Author: daryna muravenko

When assessing the long-term viability of the cannabinoid market, it’s natural to turn to Europe. Classically conservative in its economic outlook, the European bloc is hard to sway in favor of trends.

Innovations of genuine value, though, are inevitably brought within the fold of European daily life. It’s no wonder that Europeans are clamoring for cannabinoids, but it’s also understandable that growth is hampered by various factors.

For deeper insight into the evolving European cannabinoid industry, we turn to a recent report published by Prohibition Partners. Then, we’ll unpack our expertise in the European region to provide advice for entrepreneurs aspiring to evangelize cannabinoids on the continent.

The latest Prohibition Partners data

Cannabis market researcher Prohibition Partners regularly releases new reports on the international cannabis industry, one of the latest being titled The European Cannabis Report: 7th Edition¹ — free for download on the firm’s website. In this report, everyone from industry CEOs to cannabis activists weigh in on the current status of European cannabinoids, providing honest, multifaceted analysis.

Overview of an evolving European market

Beginning with comments on how LEDs are making the European cannabis industry greener and more efficient, Prohibition Partners goes on to detail its methods in compiling the report before turning to expert interviews and initial takeaway points. The interview section is rife with jargon like “becoming more diverse” and “democratizing,” but once Prohibition Partners gets into its factual analysis, the focus tightens.

Medical cannabis remains the main system by which cannabinoids are dispensed in Europe. Prohibition Partners expects this branch of the European cannabinoid industry to grow from €354 million in 2022 to €2.3 billion in 2026.

Turning to CBD, Prohibition Partners notes that the European Commission has moved forward with plans to make it possible for certain CBD products to be regulated as food. If these efforts are successful, many smaller producers will likely be shuttered, triggering consolidation into the hands of more-capable, larger companies.

Growth to remain steady during a consolidation period

Getting into the raw data, here’s what Prohibition Partners predicts for the next few years of overall revenue in European CBD:

– 2022: €3.05bn

– 2023: €3.39bn

– 2024: €3.47bn

– 2025: €3.43bn

– 2026: €3.44bn

At a glance, these predictions could indicate that the European CBD industry is heading for a period of stagnation. Deeper analysis reveals a different picture, however.

Continuing its analysis, Prohibition Partners first notes that the European stance toward CBD is fragmented. Each country has its own views on the cannabinoid — both socially and in a legislative sense. CBD may be widespread and just as widely accepted in the UK, for instance, but it’s often still associated with marijuana just across the Channel in France.

There are promising signs that European regulatory authorities are moving to allow larger brands to consolidate their influence throughout the entirety of the continental bloc, however. In November 2020, for instance, the European Court of Justice ruled that CBD should not be considered a narcotic.

With European regulatory authorities continually moving to mainstream CBD, resistance to the cannabinoid will likely soon gravitate to those nations that generally eschew the EU’s centralized mandates. The most striking exception to this rule is the UK, which has used its independence from the EU to fully embrace CBD more than any other European country.

Exploring regional dynamics

If an overall consolidation of European political power is ever to take place, it won’t occur over the issue of cannabinoid legalization. European countries will continue to go their own way both culturally and in a regulatory sense, so it may be prudent to approach each European culture differently rather than attempt to defragment the continent all by yourself.

In the UK, for instance, full-spectrum CBD is often whole-heartedly embraced despite its THC content. Other European nations, however, are more skeptical of anything related to THC. Instead of attempting to shift their perspectives toward the UK position, respect the stage they’ve achieved in cannabinoid acceptance, and start with isolated extracts.

Ultimately, the only difference between the European and North American cannabinoid markets is the levels of complexity. Just as many (more, in fact) people in Europe want to use CBD and other cannabinoids, it’s just a matter of helping their governments allow equitable access.

US growth provides an EU roadmap

Some commentators take a cursory look at the European cannabis market and throw their hands up in despair. How could it be possible for so many countries to agree on how to regulate cannabinoids?

It’s not as if the situation in Europe is entirely unique. The cannabinoid industry faced numerous hurdles and setbacks in the United States, for instance, before becoming the mainstream component of society that it is today. Even in Canada, consumers manage to access cannabinoids in a regulatory climate just as oppressive as the EU’s, so it’s clearly possible for cannabinoids to thrive even under adverse circumstances.

