Cannabis legalization in Canada has shown “no statistically significant change in average cost per claim and claims frequency,” according to a new report from the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CASE). In other words, the legalization of cannabis has not increased the number of road accidents in Canada.

“The literature review shows that while cannabis impairment affects driving behavior, driving behavior is not always riskier; for example, slower speeds and longer following distances have been reported from cannabis-intoxicated drivers,” the study titled Assessing the Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization on Vehicle Accident Experience.

“Observational studies of road accidents report mixed results, most often not detecting significant effects, especially in the long term. »

Cannabis was legalized in Canada on October 17, 2018. In the months and years since legalization, industry players have reported little to no effect on auto claims.

For the CIA/CAS study published on December 7, Canadian and American data from 2016 to 2019 was used, including official reports of private vehicle collisions and losses in Canada, fatal accidents and factors. weather in the United States. To isolate and therefore rule out the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, data from 2020 or later is not used. For each data source, statistical and machine learning models were chosen to account for the different sources of variability.

The analysis of the 10 Canadian regions accounted for regional differences and modeled a basic linear trend that was also observed in the pre-legalization data alone.

“The analysis showed no statistically significant change in the average cost per claim and claims frequency following the legalization of cannabis in Canada,” the report states. “Quarterly data available for Quebec led to similar conclusions….. The study did not detect any statistically significant persistent impacts of decriminalization. »

Canadian data was from “Private Vehicle Collisions by Accident Year” in the General Insurance Statistical Agency Annual Reports (which includes insurance information for most Canadian regions, excluding insurance plans). public automobiles) and the Groupement des assureurs automobiles in Quebec.

“Methods used in this research include enhanced statistical models, machine learning, and other data science techniques. The models used high-resolution weather data to account for the effects of weather factors,” the report authors noted.

“The results for claims frequency per 100 vehicles lead to the same conclusions as the results for average cost per claim,” implying no significant effects,” the report states.

This is enough to revive the debate on the permissible THC level while driving and the means of measuring the impairment of abilities rather than a strict rate.

Drug policy is strange in that several opposing tendencies can operate at the same time within the same country. Today, Ireland, where a parliamentary commission recommends at least decriminalizing drugs while the Supreme Court is very strict on CBD products.

Regulation of drugs like cannabis should be looked at

On the flip side, a new report from Parliament’s Justice Committee recommends that the Irish government review the legalization of some drugs and allow the cultivation of others at a ‘not-for-profit’ level. The main objective of these measures would be to reduce the impact of the current black market in illicit substances.

Committee chairman James Lawless, of Fianna Fáil, said their thinking was based on a “three-pronged approach” to Irish drug policy, consisting of accelerating the current decriminalization process, examining a policy of drug regulation and to improve existing addiction support.

On drug regulation, James Lawless said it needed to be looked at in an “Irish context” and that a “managed market” could make the drugs that currently exist on the black market safer.

“In the regulations, there would be the concept of having a commercial product and having the product available, which can be controlled, managed, authorized, weighed, tested for compliance, safety, content in a way that is clearly not the case now,” he said.

The commission also recommended that “further research” be conducted on the pros and cons of “social clubs,” which can be used to grow personal amounts of cannabis or other substances for members.

CBD Hunt

On the face side, a Supreme Court ruling that ignores the findings of the KanaVape judgment could expose the Irish government to financial penalties and the threat of further sanctions from the European Commission.

Last month, the High Court ruled that CBD products containing THC are illegal in Ireland, in direct contradiction to the KanaVape judgment handed down in November 2020 by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

The case in question concerned Andrius Bogusas, from Dundalk, whose CBD oils from Slovenia were seized by customs in October 2020, on the grounds that they were prohibited by national legislation.

The defendant argued that they could be imported under European Union (EU) law, as was established in the KanaVape case, but in his High Court judgment, Judge Alexander Owens found that they were illegal because they contained THC.

