A working group appointed by the Luxembourg government has published its proposals for the pilot project to legalize cannabis in Luxembourg. The document, titled Experimental Device for Legal Access to Cannabis for Non-Medical Purposes, outlines projections for a fully legal adult cannabis market in the country, which will limit access to residents over the age of 18.

The recommendations allow possession of up to 3 grams of cannabis, cultivation of up to 4 plants at home, and a retail market where residents would be allowed to purchase a maximum of 5 grams per day, up to 30 grams per month.

One of the main recommendations of the plan is “that access to cannabis for non-medical purposes be regulated by a rigorous and solid pilot project, adapted to the specific needs of Luxembourg”.

The framework was drafted after consultation with an interdepartmental working group. The final document was then submitted for review by four international experts, Henri Bergeron, research director at the CNRS, Rebecca Jesseman, policy director at the Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction, Tomas Zabransky, Czech epidemiologist, and Steve Rolles, political analyst at the Transform Drug Policy Foundation.

A pre-legalization in 2 phases

The first stage of the pilot project would consist in modifying the current legislation, the law of February 19, 1973, on the sale of medicinal substances.

Once the bill is passed, a maximum of 4 cannabis plants per household will be allowed for personal use. Cannabis consumption in public places will remain prohibited and strict rules will apply to distribution and sale.

The next phase will be devoted to developing a state-controlled cannabis production and sales chain. To this end, a pilot project will be set up to explore ways to improve the situation in the country. The experiment aims to determine how the sale of cannabis can be regulated, ensuring that access is only granted to people who meet the criteria, such as residing in Luxembourg and being over the age of 18. years.

It is planned to grant 2 production licenses and to create 14 points of sale in Luxembourg. The sale of cannabis in public places will remain prohibited and places of consumption will not be authorized. To launch the project, a study is being conducted at the Luxembourg Institute for Social Research and Market Studies (Ilres) to analyze current consumer behavior in the country. A survey will be conducted among 3,000 people. The results will be available by the end of the year.

The objectives of the Luxembourg government combine public health and safety. On the prevention side, the main objectives are to reduce the consumption of high-risk cannabis, in particular by ensuring a quality product. On the security side, Luxembourg wants to gradually eliminate the illicit cannabis market by reducing organized crime linked to narcotics and keeping consumers away from criminal circles.

Europe of legalization

Luxembourg is the first country in Europe to announce its intention to allow an adult cannabis market as part of its government policy. The agreement finalizing the formation of the new coalition government in 2018 contained a provision for the decriminalization or legalization of cannabis.

The agreement stated: “Legislation on the recreational use of cannabis will be developed. Its main objectives will be to decriminalise, or even legalise, under conditions that remain to be determined, the production on Luxembourg territory, as well as the purchase, possession and recreational use of cannabis for the personal needs of adult residents; to get consumers out of the black market; resolutely reduce the mental and physical dangers associated with it; and tackling supply-side crime. »

Since Luxembourg’s historic announcement in 2018, many other countries in Europe have made changes to their cannabis policies, such as Malta becoming the first country in Europe to allow access to recreational cannabis.

Other countries changing their position on cannabis for adult use include Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands or Portugal.

American long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall has been stripped of her recent national indoor title and suspended for one month after testing positive for cannabis, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced on Tuesday.

USADA said Davis-Woodhall tested positive for THC. Her positive test comes from a sample taken in competition at the 2023 United States Indoor Athletics Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 17, the same day she won the title with a jump from 6.99 meters.

Davis-Woodhall, 23, has already completed her suspension, which she began serving on March 21.

The positive test resulted in the loss of her title, as she was disqualified from all competition results achieved on and after February 17, including the removal of all medals, points and prizes.

Despite the growing legalization of cannabis in the United States and some sports leagues like the NBA or MMA that no longer screen for it, THC is still considered a prohibited substance according to the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“WADA invites comments on the updated Prohibited List each year,” USADA’s press release reads. “USADA has advocated and will continue to advocate with the WADA, which sets the rules, for marijuana to be treated in a fairer and more effective manner to identify true competitive use. »

Under WADA rules, THC allows for a reduced three-month suspension if the athlete establishes that the substance was taken out of competition and is not related to athletic performance. USADA said Davis-Woodhall’s case was reduced to one month for these reasons and because she completed a substance abuse treatment program for her cannabis use.

In 2021, American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson clinched her spot at the Tokyo Olympics with a landslide victory in the women’s 100 meters at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon, before being stripped of her title after testing positive for cannabis.