Why are cannabinoids taking longer to take off in Europe, then, and what can we all do to help the industry thrive faster? Those are some of the questions we’ll be exploring in this section.

Cannabinoids becoming mainstream worldwide

The pressure being placed on governments and regulators worldwide to open up on cannabinoids is reaching a boiling point. CBD, CBG, and a whole host of other hemp cannabinoids are now available in the United States, and there have been no related increases in crime, car crashes, or the like.

The example of the United States has proven to the world that there is little to be feared from legalizing hemp cannabinoids. As a result, the government’s reasoning for keeping hemp illegal are becoming increasingly threadbare. It’s only a matter of time before Europe appeases the public and makes access to cannabinoids efficient and streamlined.

Legacy relationships are tantamount

Now is not the era of headlong European expansion. On the contrary, at least a handful of smaller cannabinoid brands fold every day in Europe. The European cannabinoid industry would massively deflate over the next few years if the revenue formerly accrued by smaller CBD companies weren’t already on its way to the hands of more qualified, larger producers.

As regulations regarding cannabinoids in Europe become more sensible, it will become easier for more-established operators in the United States and Canada to enter the European market. Since they offer better products at better prices and are easier to work with for suppliers, regulators, and consumers alike, the cannabinoid industry will naturally consolidate under the influence of these competent operators.

Establishing or maintaining relationships with the world’s largest bulk cannabinoid producers will be a vital necessity for operators throughout the European cannabinoid supply chain. As this decade wanes, Europe will open up to the wider world of hemp, providing massive opportunities for those who align with companies that have already acquired coveted industry relationships and access.

Massively untapped potential

The population of Europe is approximately 750 million people. Compare that to the population of the United States, which sits at around 330 million. So, why does a CBD market that is 2.2 times the size of its competitor nonetheless bring in less than the US?

According to a different Prohibition Partners report², the US CBD industry was worth around $4.1 billion in 2022 and will be worth around the same amount in 2026. Changed into US dollars, Prohibition Partners pegs the European CBD industry at $3.2 billion in 2022, swelling to $3.77 billion in 2026.

The positive takeaway is that the European CBD industry will be worth nearly as much as the US CBD industry by 2026. The only difficult part is that the European CBD market is nearly twice the size of its US counterpart. If the US CBD market is worth $4 billion, the EU CBD market would need to be worth $8 billion to be representative.

The dawning decade of European cannabinoids

How will the European cannabinoid industry transform from its current state into a genuine rival of the markets in North America? The key approach for both domestic and foreign operators will be to spend equal time appeasing the EU and reaching out to individual national markets.

The needs and concerns of, say, the Italian CBD shopper could be very different from those of the Irish. European borders shift often throughout history, but cultures and ethnicities remain intact, resulting in a patchwork of cultural values of unsurpassed richness and complexity.

Success stories of individual markets, such as the UK, should be observed in greater detail to glean good ideas. Areas that are currently struggling, such as Germany and the Netherlands, can serve as cautionary tales and areas for improvement.

Cannabis legalization won’t be the issue that makes or breaks European unification. What it does show, however, is that Europe is still a very vibrant and dynamic organism — would-be cannabinoid entrepreneurs will need to study up if they hope to approach this market profitably.

European cannabinoid market FAQ

Dive deeper into the European CBD market in the following FAQ section:

1. What is the EU position on CBD?

The EU does not consider CBD³ to be a narcotic drug. It either considers CBD to be a novel drug or a novel food depending on the product type. So far, the EU has not opined on acceptable THC levels in CBD products, leaving this determination to individual member nations.

2. Is CBD legal in Germany?

Most CBD products are legal in Germany as long as they contain less than 0.2% THC. Certain types of CBD products, however, such as edibles and flower, may not be legal in Germany.

3. Is CBD legal in France?

Yes, CBD is legal in France as long as it contains less than 0.3% THC. And, due to a recent court ruling⁴, even CBD flower is now legal in France as well.

