still legalize possession, allow limited home grows, and establish members-only “cannabis clubs.”

Switzerland’s government approved a cannabis legalization trial with legal consumption and sales for 2,100 Zurich residents.

The United Nations’ International Narcotics Board recently criticized global cannabis legalization efforts, saying the reforms lead to “higher consumption, negative health effects and psychotic disorders.”

Alex Rogers is an American medical cannabis business owner and founder of the International Cannabis Business Conference.

With cannabis laws steadily relaxing across continental Europe, how likely is Spain to see significant cannabis reforms this year?

Amsterdam officials have banned the use of cannabis on the streets of the city’s historic red light district in an attempt to improve the quality of life for local residents.

The Scottish National Investment Bank is investing £2 million (about $2.4 million) into Scotland-based IndiNature Mill, a firm which specializes in hemp-based insulation products.

With cannabis reforms gaining traction around the world, most predict Germany to be the next major legalization victory — the question is will that happen in 2023, or beyond?

Coming off the heels of a very big year for cannabis, what does 2023 have in store for the emerging international industry?

Ireland is the latest EU country to consider adult-use cannabis reforms following the introduction of a legalization proposal by People Before Profit MP Gino Kenny.

Germany this week announced its plans for adult-use cannabis legalization including possession limitations and home grow provisions.

On Monday, the Czech cabinet was slated to review a draft plan for addressing drug addiction in the country including launching a regulated cannabis market and increasing spending on treatment.

The Amsterdam council is expected to vote against banning tourists from the city’s cannabis-serving coffee shops.

In less than a decade, the cannabis industry has gone from seeing a worldwide blanket prohibition of the plant to today, where new and exciting cannabis opportunities can be found across the globe.

Beginning August 1, Switzerland will allow medical cannabis patients to obtain prescriptions directly from their doctors without needing federal permission.