Richardson was suspended for a month. USA Track and Field elected not to select her to the women’s 4×100 meters relay team after her suspension ended, which removed Richardson from the Olympic team.

Can a country start legalizing cannabis and at the same time consider banning CBD? It would seem so.

The Czech authorities responsible for food safety have thus announced via a press release their intention to ban the marketing of products containing CBD and other cannabinoids derived from hemp, citing European regulations and the lack of research on the effects of these substances. health compounds.

The Czech Ministry of Agriculture has stated that the State Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (SZPI) is preparing a measure to remove from the market all foods and food supplements containing cannabinoids, which are sold in the form of oils, tinctures, capsules, gummies and other edible products. The ban will also affect cosmetic products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids.

The ministry did not specify the effective date of the ban.

Security issues

The ministry said it followed a strict interpretation of EU rules that make such products illegal. European regulations in some cases designate CBD as a novel food (Novel Food) which must be subject to safety checks by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

“I cannot accept food being put on the market that the European Food Safety Authority cannot ensure the safety of,” said Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula, who admitted that the ban “ will have an impact on some operators in the food sector. »

The European Commission ruled in December 2020 that CBD is not a narcotic and can be classified as a food if it meets the relevant provisions of EU food law. European legal bodies have also ruled that CBD products should benefit from the same free movement of goods between and among member states as other legal products.

In parallel, EFSA has started to review various forms of CBD to approve them for EU markets under novel food rules. However, as this review progressed, the EFSA also found that it was difficult to rule on the safety of the products and had to limit itself to isolated CBD.

“EFSA has identified several potential risks and has stated that many missing data regarding potential health effects need to be completed before progress can be made in assessing the safety of CBD and hemp extracts,” the statement said. Czech Ministry of Agriculture. “She said that due to lack of data, it is not possible to confirm the safety of CBD”, yet declared safe by the WHO in 2017.

A misinterpretation

The announcement did not fail to react Lukas Hurt, editor of the Czech specialist magazine Konopi, who highlights several inaccuracies in the declaration of the Ministry of Agriculture.

“There are several reasons why this is an unnecessary measure and, what is more, not applied by the Czech authorities. Although the Ministry of Agriculture refers in its press release to the EU regulation on “novel foods”, this is not a legally binding regulation of the EU, but only a recommendation. Each Member State can therefore judge for itself what is or is not a novel food,” he recalled, a position which also applies to France, which does not apply Novel Food.

“As regards novel foods, we have, together with the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), evidence confirming that CBD and other cannabinoids should not be labeled as novel foods. If something is to be labeled as a novel food, it can only be highly concentrated isolates, most often in powder or crystal form. But no plant extracts produced by traditional methods,” said Hana Gabrielová, president of CzecHemp, a Czech group of hemp growers.

“The use of industrial hemp plants and extracts for industrial, food and cosmetic purposes is enshrined in Czech legislation. Further studies are needed to determine the safety of concentrated cannabinoid isolates, but the World Health Organization (WHO) considers CBD extracts from industrial hemp, for example, to be safe,” continued Lukas Hurt.

“EIHA has a long-standing collaboration with CzecHemp and will promptly share with the Czech authorities all relevant documentation, analyzes and primary sources that clearly confirm that plant cannabinoids have been part of our ancestral diet for many centuries,” Lorenza said. Romanese, executive director of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA).

The unexpected decision by the SZPI also came as a surprise to Jindrich Voboril, National Drug Enforcement Coordinator, who is also involved in the legalization of cannabis in the Czech Republic and certainly does not want to go down the road of further bans.

“We are currently preparing a proposal to create a completely new category of psychomodulating substances, which would also cover hemp CBD and products containing up to 1% THC. I was not informed in advance of this activity by the Ministry of Agriculture. I was a bit surprised and it’s not good,” said Jindřich Vobořil.

Will Texas, one of the most conservative states in the United States, join the American states where cannabis is decriminalized?

The Texas House of Representatives, the equivalent of our National Assembly, has in any case given its initial approval to a bill aimed at decriminalizing cannabis in the State. Earlier this Wednesday, a committee heard testimony about a separate bill to legalize and regulate cannabis sales more broadly.

The House passed Democratic Congressman Joe Moody’s bill at second reading in a loud vote, preparing it for final passage in the House.