4. How big is the CBD market in Europe?

According to the latest Prohibition Partners data, the European CBD industry is worth around €3.39bn. This makes the European CBD market the second-largest in the world next to the US CBD industry.

5. What is the future of CBD in Europe?

The future of the European CBD industry looks bright with both EU and member nation regulators coming together to make rulings on CBD in food and other significant concerns. While growth will not be quite explosive over the coming years, the European CBD industry will continue to consolidate and evolve, rewarding responsible companies.

Sources

1. The European Cannabis Report: 7th Edition | Reports | Prohibition Partners. (2022, April 8). Prohibition Partners. https://prohibitionpartners.com/reports/the-european-cannabis-report-7th-edition/

2. Statista. (2022, October 10). CBD product dollars sales in the United States from 2022 to 2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1067467/cbd-product-dollar-sales-us/

3. European Food Safety Authority. (2022, June 7). Cannabidiol novel food evaluations on hold pending new data. European Food Safety Authority. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/cannabidiol-novel-food-evaluations-hold-pending-new-data

4. Sabaghi, D. (2023, January 5). France’s Court Overturns Government Ban On Sale Of CBD Flowers. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2023/01/05/frances-court-overturns-government-ban-on-sale-of-cbd-flowers/#:~:text=A%20French%20court%20has%20overturned,strict%20legislation%20in%20recent%20years.

Cannabigerol (CBG) isolate is an ultra-pure cannabinoid extract that contains greater than 98% CBG. While CBG is similar to cannabidiol (CBD) in many ways, CBG is a distinct molecule with its own set of properties. Accordingly, there is a unique market for CBG products. GVB Biopharma’s CBG isolate can also be combined with other cannabinoid extracts to harness a potential form of cannabinoid synergy, called the entourage effect. This effect is the embodiment of the idea that the sum is greater than its parts. In this effect,  cannabinoid compounds work together to produce a more beneficial effect than when used alone¹.

Since our ultra-pure CBG is in powdered form, it is easy to add bulk CBG to almost any other product type. In this guide, you’ll learn more about the potential uses of our CBG concentrate and why GVB Biopharma is one of the world’s premier producers of this niche bulk ingredient.

To order samples, or learn more about our CBG Isolate click here

What is CBG Isolate?

This isolate is a type of hemp extract that has been purified so that almost all other substances besides CBG have been eliminated. GVB Biopharma’s CBG isolate routinely tests at ~99% purity, making our CBG preparation one of the purest options on the market.

While other forms of CBG extract possess tiny amounts of CBG from low-yielding hemp plants, GVB Biopharma derives its bulk CBG isolate and CBG Distillate from plants that have been bred to contain high levels of cannabigerol.2 Not only is deriving CBG from high-CBG producing plants more efficient and environmentally friendly but also requires less processing.

In GVB Biopharma’s isolate, nearly all traces of compounds other than CBG have been removed from the extract. Furthermore, this powdered extract contains non-detectable levels of THC. There is so little of this intoxicating cannabinoid present that even the most advanced testing equipment cannot detect it. Our CBG preparation does not contain detectable levels of CBD, CBN, CBC, or any of the other cannabinoids.

Now that the CBD market is firmly established, consumers are looking to CBG for variety and its unique properties. Whether you choose to combine our CBG isolate with CBD or other stand-alone cannabigerol products, there are many products consumers are learning to associate with CBG.

Which product types are ideal for CBG isolate?

Our CBG preparation can be used in any product where CBD isolate is currently used. For instance, this powder can be added to tinctures, capsules, and other orally ingested products. CBG is also becoming popular in topical products due to growing awareness of this cannabinoid’s potential for treating pruritus (itchy, dry skin) and inflammatory skin diseases³.

Like other purified cannabinoid products, CBG is easy to work with. Since the isolate is ~99%-pure, it is easy to calculate dosages when formulating CBG products. Our CBG isolate is ideal in products that wish to include the particular benefits of cannabigerol. This bulk ingredient adds value to CBD products due to its synergy with other cannabinoids.

