UK / EU Cannabis Compliance

Germany: Acadamic Publishes Commissioned Report Saying New German Cannabis Regulation Would Violate International Law

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2023

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Market Screener writes

The German government’s plans to legalize cannabis violate international law, according to a new expert report. “The cannabis legalization planned by the federal government contradicts international and European law,” the 53-page scientific paper, presented in Munich on Wednesday, states. Author Bernhard Wegener, holder of the Chair of Public Law and European Law at the Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen, had prepared the expert opinion on behalf of State Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU).

According to the report, the traffic light plans violate in particular the United Nations Conventions on Drug Control: “The UN drug control bodies evaluate a comprehensive cannabis legalization of the kind planned by the federal government in constant decision practice as a violation of the UN Conventions on Drug Control in violation of the treaty.” Moreover, with regard to European law, the planned state or state-licensed trade, cultivation and sale of cannabis for other than scientific or medical purposes is “inadmissible,” he said.

“In my view, a violation of EU law would always have to result in infringement proceedings,” said Holetschek, who has categorically rejected marijuana legalization plans for months. He therefore called on the German government to drop its plans to allow the cultivation, trade and consumption of cannabis for pleasure purposes. “We will continue to work to prevent the legalization of smoking pot,” he said.

“The German government’s legalization plan ignores the limits of national drug policy under international and European law,” Wegener emphasized. This internationally and European non-coordinated special path is therefore legally extremely risky and threatens to miss even the goals pursued by the federal government from the outset, he said. He said he had the impression that the federal government had put on blinkers and was trying to ignore the legal framework.

Cannabis legalization is one of the major projects of the traffic light coalition. In their coalition agreement, the SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed to make possible a “controlled distribution of the drug to adults for consumption purposes in licensed stores.” Cannabis is to be cultivated and sold in Germany under state regulation. Home cultivation of a few plants is also to be permitted.

One of the reasons given by the traffic lights for the plan is that the prohibition policy has not prevented use; instead, there has even been an increase in consumption. Furthermore, a legal and state-supervised sale could improve youth and health protection, as there would be less contaminated cannabis in circulation. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) had presented the first concrete ideas for implementation in the fall. A draft law should be available by the end of March.

Holetschek does not accept these arguments: “Experience from the USA or Canada shows that the black market cannot be dried up with legalization. On the contrary, the black market continues to exist. In addition, problems in market regulation, smuggling and tax fraud present the state with unsolvable problems.”

In addition, Holetschek said it was “naive” to believe that children and young people would not have access to cannabis as a result of such a law with age restrictions. Experiences from abroad showed that a so-called gray market could develop, in which, for example, legally acquired cannabis would be passed on to minors by adults. “That would be a new challenge for the police and the judiciary, which nobody needs,” he said. Therefore, we cannot assume a presumed ‘relief’ of the police, with which legalization advocates like to argue.”

“I cannot understand how releasing cannabis for “pleasure purposes” for young people over the age of 18 is supposed to improve health and youth protection,” Holetschek said. He therefore continues to strongly oppose cannabis legalization because of the serious health risks associated with this drug. “Legalizing cannabis and insisting on prevention is like starting a fire and then calling the fire department.

Source: https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/SYNBIOTIC-SE-120976100/news/Expert-opinion-Cannabis-legalization-breaks-international-law-43121352/?mc_cid=33c7f0a951

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UK / EU Cannabis Compliance

UK: Celeb Big Narstie To Open Medical Cannabis Office In Essex

Published

2 months ago

September 21, 2024

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High & Polite write

Big Narstie to medical cannabis office in Essex

Hold onto your spliffs, folks—because Big Narstie is making serious moves in the medical cannabis game!

The grime legend, comedian, and all-around UK icon is turning an old Barclay’s bank in South Woodham Ferrers into his very own medical cannabis office.

Yep, you read that right—Big Narstie Medical is officially open for business, ready to deliver “high-quality medicinal cannabis” to UK patients in need.

Now, we know what some of you might be thinking—“Big Narstie? Medical cannabis?”

But let’s be real, who better to bridge the gap between everyday people and the life-changing potential of medicinal cannabis?

Since the UK legalised medical cannabis in 2018, patients suffering from severe epilepsy, chemo-induced nausea, and MS have found relief through legal weed.

Narstie’s move isn’t just about the clout (though let’s be honest, a medical cannabis office is pretty cool).

He’s shining a much-needed spotlight on the benefits of medical cannabis, especially for those who don’ realise it can be legally prescribed.

So, whether you’re a fan or not, this is one groundbreaking move worth keeping an eye on.

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UK / EU Cannabis Compliance

German Medical Cannabis Associations Call For Wider Regulatory Reform

Published

11 months ago

January 14, 2024

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In July 2023, Germany’s federal government commissioned the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) – the body responsible for determining which medical treatments are covered by the country’s statutory health insurance – to amend the current regulations around medical cannabis prescriptions.

The G-BA is in the process of deciding four specialist areas for which the current approval requirement should no longer apply, making it easier to obtain insurance coverage for the medicine.

However, the country’s medical cannabis associations say this does not go far enough and have called for the approval requirement to be removed for all conditions in which cannabis has shown medical efficacy.

Medical cannabis has been legal in Germany since 2017 and can be prescribed by any doctor for patients with serious medical conditions. It is one of the few countries globally where the treatment can be covered under the public health insurance system in certain cases.

But currently, for patients with statutory health insurance, the costs of medical cannabis are only covered if previously approved by the insurance company.

This application process is said to be ‘daunting, lengthy and bureaucratic’ for doctors and patients, with 30-40% of applications being rejected.

https://businessofcannabis.com/german-medical-cannabis-associations-call-for-wider-regulatory-reform/

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UK / EU Cannabis Compliance

Portugal: Full Legalisation on the Horizon?

Published

2 years ago

April 7, 2023

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Cannareporter writes….

The legalization of cannabis may be introduced in the Portuguese Parliament and there may be political will and consensus for the approval of this regulation to be faster. In the “March for Cannabis” Manifestation, members of various parties, power and opposition, participated and revealed that it may be in 2023 that the proposal for the legalization of cannabis will enter parliament.

The staircase of the Assembly of the Republic building brought together, after the demonstration that headed from Largo do Camões, the various participants of the March for Cannabis, convened by the Mothers for Cannabis Associative Movement. It was at a time dedicated to interventions that the possibility of legalizing cannabis in the near future in Portugal was unveiled by various political leaders.

According to Francisco Themudo, National Secretary for the Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees of Socialist Youth, who addressed those present, he reasoned that there may be will, but above all, the necessary political conditions to move towards a comprehensive regulation of cannabis.

The leader stated that “smoking is an act of freedom, and that we have the right to do it safely”, defending a legal framework where the cannabis plant is not illegal. Fabien Figueiredo, former deputy for the Bloco de Esquerda and proponent of the bill to legalize personal consumption in 2021 But if there were any doubts, confirmation that, in the corridors of São Bento, cannabis is more than just talk, came from the Deputy of the Liberal Initiative, Rodrigo Saraiva. To the participants, the deputy said that it could even be in 2023 that the parliament will receive some proposals for discussion, “already with some prior consensus”.

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https://cannareporter.eu/en/2023/04/02/legalization-in-portugal-may-advance-later-this-year-with-political-consensus/?mc_cid=c0a48fdbf5

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