“I’m very proud to present to you a bill that will reduce taxes, improve economic opportunity for Texans, and strengthen law enforcement’s ability to respond to serious crime,” Moody said. “Bill 218 changes the way we enforce laws relating to possession of cannabis for personal use. »

“Possession of a small amount of cannabis is still illegal, but we are approaching it in a smarter way than today,” he added. “This will free up hundreds of millions of dollars that are currently spent on law enforcement, keep police on the streets to work on more serious cases instead of dealing with these minor arrests and ensure that those who would currently end up with a criminal record that interferes with employment, school, housing, and obtaining a license exit the process without permanent stigma. »

The bill would make possession of up to one ounce (28 grams) of cannabis a Class C misdemeanor, removing the risk of imprisonment and instead imposing a maximum fine of $500. Current law classifies possession of small amounts of cannabis as a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

The bill also clarifies that possession of less than two ounces of cannabis does not result in an arrest, meaning offenders are cited and released. In addition, individuals who have been convicted of possessing less than two ounces of cannabis could request that those convictions be expunged through legal process upon payment of a $30 fee.

The vote comes about a month after a House of Representatives committee unanimously passed the measure, which would remove the risk of arrest or jail time for low-level cannabis possession and allow people to eventually erase cannabis-related offenses from their criminal records.

The House has already passed similar proposals to decriminalize cannabis in the last two legislative sessions, in 2021 and 2019. So far, the proposals have always stalled in the Senate due to opposition from Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.

It is not yet known whether Dan Patrick will again seek to block reform of Texas cannabis laws.

The Italian military, which remains the only producer of medical cannabis in the country, has halted production at its Florence facility due to “chronic understaffing”.

The shutdown risks further disrupting access to medical cannabis for Italy’s estimated 50,000 patients and increasing pressure on an already severely under-resourced supply chain.

It comes just months after the military announced its ambition to achieve triple-digit growth in medical cannabis production this year, to reach 700kg, marking what it described as the first step towards self-sufficiency. in Italy.

Stop production

On April 13, at a public event organized by the Association of Medical Cannabis Patients in Bologna, rumors that the production of medical cannabis could be threatened were confirmed.

The director of the military medical cannabis production plant in Florence, Colonel Gabriele Picchioni, told Italian publication Soft Secrets that production has been halted at the plant since April 5, 2023 and is expected to continue until in mid-June.

Mr Picchioni said the production of medical cannabis was indeed “currently suspended”, but that this was not due to a lack of staff, but rather “to work already planned” to build a new production line in the area. ‘facility.

In addition, he suggested that the establishment has “stocks that will compensate for temporary shortages” in its warehouse, and that “with imported cannabis, they should allow us not to have an impact on therapeutic continuity”.

Although he said production had “gone well” in the first quarter and similar production was expected to resume in June, he said “we’ll see if we’ll be able to to produce the 400kg required by the Ministry of Health”.

Fabrizio Dentini, who broke the news, disputed Mr Picchioni’s statement, telling Business of Cannabis: “The impact is a huge deception because not only is the state not supplying the full amount of medical cannabis required each year at national level (estimated at 1,500 kg), but it cannot even supply what has been requested by the Italian Ministry of Health (400 kg for 2023). »

“In this situation, we can expect that the Italian army will not even be able to produce 100 kg in 2023.”

Regarding the supply of medical cannabis grown in Italy, Mr Dentini suggested that it would likely remain in storage indefinitely anyway, as prescribing doctors prefer imported products such as Bediol from the Netherlands.

“Italian doctors prefer to prescribe Bediol instead of the Italian variety, so it will probably remain in the military depot until Bediol is no longer available on the Italian market. Why do Italian doctors prefer to prescribe Bediol? Simply because this strain is more often on the market and is therefore more reliable than the Italian strain”.

Maurizio Valliti, CEO of Italian medical cannabis dispensary Clinn, told Business of Cannabis that in his company’s experience there have been no problems with stock supply so far, and that the news would have “no negative impact on the supply and continuity of care”.

He added that only around 6% of the products currently prescribed by his clinic are domestically grown Italian medical cannabis.

Chronic staff shortage

Although Mr Picchioni claimed the production shutdown was planned, a union representative at the military factory painted a very different picture of the situation.

In late February, Umberto Fragassi told the Ministry of Health website that the “chronic lack of staff at various levels…and the absence of several key figures” threatened to lead to a “forced shutdown” of the supply of cannabis. medical.

He later told Soft Secrets that the facility would have to “double the number of people currently employed” to function properly.

“Indeed, in order to be able to produce on a large scale, you need adequate means, human resources and infrastructure which, to date, are insufficient. This is why we wonder how it is possible to continue to ensure, in this critical situation, a minimum production in accordance with the regulations of the sector”.

