Medical cannabis companies in Denmark have attracted outside capital amounting to more than 1.5 billion Danish kroner (about 200 million euros) or an average of $6 million per company.

According to a new report, conducted by Copenhagen-based Iris Group for investment promotion agency Invest in Odense, and reported by MJBIZ Daily, the largest investments come from founders and employees who have invested $90 million. euros, i.e. 44% of investments.

The other sources of funding were:

• Share capital (25%)
• Seed capital and venture capital (25%)
• Loan capital (25%)
• Grants from public funds or programs (15%)
• Angel investors (10%)
• Other sources (5%)

For its report, Iris Group surveyed Denmark’s 36 medical cannabis companies in 2021, including big names like Aurora or Little Green Pharma, which employ a total of 286 full-time people.

“Most of the growth of the European medical cannabis sector will be generated by sales of extracts and isolates rather than dried flowers,” the report notes, citing various forecasts.

Dried flower cannabis accounted for less than 90% of medical cannabis sales in Europe in 2020, falling to just over 70% in 2021 and over 50% in 2022. A report by Prohibition Partners in 2021 suggested that the flower could fall to just under 45% of all sales in 2023.

The Danish government launched a four-year pilot program for medical cannabis in 2018. The program was extended in 2021.

The report, however, does not give many details about the difficulties of the program. It had peaked at 1,000 enrolled patients in the second quarter of 2019, but has failed to reach 500 patients in each of the past nine consecutive quarters.

The program has therefore seen no growth over the past 2 years, with the vast majority of medical cannabis use remaining underground.

The report says Danish medical cannabis companies expect future growth to be driven primarily by increased exports rather than opening up the domestic market.

Following various online comments from cannabis sellers in Ontario posted in April, the Ontario Cannabis Office (OCS), the province’s only cannabis wholesaler for adult cannabis, sent a letter to retailers and licensed producers confirming that a data breach has occurred.

According to several sources, this data contained information on the sales of each cannabis store in the province, without any consumer data.

The leaked data could prove invaluable to producers looking to better understand which stores have the highest sales, as well as companies looking to buy out existing retailers.

The OCS has notified the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), who are investigating the matter.

Daffyd Roderick, Senior Director of Communications and Social Responsibility, explained to StratCann :

“This data has been diverted, it is not a failure of our IT systems or our security. As this is a criminal matter under investigation by the OPP, we cannot comment further. »

LOCS yesterday sent a letter to retailers and producers which states in particular:

“This data has not been disclosed by the OSC, and we have given no permission or consent to distribute or use this data outside of our organization. This data has been misappropriated, disclosed and distributed illegally. Accordingly, we hope that you will refrain from sharing or using this stolen data in any way.

“As soon as we became aware of this issue, we took immediate action to remedy the situation: we restricted access to our internal data reports, we began a thorough investigation to identify the source of this problem and we informed the Ontario Provincial Police. The OPP is conducting its own review and investigation into the misuse of this data within the cannabis industry. »

Sadiq Khan, the current Mayor of London, has announced the creation of a commission to examine the effectiveness of UK drug laws, in particular those governing cannabis.

The London Drugs Commission, which will be chaired by Lord Charlie Falconer QC, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, was one of the promises in Sadiq Khan’s manifesto when he was re-elected last year.

The Mayor of London’s office said a panel of independent experts from the fields of criminal justice, public health, politics, community relations and academia will be convened to review the evidence gathered in the around the world on the results of different drug policies.

Sadiq Khan is currently on a four-day visit to the United States to promote investment in London to support its post-pandemic recovery. The trip also included a fact-finding mission to Los Angeles to see the impact of the city’s, and state’s, decision to legalize cannabis in 2016.

The British mayor visited a dispensary and cannabis grow facility, met with retailers and licensed growers, and spoke with officials from the Los Angeles Police Department and local city government.

