The Spanish Congress is due to meet this week to debate the legalization of medical cannabis. The country is in a situation that the United Kingdom also experienced before legalizing, both producing medical cannabis while not allowing access for its national patients.

Next Wednesday, February 16, the subcommittee of the Congressional Health and Consumer Affairs Committee will meet for the first time to discuss the possibility of finally making medical cannabis legal in Spain.

According to the Spanish Observatory of Medicinal Cannabis (OECM), the debate will be “the first stone on this path that began in June”, when the subcommittee is formed.

The debate will conclude with a report outlining the scientific evidence for the efficacy of medical cannabis, which will be sent to the government for consideration. Theoretically, the legalization of the therapeutic use of cannabis could be approved before the summer.

In the meantime, the OEMC stresses that the decision should not be delayed beyond the current legislature, with the fear that the debate could be pushed back indefinitely.

Manuel Guzman, the vice-president of the OECM, said: “We believe it is urgent that during this legislature we can have a medical regulatory program based on the evidence that already exists. »

The OECM will present the results of its two formal objectives defined when it was created:

• analyze the experiences of other governments that have regulated access to medical cannabis
• produce a report containing proposals for best practices for the control of medical cannabis in Spain

At least 300,000 patients in Spain could benefit from medical cannabis. As Manuel Guzman says, “We are talking about patients with serious and very disabling conditions that deserve humane treatment. Patients with cancer, neurological diseases, including pain in its various degrees, fibromyalgia and chronic insomnia. »

20minutos also reports the words of Carola Perez, director of the OECM: “The patient must be at the center, him and his rights, that is why it must be taken into account, because we have been in a situation of insecurity for years. . »

For 2 years, everyone has been navigating between confinements, teleworking, the increase in Covid cases, quarantines and other isolations for contact cases. Results ? Many are respecting these rules responsibly by staying at home and are now on the verge of burnout, with enormous difficulties in simply relaxing.

It is in this context that JustMary, one of the largest delivery companies of legal light cannabis in Europe, fits. The company is offering one gram of lite cannabis to anyone who is forced to stay home due to covid or quarantine.

Matteo Moretti, CEO of JustMary.fr : “We deliver legal light cannabis for free to anyone in quarantine. Our objective ? To offer a moment of relaxation to this part, temporarily less fortunate, of the community”.

“We are launching “community” cannabis: 1 gram of free light cannabis to French people who responsibly stay at home and who, given the situation, are looking for a way to relax. How to access this initiative? All you have to do is send us a sworn statement on the chat on our site concerning the start of quarantine, as well as the request for access to this initiative. We will continue while supplies last” says Matteo Moretti, CEO of JustMary.

But what does JustMary take care of, in detail? JustMary is one of the largest companies active in the delivery of legal cannabis in Europe. The service (available in France in Paris) operates from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and delivery is made directly to your home, in less than 45 minutes from the time of the order. The delivery service is completely anonymous, with the company’s delivery people working in civilian clothes.

More information about JustMary

JustMary ended the year 2021 with 1 million euros in turnover and, in recent months, it has tripled the number of its employees, going from 10 to 32 people (excluding subcontractors). The company, in Paris alone, aims to generate one million euros before the end of 2022 and, before the end of 2023, it aspires to reach 10 cities throughout France.

For more information: Cristian Veronesi cv@mpadv.eu

Quebec and Manitoba are the only two Canadian provinces where self-cultivation of cannabis is still prohibited although cannabis is legal in Canada.

In Quebec, opposition to this provincial rule is led by Jannick Murray-Hall, a 30-year-old who wants Quebecers to be able to grow pot at home and who soon has an appointment with the Supreme Court. In Manitoba, some cannabis brands have decided to donate their profits to challenge the ban.

TobaGrown has been fighting for two years for Manitobans to have the right to grow cannabis legally in a constitutional challenge against the Manitoba government.

“I am proud to announce that TobaGrown will be launching a line of non-profit cannabis products into the Manitoba market,” said Jesse Lavoie, Founder of TobaGrown.

“All profits from TobaGrown will be used to fund our legal bills for our cases, and any remaining profits will be donated to multiple local and national charities.”

2 non-profit products for 2022

TobaGrown plans to launch two non-profit products in 2022. The first product, “TobaRolls,” will be a three-pack of 0.5-gram pre-rolled joints and will feature flowers sourced from a British Columbia grower, who wishes to remain anonymous until TobaGrown’s legal action is completed.

The second product, ‘TobaSquad’, is a line of pre-rolled joints that will be released later this year and will feature flowers from several licensed growers in Manitoba.

“As a company, we strongly believe in Jesse’s cause, and we are proud to have the opportunity to help support him with our craft cannabis. Now, more than ever, it’s important to support local businesses and important causes,” said Tim Doerksen, Vice President of Natural Earth Craft Cannabisone of Manitoba’s producers.

“We are honored to carry the TobaGrown brand in conjunction with other great artisanal growers in Manitoba. »

Many Manitoba dispensaries have already confirmed their intention to offer these products. TobaGrown anticipates that they will begin to be available in late February or early March 2022.