To remedy this “critical” situation, Mr. Fragassi called for a revision of the current framework, in order to streamline bureaucracy and thus improve the efficiency of the army.

To do this, he suggests transferring responsibility for the operation to the Presidency of the Council, instead of it coming under both the authority of Health and that of Defence.

“This hypothesis, which has always been opposed by politicians, would allow us to have the typical functioning and flexibility of a pharmaceutical factory, which is unthinkable today with the constraints of public administration. »

The Minnesota House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to legalize cannabis in the state after several weeks of extensive committee review and a two-day debate.

At the same time, the Senate’s complementary bill will be examined by its last committee today before possibly being presented to the Assembly, which should be done by the end of the week.

MP Zack Stephenson’s bill was approved by the full House, with amendments, by a vote of 71 to 59. Throughout the session, the text was considered by 15 committees before being submitted to the Assembly.

“Ladies and gentlemen of parliament, our cannabis laws are not respected. Prohibition has failed,” Zack Stephenson said Tuesday. “It’s not achieving any of its goals and its costs, in terms of dollars and inhuman costs, are overwhelming. »

“If you support prohibition because you want to limit the use of cannabis, you have to face the facts: it has been proven for 50 years that the criminal justice system cannot achieve this goal,” he said. declared. “I say this as a prosecutor. The criminal justice system cannot achieve this goal. If he could, don’t you think he would have done it already? “.

With a majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate and control of the governorship this session, Democratic Party officials have shown confidence that legalization will pass this year. The legislative session ends on May 22, which gives legislators a few weeks to adopt a finalized text.

Governor Tim Walz included funding for cannabis legalization in his budget last January and projected the millions of dollars in cannabis-related tax revenue his office expects after the reform takes effect.

Minnesota Cannabis Legalization Project Details

Here are the main elements of the revised cannabis legalization bills in Minnesota:

• Adults 21 and older could publicly buy and possess up to two ounces of cannabis (56 grams) and they would be allowed to grow up to eight plants at home, four of which could be in bloom.
• Possession of one and a half kilograms of cannabis in a private dwelling would be authorized
• It would be allowed to give up to two ounces of cannabis without remuneration between adults
• Previous cannabis offenses would also be expunged. THE Bureau of Criminal Apprehension would be responsible for identifying those eligible for relief and automatically erasing
• In addition to private companies, municipalities and state counties could own and operate public dispensaries
• On-site consumption permits could be approved for events, and cannabis delivery services would be permitted under the bill
• Municipalities would not have the right to prohibit cannabis businesses from setting up and operating on their territory, but they could set “reasonable” rules regarding the hours of operation and the location of these businesses
• Cannabis sales would be taxed between 8 and 10%. Thereafter, the Commissioner for Management and Budget would adjust the rate every two years so that revenue equals, or does not significantly exceed, the legalization implementation costs incurred by the various agencies.
• Part of the tax revenue would fund drug treatment programs, as well as grants to support farmers

The legislation would also promote social equity, including ensuring licensing diversity and awarding a higher score to pro-equity applicants. People living in low-income neighborhoods and military veterans who lost their honor status due to a cannabis-related offense would be considered social equity candidates eligible for priority licensing. . People convicted of cannabis-related offences, or who have an immediate family member with such a conviction, could also benefit from this measure.

During a progress report organized last Friday by the General Directorate of Health (DGS) for interested stakeholders, the health authorities embarked on the path of generalization of medical cannabis in France.

Resuming the course of the experiment and its extension, the DGS presented several exit scenarios from the “experiment” as well as the various work topics that will have to be addressed and finalized to achieve this.

The DGS thus hopes to initiate, as of June, the integration of the exit from experimentation into the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) 2024.

At the same time, the various decrees related to the cultivation of medical cannabis will have to be finalized and then notified at European level. They will supplement the already existing decree.

Finally, the status of cannabis-based medical products will have to be decided with different possible options (with or without MA, creation of an intermediate status, etc.), but a desire not to strictly restrict access to this type of product.

Other meetings are planned in particular to address the specific points of the creation of a medical cannabis production sector in France.

No questioning of failures

The DGS quickly evacuated the subject of stock shortages of the majority of products currently delivered within the framework of the experimentation of medical cannabis, putting this on the account of unsuccessful calls for tenders.

It should be remembered, however, that the DGS has not started the work necessary for the non-prolongation of the experiment during the 2 years that the first phase lasted. Faced with a forced extension of the device, the generalization having not been anticipated, a first call for tenders was launched to continue to supply drugs to patients.