Andrius Bogusas must now appeal and more than a dozen similar cases are currently pending in the Irish courts.

Take out the trays and make yourself comfortable. No matter how open your family or friends are to CBD, chances are you’ve thought about getting them a hemp-related gift this holiday season. Luckily for you, Stilla has you covered.

Whether the gift recipient enjoys herbal teas, cosmetics, or sweets, you can choose from over 20 CBD-related gifts starting at $3.90 that will appeal to any CBD enthusiast in your life. Because that is the spirit of Christmas, bringing people together! So get ready to think about these CBD freebies. Have fun and happy holidays browsing our list.

Stilla CBD infusions

If you want to favor a Made in France gift while enjoying the relaxing effects of CBD, CBD Stilla infusions are a must offer. Made from natural and organic ingredients, they contain 10% French hemp of a variety loaded with CBD. Stilla cultivates its hemp mainly near its facilities in Aquitaine before making the infusions in its laboratory. A short circuit, direct producer, direct manufacturer before joining your tree!

Stilla CBD Candies

CBD Stilla gummies are offered either with CBD only, or in the company of CBN, a minor cannabinoid from the hemp plant which is said to act on sleep. They are produced in Marmande from cannabinoids and terpenes from hemp plants grown by Stilla.

A new version also exists with CBD + CBG to act on pain.

Discreet gifts for precise effects!

CBD creams for athletes

Among the different types of CBD products, cosmetics are often overlooked. Stilla has deployed a whole range of sports sprays and creams containing cannabidiol for sports use in training and competition. These products are thus free of THC, a molecule detected during anti-doping controls.

Whether it’s a warming balm to apply before a warm-up or a Cryogel for an intense, immediate and lasting feeling of muscle or joint freshness, your sports friends will be boosted!

CBD pre-rolls

This last gift requires a certain open-mindedness to put it under the tree. But who knows, maybe someone will want to please you?

CBD Stilla pre-rolls are made from Aquitaine hemp (1.4g per pre-roll) and do not contain tobacco. The pack of 3 pre-rolls is at the time of writing these lines at €20.90.

On December 30, the French government attempted by order to restrict the sale of hemp leaves and flowers to “the industrial production of hemp extracts” by therefore prohibiting their sale to individuals in CBD shops or online.

The CBD industry, whose CBD flowers account for 50 to 70% of in-store sales, had not waited to prepare its legal response and file an interim release.

“We spent our New Year’s Eve there on December 31, then we filed our appeal before the Council of State on January 1. It was well registered on January 3, and was not rejected. So we hope that the judge will rule this week ”told us at the time Yann Bisiou, specialist in drug law and also legal consultant to the union Union of CBD Professionals (UPCBD).

The summary hearing was held in mid-January. It was an opportunity for the CBD world to make its voice heard in front of the Council of State and to highlight both the economic importance of the flower trade and the contradictions of authorizing the production of flowers for the extract but not for their direct sale.

“The government tells us: Apple juice is fine. The apple is amazing, and I’m hardly exaggerating! » joked the lawyer Cédric Uzan Sarano, who defends the Syndicat Professionnel du Chanvre (SPC) and the company Green Leaf.

The Council of State finally rendered its decision at the end of January and suspended the ban on the sale of CBD flowers wanted by the government and supported by MILDECA. Since then, the sale of hemp flowers is no longer prohibited without a real legal framework to regulate their trade except for the maximum rate of THC set at 0.3%.

As distilled in one of our articles yesterday, the Council of State must meet tomorrow, Wednesday, December 14, in order to rule on the pending ban on the sale of hemp flowers and leaves to individuals. The public rapporteur filed his conclusions yesterday to which the L630 association was able to have access: he recommends deleting II of Article 1 of the decree of December 30, 2021 which prohibits the sale of CBD flowers to individuals and restricts the cultivation of hemp to active farmers.