To our knowledge, this is the first time that multiple licensed producers have come together to bring a not-for-profit cannabis product to market.

Israeli Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Wednesday released a list of proposed new regulations that, if approved, would further decriminalize cannabis use in Israel.

Recreational cannabis is still illegal in Israel, although the Ministry of Public Security partially decriminalized it in 2017, setting fines and treatment for first offenders instead of criminal proceedings.

Currently, the first and second offense are subject to a fine of 1,000 NIS (270€) and 2,000 NIS (540€) respectively, a third offense requires a conditional settlement agreement, and a fourth offense means a possible bet. in examination. Anyone with a prior criminal record can be charged after their first offence.

However, the current guidelines expire next March. The Israeli legislator must therefore act to prevent a return to the full criminalization of cannabis.

More flexible decriminalization

According to the new draft guidelines, the use of cannabis by adults will not be considered a criminal offense at all, but an administrative offence, similar to most traffic offences.

Sa’ar’s proposed new regulations will not allow for prosecution “except in exceptional cases,” including for those with criminal records, limit fines to NIS 1,000, and make no distinction between first and recurrences.

Minors, as well as soldiers and police officers on compulsory service, will be excluded from decriminalization.

“As we promised the public, self-consumption of cannabis will not be considered a criminal offence,” he said. “The lack of a policy on the matter makes many Israeli citizens, in practice, criminals, violates the rights of the individual and undermines trust between citizens and law enforcement. »

In 2020, Avi Nissenkorn, then Minister of Justice, presented a plan that would have legalized recreational use, a project shelved due to the collapse of the government and the calling of new elections.

MP Sharren Haskel, a member of Sa’ar’s New Hope party, defended the decriminalization of cannabis. She heads a parliamentary committee that is working to streamline regulations that she says will “put Israel back at the forefront” of the industry.

Among other things, it seeks to remove bureaucratic hurdles for scientists studying cannabinoids, ease export restrictions and allow CBD to be marketed to the general public.

She said the red tape “has suffocated the whole market” and caused businesses to move overseas. “It’s almost impossible to have clinical research here in Israel.”

Several cannabis legalization projects have been presented to the Tennessee State Legislature, both medical and adult.

These new bills come as neighboring Mississippi recently became the 37th US state and the 3rd state in the Deep South to legalize medical cannabis.

Tennessee Democratic Rep. Jason Powell introduced a bill to create a medical cannabis program. Tennessee is indeed one of 13 states that has not yet authorized medical cannabis. A recent poll, however, found that 81% of Tennessee voters supported allowing patients and physicians to decide on the use of medical cannabis.

Another Democratic representative, Bob Freeman, introduced a bill that would completely legalize cannabis. Tennessee is also one of 19 states that still punishes simple possession of cannabis with a prison sentence: possession of half an ounce (14g) or less is punishable by almost a year in prison.

Convince the most conservative states

According to Pew Research Center, nine out of ten Americans support the legalization of cannabis, at least for medical purposes, and more than 60% believe that recreational cannabis should be allowed. Only eight percent of Americans are against any form of cannabis legalization.

Even in Tennessee, which has traditionally been one of the most politically conservative states in the country, more than half of the adult population thinks cannabis should be legal in some form. More than half a dozen polls conducted between 2018 and 2021 by top state media outlets show the plant’s growing popularity, primarily for medicinal use.

Proposals to legalize cannabis in Tennessee have been defeated by Republican lawmakers for the past two years. But 2022 could be the year that will bring to the referendum a question on medical cannabis, on decriminalization or on the legalization of cannabis for adults.

Owen Bonnici, Maltese Minister behind the legalization of cannabis in Malta called on the leaders of European countries to legalize cannabis in an interview for Euronews. The Minister for Equality, Research and Innovation, and former Minister for Justice, says the measure would end the activities of criminal gangs and unnecessary prosecution of cannabis users.

Owen Bonnici said Malta can provide a model for other European countries on how to move out of prohibition to tackle a number of the problems it poses.

What is the content of the Maltese legalization?

The new law passed by the Maltese Parliament in December 2021 allows the consumption of cannabis by adults, while public possession of 7 grams will no longer be prohibited.

Maltese people will be able to grow their own cannabis, up to 4 plants per household. The Maltese government has also promised to expunge the criminal records of those convicted of possession of cannabis for personal use.

Cannabis Clubs, limited to 500 members, will be able to cultivate and distribute cannabis to their members, with a maximum of 50 grams per month per person.

Malta is the first European country to legalize cannabis, although for now there will be no business model for selling cannabis. Luxembourg has also decided to authorize the personal use of cannabis (cultivation and consumption), without place of consumption.

Italians should soon be called upon to vote in a referendum on the legalization of cannabis, after an associative initiative has reached the required number of signatures to be placed on the ballot.

In Germany, the new coalition has integrated the legalization of cannabis, which it has confirmed that it wants to implement within the next four years.