While numerous alerts had been sent to the DGS, the main laboratory which supplied 60% of the products did not respond to this call for tenders, considering the financial effort too great after 2 years of supplying their products free of charge. A second call for tenders is currently underway to supply the first missing product and potentially the second.

Caution but kindness

Several people present at this meeting told us of their astonishment about the commitment to an exit from the experiment. This point had never really been recorded and is now present in the minds of health authorities.

And even if many details are still missing to imagine a future French sector of cannabis production for therapeutic purposes, the communication put in place by the DGS is “engaging for the actors of the sector” we are told. .

New York Governor Kathy Hochul launched a communication campaign last week to encourage consumers to buy their cannabis legally. New York State legalized cannabis in 2021 and has been working to establish a legal market ever since.

“To enhance the public health and safety of all New Yorkers, we are providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions and enjoy cannabis responsibly,” Ms. Hochul said in a statement from the governor’s office. . “As we continue to build a healthier and fairer cannabis market, I am proud to launch this important public education campaign to promote legal and safer purchases of cannabis from licensed dispensaries across the state. »

A campaign launched on 4/20

The new campaign, titled “Why Buy Legal New York,” was launched on April 20, when only a few outlets are now allowed to sell cannabis legally.

The initiative focuses on three points, namely protecting public health, promoting social equity and community reinvestments, and features licensed cannabis operators extolling the virtues of legal cannabis businesses and their products.

“We are thrilled to launch this campaign to promote the legal and safe purchase of cannabis in New York City,” said Tremaine Wright, chair of the New York Cannabis Enforcement Authority. “By supporting licensed dispensaries, consumers can be sure they are getting safe and properly labeled products, while supporting their local communities.”

The campaign, primarily online, will attempt to explain the potential risks associated with cannabis from the unregulated market, which does not require products to be lab tested to verify safety and potency.

The campaign ads will also highlight how buying cannabis on the legal market supports the state’s social and economic goals for communities across New York.

The initiative, aimed at 21-year-old cannabis users, includes educational materials, including the “Guide to Safer Cannabis Use” and information on how to find legal dispensaries in New York City. Campaign materials and tips for safer drinking are also available online.

“We want to make sure New Yorkers are educated about the potential risks and benefits of cannabis use,” said Chris Alexander, executive director of theOffice of Cannabis Management of New York State. “Our goal is to empower consumers to make informed decisions and ensure they have access to the safest products available. New York State has some amazing cannabis dispensaries, and I encourage cannabis users and the curious to visit these stores and see it for themselves.”

The first edition of the Platinum CBD Cup will take place on May 20, 2023 and promises to be one of the biggest events in the home CBD industry. The event will showcase several categories of CBD products, including CBD/CBG flowers indoor, outdoors or grown in greenhouses, CBD/CBG hash and edibles. Producers from across the continent will compete to showcase their wares and win prizes.

The Platinum CBD Cup is not just a CBD event. It also aims to celebrate and recognize the hard work and dedication of European CBD producers who are committed to producing quality products and working ethically. Given the growing demand for CBD products in Europe, it is increasingly important that consumers can have confidence in the products they buy. The Platinum CBD Cup will help spotlight the best producers in the industry, providing consumers with a reliable and safe source for their CBD needs.

Two conferences will accompany the event. A first on the political and legislative aspect of the CBD, with the former deputy François-Michel Lambert, the president of the Syndicat Professionnel du Chanvre Soic Gay-Pereira and the lawyer Nicolas Hachet. A second on the terroir, with the intervention of three experts: Jonathan DARTOIS (expert in living soil and creator of Pinnacle solutions), Maxime BORDELOT (sommelier and creator of Brume hemp wine) and Maël MARCELLIN (agricultural engineer and master grower at My Beautiful Plants).

The event will be held in Nantes and is expected to attract a wide range of industry professionals, enthusiasts and consumers. The jury will be made up of a group of experts with several years of experience in the cannabis industry and a “public” group. The public jury can participate by buying a pack containing the products of each of the participants until May 1st.

All the different juries will have until May 10, 2023 to send in the completed score sheets.

The Platinum CBD Cup is a great opportunity for European CBD producers to showcase their products and have their work recognized. The event isn’t just about getting rewards, though. It is also an opportunity for producers to get in touch with professionals in the sector and consumers, to develop their networks and to learn from each other.

Platinum CBD Cup
May 20, 2023 in Nantes at the Agronaute

More information: https://platinumcbdcup.eu/fr/