Combining CBD and CBG easily creates products that provide cannabinoid synergy. Purified CBD products generally target consumers who do not wish to consume any THC. However, these products do not provide any entourage effect. By adding CBG, these consumers can enjoy the improved synergy of the combined cannabinoids without any  THC in their product⁴.

Why is GVB Biopharma the best source of bulk CBG isolate?

GVB Biopharma rises above the competition by producing this product from only high-CBG hemp plants. Since our CBG comes from hemp flowers that are already high in CBG, less agricultural space is used and less plant material is wasted, resulting in better, environmentally friendly, less expensive, bulk ingredients.

Our CBG isolate is incredibly pure and sustainably derived, providing better reliability and effectiveness than competing bulk CBG ingredients. In addition, our strict oversight at every stage of production ensures that our bulk CBG isolate meets or exceeds the highest regulatory and compliance standards.

Currently, GVB Biopharma is one of the world’s most popular producers of wholesale purified CBG extract.  We owe our success to rigorous, multi-stage testing, total transparency, and state-of-the-art production processes. Our clients trust us for timely and reliable CBG delivery.  In the following section, we’ll discuss each of the factors that set GVB Biopharma apart from our competitors.

Testing and Quality

All GVB Biopharma products are tested multiple times throughout the production process. First, we test the seeds used to grow our hemp crops to ensure that they meet our purity and quality standards. As our hemp grows and matures, we make regular quality control assessments to ensure that no pesticides or other toxins contaminate our crops.

We test our newly harvested hemp to make sure that our previous quality control measures were accurate. We test the crude extract, derived from our hemp, to ensure that no residual solvents are present. Once THC and the other unnecessary components in this crude extract have been removed, we test our proprietary CBG isolate to ensure that it contains the proper concentration of cannabigerol.

Customers may buy our CBG  and manufacture their own products or allow us to infuse CBG into white-label products that they can bring to market. If you select either of these services, we will test all products for purity and potency prior to shipment.

Very few cannabinoid producers undertake such stringent measures to ensure that their CBG is of high-potency and free of contaminants (like heavy metals). Lab reports are readily available for both our bulk CBG isolate and our pre-made products that contain this CBG concentrate.

Certified Producer

At GVB Biopharma, we proactively seek any and all certifications that may be relevant to our business operations. We were one of the first hemp facilities in Oregon to receive food-grade certification. We also work with local fire marshals to ensure that all of our facilities are compliant with current fire safety standards.

Most importantly, GVB Oregon holds an ISO 9001:2015 certification and NSF International’s Good Manufacturing Practice Registration for dietary supplements. NSF International is a leading certification agency that verifies a manufacturing facility has the proper methods, equipment, facilities, and controls in place to produce dietary supplement products in accordance with the pertinent U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s regulations.

GVB also recently received a Handling certification from California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and has started producing Certified Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API).

Each of our certifications demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest possible levels of quality control and quality assurance. Furthermore, we observe all OSHA workplace safety standards and fire code requirements to ensure no hazardous contaminants are present.

Third-party validation is necessary to confirm the purity of our products and the integrity of our organization. Every certification ensures that GVB Biopharma is one of the nation’s most reputable suppliers of CBD isolate, other cannabinoid extracts, and finished products.

Fast Shipping

GVB Biopharma has locations throughout the United States and in the UK. Currently, we are in the process of opening a mainland European office. GVB is also one of the first cannabinoid producers to have a presence in South America, with our Bogata, Colombia location.

Due to the array of facilities we have established around the world, we offer fast shipping services to more nations than nearly all of our competitors. Once you have placed an order with us, you can normally expect fulfillment within 24 hours. We can also use expedited shipping services to make sure your products arrive even faster.

With full tracking for every order, you will never have to wonder about the location of your purchase. Our customer service team is also available if you have any questions about your order.

Easy Reordering

At GVB Biopharma, we impose a 1-kilo minimum on all of our bulk wholesale orders. From your first order, our knowledgeable customer service staff will be standing by to answer all your questions and resolve any possible issues.

You will be supplied with a dedicated customer service contact and we will keep in touch to make sure your order meets your satisfaction. When it’s time to reorder, simply get in touch with your designated GVB Biopharma associate or contact us directly at support@gvbbiopharma.com.