The Quebec company Bleuh will soon be marketing its new lite cannabis products at provincial recreational cannabis retailers. These products with a low THC content (less than 2%), marketed under the De La Ferme brand, will be available from February.

Bleuh intends to meet legitimate consumer demand by offering quality recreational cannabis products with low THC content. In February, Canadian consumers will have access to more than fifteen recreational cannabis products Blueh and Of the farm.

CBD’s New Hashish

The Farm’s CBD Hashish

Made in an artisanal way, this hashish with unique aromas will contain more than 32% CBD AND 10% CBG, a first in Canada. This ”old school” hashish is the result of a blend made from top quality ingredients from cannabis flowers. The product will be sold in a 3.5 g format in an amber glass container.

The new CBD flower sticks

De La Ferme CBD flower sticks

The light cannabis pre-rolls will be available in a 7-unit format. Each flower stick contains 0.35g of ground flowers and boasts a CBD content of approximately 12% and less than 2% THC. Cherry Blossom flowers will be used for assembling each stick.

The new HAUT CBD dried flowers

The New High CBD Dried Flowers From The Farm

From responsible cultivation, HAUT CBD flowers are marketed in a 3.5g format. The average CBD level shows 14% and less than 2% THC. Each flower has a nice intensity of terpenes.

The Cherry Blossom

The Farm’s Cherry Blossom CBD

Cherry Blossom is a very popular variety in the United States. In Quebec, it will be marketed in a 15g format with an average CBD level of 14% and less than 2% THC. Its unique flower heads offer a wide variety of natural aromas. The Indica-dominant Cherry Blossom is responsibly grown in the Centre-Du-Québec region.

The new BLEND CBD dried flowers

CBD Blend From The Farm

Marketed in a 28g format, each flower has a CBD rate of more than 10% and less than 2% THC. The different cultivars used for this mix come from light cannabis varieties grown in Quebec.

Why is cannabis unadvertised? Weedmaps asks the question in a new ad spot that explores the various ways media platforms stifle conversations about cannabis and hide information from consumers.

In the United States, the medical use of cannabis is now legal in 37 states and recreational use in 18 states. Yet mainstream cannabis advertising is virtually untraceable.

Ironically denied advertising during the Super Bowl, Weedmaps’ new ad spot addresses advertising restrictions and bans on cannabis companies on social and advertising media.

The spot features an office worker named Brock Ollie, whose head resembles a head of broccoli, who spends his day being thrown at him with far-from-subtle references to represent cannabis. At the end of the day, he hangs out with his friends, Pot and Leaf, who know his ongoing struggle all too well.

“Despite three-quarters of the country having legalized cannabis and the bipartisan enthusiasm we continue to see supporting change at the federal level, the industry continues to face roadblocks that inhibit competition in the legal market. and stifle educational opportunities,” said Weedmaps CEO Chris Beals.

“There’s an irony that advertising’s biggest night will feature an array of consumer brands across regulated industries, from alcoholic beverages to sports betting, as cannabis retailers, brands and companies legal have been set aside. »

Constraints above constraints

The legal, regulatory and business landscape of the cannabis industry is constantly changing, and advertising is no exception. The industry must play around with permits and restrictions at the federal, state, and local levels, with companies always having to stay on top of what is allowed and what is not.

According to Rebecca Larzik, brand marketing director of Weedmaps, some of these restrictions include censorship on social media platforms, where paid advertisements can be placed, and constraints on the placement of billboards. exteriors, including the requirement to obtain approval from the building owner.

“In order to overcome some of these challenges, brands often use things like the broccoli emoji as a visual representation of cannabis in their marketing materials because the actual plant is deemed inappropriate to showcase,” she said.

For Weedmaps, promoting creative and experiential advertising and branding initiatives like this will contribute to the legal and cultural acceptance of cannabis, ultimately enabling safe and legal access to this plant.

As Brock Ollie says in the ad, “The cannabis is here. It’s time to talk about it”.

On February 24, the Syndicat Professionnel du Chanvre (SPC) is organizing its 2nd symposium on hemp well-being, which will revolve around six round tables addressing the various blockage themes and opportunities around CBD in France.

CBD, a complex and long-term subject

Whether it is regulatory blockages, the challenges of its regulation or the need for more studies to support its use, lawyers, politicians and doctors will come back to the multiple perceptions of the sector and its future in France.

Maitre Boin and Maitre Metton will return, for example, to the suspension of part of the decree of December 30, which undermined a non-negligible part of the sector, while William Lemaire, founder of Organically Yours, will testify to the consequences of these legal disputes.

The second part of the day will attempt to provide answers to public safety and health issues related to hemp and will reiterate the need to support a French agricultural sector in the light of European developments.

Finally, a triptych of professionals will discuss the difficulties encountered by players in the sector and will present their banking and insurance services specially dedicated to hemp professionals.

This symposium is open to non-members of the SPC. Registrations take place on the HelloAsso platform and on site.
It will take place on February 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fabrique Evènementielle, 52 ter Rue des Vinaigriers, 75010 Paris.