A study commission for the legislator

California legalized the recreational use of cannabis after a public ballot that was approved by 57% of voters. Counties and cities across the state can still choose to prohibit the sale or location of cannabis businesses.

The London commission will aim to assess the best ways to prevent drug use, the most effective criminal justice responses and the public health benefits of different approaches. Once completed, it will make policy recommendations for city hall, government, police, the criminal justice system and public health services.

Announcing the creation of the commission, Mr Khan said he believed it would help “to tackle drug-related crime, protect the health of Londoners and reduce the enormous damage that illegal drugs cause to our communities”.

He added: “The illegal drug trade is causing enormous harm to our society and we need to do more to fight this epidemic and move the debate around our drug laws forward. That’s why I’m here today in Los Angeles, to see firsthand their approach to cannabis. »

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said decriminalizing cannabis provides “historically marginalized communities with opportunities for healing, entrepreneurship and wealth creation” in a growing industry. “Cities have so much to learn from each other, and I applaud Mayor Khan’s thoughtful approach as London moves forward,” he said.

The driver study was conducted by researchers from the Center for Health, Analytics, Media and PolicyRTI International and theOffice of Research Protection at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. It was published online on April 23 and will be published in Preventive Medicine Reports in June 2022.

The study analyzed the consumer behavior of 1,249 people. More than a third of participants said they had driven under the influence within three hours of using them in the past 30 days, and another third shared their cannabis use within 20 days or more over a 30-day period.

“Current cannabis users in states where cannabis is used for recreational and medical purposes were significantly less likely to report driving within three hours of using in the past 30 days, compared to current users living in States without legal cannabis,” the researchers write. “The only exception was frequent cannabis users who lived in states where cannabis is permitted for medical purposes only. Their risk of DUIC [conduite sous l’influence du cannabis] did not differ significantly from that of frequent users living in states without legal cannabis. »

Researchers have suggested a solution to combat driving under the influence of cannabis, which should be specifically targeted at states without legal cannabis programs. “Our results suggest that prevention of driving under the influence is more necessary in states without cannabis legalization. Since regulation of cannabis products in non-legal environments is not possible, mass media campaigns can be a good option to provide education on DUIC. »

Overall, the researchers concluded that education campaigns could help keep people from driving immediately after using cannabis. “While all states should educate their citizens about the potential dangers of cannabis use and driving, this analysis suggests that states without legal cannabis are particularly in need of DUIC prevention efforts,” they wrote. . “States should consider mass media campaigns to educate all cannabis users, including frequent users, about the dangers of drinking and driving. Medical states may consider targeting frequent users by disseminating drink-driving information through medical dispensaries. »

The study also shared that it found three other studies supporting the same view. Two were shared in 2020, and one was published in 2021, with different levels of approach regarding the analysis of the effect of the legalization of recreational and/or medical cannabis.

States like Massachusetts are gearing up to strengthen enforcement of driving under the influence laws. Governor Charlie Baker announced legislation in November 2021 that “will provide law enforcement officers with more rigorous drug detection training and strengthen the legal process by allowing courts to recognize that the active ingredient marijuana can and does weaken motorists”. However, Baker’s legislation does not address how to approach the measurement of impairment or how to properly determine whether someone has recently used cannabis and is impaired, or whether they used it days or weeks before. an incident and is no longer impaired.

A recent study published in Canada expresses the need for a better way to accurately detect impairment. “We would like to have a single measure that would let us know whether or not that person is impaired,” said lead author Sarah Windle. “But unfortunately, in the case of cannabis, it’s just not that simple.”

With demand skyrocketing, CBD products have a huge need to be more widely available. No wonder when you know that sales of CBD reached 400 million euros in 2021 and continue to grow.

Wholesalers offer many advantages to professionals. Not only are CBD products sold at wholesale prices, but they are also available in large quantities. If you are interested in wholesale CBD products, you should look for a CBD wholesaler like Elevation CBD.

Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Wholesaler

It is not always easy to find the right CBD wholesaler as the wellness hemp industry is so opaque today. It is also a risk if you are an e-merchant or seller in a physical store to contact a wholesaler who does not respect basic good practices in the field and sells you poor quality products.

So how do you tell a good CBD wholesaler from a bad one? There are many factors to consider before deciding which CBD wholesaler to work with.

Agricultural practices

High-quality CBD products start with quality farming practices. When looking for CBD wholesale companies, you need to pay close attention to where and how the hemp is grown.

Look for a wholesaler who can certify that the hemp from which CBD flowers or CBD extracts are made is grown organically, GMO-free and pesticide-free. These chemicals can seep into the plant and therefore into the resulting CBD extract or product.

Extract type

There are three different types of CBD extracts: isolate, broad spectrum, and full spectrum. Understanding the different types of extracts is an important detail to consider in order to be able to choose the right products for your clients.

CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD. Broad-spectrum CBD contains other plant compounds but is 100% THC-free. Full-spectrum CBD contains all plant compounds, including THC. However, products made from full-spectrum CBD must contain less than 0.3% THC in order to meet legal standards.

Legality

Even if the CBD industry is very little regulated in France, an essential criterion of legality exists. CBD products should not contain more than 0.3% THC.

You can make sure a CBD product is legal by reviewing the Certificate of Analysis. This document provides detailed information about a product’s composition, including THC content, CBD content, and details about other compounds.

If the COA indicates a THC content greater than 0.3%, the product is not legal! You should also avoid becoming a distributor of a brand whose products are not tested by an independent laboratory.

Variety of products

Consumers like to have a variety of products to choose from. This means that you will want to distribute products from a wholesaler that offers all kinds of CBD products, including oils, resins, or vape pens. By having many products to choose from, customers are more likely to find the one that best suits their needs.

In addition to a variety of CBD product options, it is also important to stock many different strengths and flavors. The more varied products you offer on your shelves, the better.

Price and value

Price and value are important things to consider when choosing your CBD wholesaler. You don’t want to choose a very low budget wholesaler, just like you don’t want to choose one that sells extremely expensive products. Look for CBD wholesalers that are part of the premium markets, like Elevation CBD. These brands tend to sell high quality, safe and effective products.

The famous American actor Woody Harrelson, known for his roles in True Detective or Hunger Games, will be a judge at the 18th edition of the Emerald Cup, rewarding the best organic weeds in California.

An honor but not a surprise for Woody Harrelson, historical activist in favor of the legalization of cannabis in the United States.

In 1996, Harrelson was arrested in Kentucky after symbolically planting four hemp seeds, to show that the law did not distinguish between industrial hemp and “marijuana”.

Addressing LA Weekly, Tim Blake, Founder of the Emerald Cup, said, “Woody got into cannabis activism when it wasn’t popular. People thought he was crazy or he was an eccentric with strange beliefs. He didn’t care. He was passionate. »

Harrelson said: “It’s quite amazing because, to be honest, I never thought we would get to this point. I never thought it would be legal, let alone that I could go and buy it in a store. So it’s very exciting. I don’t take much credit for it, but a lot of people worked really hard to make it happen. »

The next Emerald Cup awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on May 14, at the Montalbán Theater in Hollywood.

“The Woods”, Woody Harrelson’s cannabis dispensary

The 60-year-old artist will soon open his dispensary, The Woods, in West Hollywood. Woody Harrelson will serve as CEO and Devon Wheeler, founder of ERBA Markets dispensary, as COO.

The interior of The Woods dispensary

“The Woods” will allow different types of business to be carried out in one place: the dispensary, on-site consumption and a place to organize delivery operations.

“He has everything, but above all, he is incredibly handsome. We have an amazing outdoor space with a koi pond,” Harrelson told LA Weekly.

Meanwhile, Woody pointed out that his dispensary will sell organic, outdoor-grown cannabis.