As Yann Bisiou reminds us, “ in 9 cases out of 10, the Council of State follows the public rapporteur“. The final decision will be made tomorrow.

The French association Kokopelli, known for the distribution of royalty-free and reproducible seeds, has decided to act to free CBD hemp.

Indeed, since the decree of December 30, 2021 which partly regulates hemp, the cultivation of hemp is prohibited for individuals and only authorized for “active farmers”. For individuals, only possession and consumption remains legal, but it is prohibited to grow your CBD, indoors or outdoors.

Kokopelli, who campaigns in particular for access for all to all seeds, has therefore launched an online petition which will serve as a basis for political action with various ministries to try to break the ban on self-cultivation of hemp. The objective is to have this ban on cultivation withdrawn for cannabis varieties offering a THC level below the legal limit, set at 0.3% today.

Until everyone can legally cultivate their garden, the association recommends obtaining CBD flowers from local producers or stores reselling their productions. She also recommends asking physical or online stores for organic cultivation certificates when they are promoted. Kokopelli also encourages the self-production of CBD wherever possible and legally permitted.

The association will hold a live on the subject on December 14.

Kokopelli is widely known for her many acts of civil disobedience to break the monopoly of global seedbanks on seeds she deems to be a common good. On the other hand, it has been criticized on several occasions for the positions of its founder or by former employees who denounced their working conditions.

The Swiss “Weed Care” pilot project, which is to be the first-ever trial of legal distribution of cannabis for adult use with THC in Europe, is scheduled to start on January 30, 2023 after a four-month delay.

This landmark study, which should “pave the way” for further adult cannabis trials in Switzerland and Europe, is back on track after the approval of a second batch of cannabis.

Pure Production AG has confirmed that it has received approval from Swiss health authorities to provide the trial, after its first 30kg batch “narrowly” failed to meet quality standards.

Those concerned hope that this delay will allow the first lessons to be learned from the project and will facilitate the realization of the many other important studies which should be authorized “in the coming weeks”.

The delay

The Weed Care pilot was originally scheduled to launch in Switzerland’s third most populous city, Basel, on September 15, and was to last until March 2025.

However, a few days before the launch of the regulated sale of cannabis for adult use in certain Basel pharmacies, the city’s health department announced that the cannabis supplied “just did not meet a quality standard stipulated in Narcotics Act Pilot Testing Ordinance”.

The Swiss legal framework surrounding the controlled sale of adult cannabis for research purposes requires that the products used be grown organically, rather than through much more tightly controlled indoor cultivation.

Analysis of the first batch of Pure revealed the presence of 0.1 to 0.2 parts per million (ppm) of fluopyram, a pesticide “not approved for organic cultivation”, which is believed to have come from greenhouse soil contaminated “from years before » Pure started using the site.

Although fluopyram levels are well within the limits of conventional food consumption (lettuce is at 15ppm), strict legislation guidelines led to the decision to incinerate the 30kg batch and suspend the trial waiting to find a solution.

Lino Cereghetti, COO of Pure Production, told BusinessCann: “At the end of the day, for us, there was never a question of releasing this batch, unless they choose to revise the thresholds, because we are fighting for the quality of cannabis in Switzerland for years. »

Limited options

Thus began a “six-week” discussion between the government and the pilot project on how to find an alternative source of product so that it could start as soon as possible.

“The options were limited, to be honest; there are not many recreational markets in the world that are able to export. Canada was considered, but then we had to make sure that the suppliers were growing organically according to Swiss regulations, which further reduced the number of potential suppliers,” Cereghetti explained.

While the option to import products from Canada was reported in the Swiss press amid radio silence from the Basel authorities, it is understood that this was only a “fallback option” if the second batch of Pure was not approved. The import would have been legally possible, the controlled distribution of cannabis for adult use being framed by an experimental and research status, which is very clearly authorized by the International Conventions.

“Even if we had used Canadian products, it would only have been to fill the void; they would have been replaced by Swiss production. »

While these discussions continued, Pure managed to harvest a second batch from another site which “has been organically farmed for 30 years”.