Common CBG isolate FAQs

1. What is CBG Isolate?

It is CBG in its purest form—a pure white powder almost exclusively composed of CBG. At over 98% pure CBG, it has the highest potency of any CBG extract.

2. How do I use CBG isolate?

It can be used on its own for a CBG-centric finished product or added to an existing product formulation to augment its complete cannabinoid profile.

3. CBG Isolate Dosage

Because this CBG extract is nearly pure CBG, it is very easy to accurately calculate its final concentration in any finished product. By consulting your raw material COA for the total amount of CBG, you can easily determine the amount of CBG isolate needed for your finished product formulation.

4. CBG Powder vs Liquid

You can purchase CBG in powder (isolate) or liquid (distillate) form from a reputable supplier. Depending upon the activities you want your finished product to promote or the base of your finished product formulation, you can choose either preparation. Discuss your finished product formulation with your supplier and ask for their advice. They should be able to help you make the best decision.

5. Where can I buy CBG

It’s important to choose a reliable supplier when purchasing any raw cannabinoid product. You can purchase samples of CBG isolate or CBG distillate right here on our website. If you would like to purchase a larger quantity, please call for our wholesale pricing.

6. What can I do with CBG isolate?

This CBG product is a highly versatile raw material with dozens of different potential uses. Like all cannabinoid isolates, our CBG  comes in a simple powderized form that is easy to add to essentially any oil-based product formulation.

Due to its high purity, it’s easy to add the right amount of CBG isolate to your product formulation. However, please do not try to use CBG isolate on its own. Its extraordinary purity and potency require mixing this powdered cannabinoid isolate with other ingredients prior to use.

7. Can CBG isolate be used topically?

No, it is not possible to use this CBG preparation topically without first combining it with other ingredients. Simply by itself, this molecularly homogenous cannabinoid powder does not pass through the layers of your skin, causing any CBG applied topically to be wasted.

If you want to use our concentrated CBG topically, you will need to thoroughly mix it with a topical formulation that is skin-penetrating and effective. It’s possible to do so just by mixing CBG isolate with a standard lotion. However, using a product, formulated specifically to be compatible with CBG, is better.

8. How much CBG isolate should I use?

There are no official guidelines for safe dosing of CBG, so it is impossible to definitively say exactly how much pure CBG you should either ingest or mix into products. Based on anecdotal testimony, doses of 25-50mg CBG  appear to be standard. Most CBG products contain around 500-2000mg CBG overall.

9. What are the benefits of CBG isolate powder?

The primary benefit of CBG isolate powder — the same as any other cannabinoid isolate powder — is its versatility and accessibility.

At the same time, you can add CBG isolate to practically anything. With this cannabinoid increasingly in demand as an addition to CBD, it’s convenient that CBG isolate powder  easily mixes with existing product formulations.

10. What are the negative effects of CBG?

Just as is the case with CBD, CBG very rarely has significant side effects. In some individuals, both cannabinoids can cause symptoms typical of the cannabis plant, including dry mouth, dizziness, sleepiness, or nausea.

It also appears that CBG may have side effects related to its beneficial effect profile. In comparison to CBD, the most commonly reported adverse effects of CBG are digestive discomfort or disruption.

11. Is CBG stronger than CBD?

In terms of experienced effects, most users would agree that CBG is somewhat more intense than CBD. If not necessarily more potent, CBG is simply different from the CBD. It may engage your endocannabinoid receptors in ways CBD does not. Where CBD is relaxing, CBG is energizing. Where CBD makes you feel mellow, CBG makes you engaged. Arguably, the psychoactive effects of CBG may be more intense than those of CBD, but it’s an undeniable fact that neither cannabinoid gets you “high.”

12. What is CBG isolate used for?

This Isolate is generally used to make very simple product formulations or as an addition to existing formulations that contain CBD or another cannabinoid. Compared to forms of CBG extract that contain a full or fuller complement of minor cannabinoids and terpenes, CBG isolate may have fewer applications.