“Most people want indoor cannabis. We’ll have it at ‘The Woods’ because I don’t want to turn away potential clients. But my dream is to promote and help people see the essence of sun-kissed grass. »

Referring to the “great THC run”, the actor, who had quit for a while, said he preferred less THC, rather than feeling a very strong high.

“I don’t know why you need 30% THC. For me, 15% THC is just awesome. If you just want to take a puff on a joint and lose your balance, what’s the point of that? Won’t you smoke some? Most smokers I know don’t want to take a single puff on a joint. »

More than 12,000 customers purchased nearly $2 million worth of adult cannabis products on the first day of sale in New Jersey, according to figures released Wednesday by the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

Twelve dispensaries reported total gross sales of nearly $1.9 million from 12,438 customers.

Despite concerns that recreational sales could threaten the supply of medical products users, the market for medical products remained robust, with approximately 64,000 ounces (1.8 tons) of medical products distributed to patients and their families. caregivers in the past month.

Medical consumers rushed to stock up, with dispensaries selling 5,400 ounces (153 kg) alone last Wednesday, the day before the recreational market launched, more than double the daily average of the previous month.

To speed up the launch of New Jersey’s recreational market, the Cannabis Commission voted earlier this month to license 13 medical cannabis dispensaries to also sell adult cannabis.

Jeff Brown, the commission’s executive director, said officials expected recreational sales to be “substantial.”

“The data shows the market is effectively serving adult consumers and patients,” Brown said in a statement. “We continue to monitor inventory and patient access and are prepared to take enforcement action against any dispensary that fails to meet patient access and supply requirements. »

The New Jersey market, barely 9 million inhabitants, should exceed 2 billion dollars a year once the regulation is fully deployed, according to estimates by MJBiz.

In New Mexico, which launched the sale of recreational cannabis earlier this month, customers spent more than $1.9 million on opening day, for 2 million residents in the state, not counting sales of medical cannabis.

The province and city of Oaxaca, Mexico, seem tired of waiting for future cannabis regulation to be in place.

A few weeks ago, theAsociacion Indigenous Producer of Cannabis of Oaxaca (AIPCO), a non-profit organization in Oaxaca made up of local indigenous cannabis growers, has given indigenous communities 26 medical cannabis cultivation licenses issued by the Mexican Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (Cofepris). This authorization was already legal “in theory”, but had never been put in place for lack of federal regulation.

At the same time, the government of the state capital, Oaxaca de Juárez, informed civil society that since there are no municipal regulations prohibiting the responsible consumption of cannabis by individuals in public spaces, local police are reportedly instructed not to disturb cannabis users in the capital.

A change in policy that fell a few days before the 420, duly celebrated in Oaxaca. In its letter, the city warned consumers to express their new freedom without disturbing that of those around them.

“There are no city bylaws that expressly prohibit the responsible personal use of cannabis in public spaces,” the letter states. “A call is made to consumers to avoid consuming cannabis in places where there are children or where other people explicitly disagree. »

Felicidades Municipality of Oaxaca
A día histórico para la comunidad cannabis en #Oaxaca Movimiento Cannabico Oaxaqueño #MoCO pic.twitter.com/L7k4Z8vtyr

— Cannabis Libre AC (@cannalibremx) April 14, 2022

“The municipal authority urges the municipal police to refrain from causing inconvenience to consumers and to only ask them to move if they smoke near children or people who categorically oppose it . »

Federal legalization is still progressing, slowly

As Newsweed previously reported, federal laws remain unclear and uncertain when it comes to cannabis use. Mexico’s legislature continues to deliberate slowly on legalization after a series of Supreme Court rulings overturning prohibition. While the federal process has bogged down, the provinces and municipalities are taking over the subject, as here in Oaxaca.

The Mexican Congress could legalize it later this year, beyond the hesitations of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. His last stance on the issue came last summer, when he floated the idea of ​​a national referendum on legalization, for which he says there is no consensus.