It has now received its authorization from the federal office, and it has been confirmed that its second batch “meets all the criteria of quality assurance”.

As originally planned, Pure will supply two hashish products and four cannabis flower products to selected Basel pharmacies, which will be able to purchase them from January 30, 2023.

Participants will be able to purchase these six products legally for the duration of the pilot – Credit Pure Holdings AG

Despite this delay, the health department of Basel-City, the university psychiatric clinics, the Aargau psychiatric services and the University of Basel continued to recruit.

Approximately 340 participants out of a total of 370 have been enrolled and will be included in the study, with the remaining 30 to be enrolled before the start date.

Lessons learned

Mr. Cereghetti said that while he “does not see any other obstacles to the implementation of this project”, it is not called an “experimental project by chance”.

He suggested that the whole approach of the study was to gather evidence in order to create a better regulatory system, and that this delay “will provide the first lessons for large-scale regulation later”.

Furthermore, he argued that the lessons learned from this delay will make “easier and faster” what should be nearly a dozen similar pilots following in the weeks and months to come.

“We are doing pioneering work here for the entire cannabis industry in Switzerland. Those who will follow us will have the easier task thanks to the cost of learning that we paid. »

“A lot of things have been tested for the first time. Many processes and pathways that did not exist before have now been created. »

The Academy of Medicine, usually not very friendly on the subject, asks in a press release published at the end of last week for better information on CBD products.

Recalling first of all what CBD is and the current regulation, the Academy offers:

• that better information be presented on the products, with in particular the risks of drug interactions or the clear presence of THC for full-spectrum products, with warnings of potential positivity in the event of driving or for sportsmen / soldiers…
• that a dose of 50mg/day is considered the maximum recommended daily dosage. Beyond that, the advice of a health specialist would be advised.
• that a regulation finally harmonizes the rules for over-the-counter CBD products

The Academy of Medicine also calls for the implementation of studies to determine whether or not the consumption of smoked CBD constitutes a behavioral incitement to the use of cigarettes or joints.

The communication from the Academy comes as the Council of State is due to meet on Wednesday, December 14 to rule on the pending ban on the sale of hemp flowers and leaves to individuals.

Last January, the Council of State had indeed broken part of the decree of December 30, 2021 which wanted to prohibit the sale of CBD flowers. Taking advantage of a gray market, the CBD industry was relieved of this decision. She must now wait for a decision on the merits and will be fixed on her fate this week.

The opinion of the public rapporteur, who is only advisory, must also be delivered today, December 12, 48 hours before the hearing.

Cannabis dispensaries across the state of Rhode Island sold more than $1.63 million worth of cannabis in the first week of adult cannabis sales in the state.

Earlier this year, Rhode Island became the 19th US state to legalize cannabis for adult use. Under the measure, adults 21 and older are allowed to buy and possess up to one ounce of cannabis, keep up to 10 ounces in their homes, and grow up to six cannabis plants in their homes. .

Total first-week cannabis sales cover approximately $786,000 of adult-use cannabis and $845,400 of medical cannabis.

The state can expect to collect about $133,600 in cannabis taxes in the first week, of which about $23,500 goes to local governments that host the stores. Adult cannabis sales in the state are taxed at 20%, while medical sales are only subject to the state’s 7% sales tax.

By comparison, the state saw just over $1 million in medical cannabis sales in the last week of October.

In addition to the launch of adult-use sales on December 1, Rhode Island also stopped charging fees to register or renew the registration of medical cannabis patients under the program.

The state also expects revenue to decline due to the loss of cannabis-related court costs following the mass expungement of cannabis possession charges. In total, the Office of State Management and Budget said it expects the $5.9 million in tax revenue from cannabis this fiscal year to bring in just $368,000 after expenses.

In the neighboring state of Connecticut, legal sales should begin in early 2023.