It’s purity and specific actions make CBG isolate attractive for a wide range of different products. CBG isolate alone is often added to tinctures, capsules, and gummies, and, when combined with other cannabinoids, it is commonly used in topicals.

13. Where can I buy CBG crystals in bulk?

The best place to buy purified CBG isolate extract online is GVB Biopharma. With its network of global offices and the most sophisticated extraction and production facilities in the industry, GVB Biopharma is an international leader in the minor cannabinoid market, specializing in a wide range of CBG extracts. Contact us today to bring CBG isolate into your product line.

Add CBG isolate to your product lineup today

A few short years ago, hardly anybody even knew that CBG existed. Today, there is a growing demand for this popular cannabinoid in product types as diverse as topical creams, facial serums, and edible gummies. An increasing number of brands are also starting to add CBG isolate to existing product formulations to boost their potency and beneficial effects.

If you decide to use our bulk CBG isolate, remember that GVB Biopharma is a full-service bulk ingredient and white-label manufacturer. We are always standing by to help you reach your goals. With our unparalleled focus on transparency, quality, and customer service, GVB Biopharma can help you successfully incorporate CBG isolate into your brand.

References

1. 1. Ferber, S. G., Namdar, D., Hen-Shoval, D., Eger, G., Koltai, H., Shoval, G., … & Weller, A. (2020). The “entourage effect”: terpenes coupled with cannabinoids for the treatment of mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Current Neuropharmacology, 18(2), 87-96.Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7324885/
2. 2. Mishchenko, S., Laiko, I., & Kyrychenko, H. (2021). Breeding of industrial hemp with a high content of cannabigerol by the case of ‘Vik 2020’cultivar. Plant Varieties Studying and Protection, 17(2), 105-112. Retrieved from https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/catalog/7849447
3. 3. Eagleston, L. R., Kalani, N. K., Patel, R. R., Flaten, H. K., Dunnick, C. A., & Dellavalle, R. P. (2018). Cannabinoids in dermatology: A scoping review. Dermatology Online Journal, 24(6). Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/content/qt7pn8c0sb/qt7pn8c0sb.pdf
4. 4. Anokwuru, C. P., Makolo, F. L., Sandasi, M., Tankeu, S. Y., Elisha, I. L., Agoni, C., … & Viljoen, A. (2022). Cannabigerol: a bibliometric overview and review of research on an important phytocannabinoid. Phytochemistry Reviews, 1-25. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11101-021-09794-w

The most remarkable economic dark horse of the last decade, the cannabinoid industry has the entire world spellbound as gains continue to be made across all categories. Medical and recreational cannabinoid industries are blossoming around the globe, and just as global is growing interest in non-intoxicating cannabinoids, which are usually not subject to significantly restrictive regulations.

Until recently, all that remained to be seen was whether cannabinoid market growth was sustainable or would eventually reach a cap. As actual data continue to track with predictions, however, even skeptics are forced to admit that the cannabinoid industry is a legitimate economic contender that will only gain more momentum over the coming years.

A Brightfield Group report that succinctly summarizes the situation will serve as the core of the discussion as we unpack the current status of the American cannabinoid industry, which is predicted to continue making massive gains over the near future. By the end, you’ll be better equipped to make informed business decisions that position you to take full advantage of the ongoing cannabinoid Renaissance.

Cannabinoid industry growth trajectory: An overview

– The United States cannabinoid industry was practically nonexistent until 2014
– Until that point, cannabinoids were illegal, and the industry consisted of synthetic alternatives
– With the 2014 Farm Bill, however, an online hemp industry appeared, initially valued at only a few million dollars overall
– By the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill four years later, American CBD had swelled to a half-billion dollar1 industry
– Now, the US CBD industry is expected to reach more than $6 billion by 20262
– Such a dramatic rate of growth has rarely been seen in the United States economy
– The US cannabinoid industry appears set to continue growing steadily for decades into the future

Brightfield’s data

To close observers, the rapid rate of growth of the cannabinoid industry was never in doubt. Those who became used to pre-existing market dynamics, though, may be shocked to hear that CBD is soon set to become an industry exceeding the size of many domestic agricultural markets.

When renowned analytics agency Brightfield Group predicted in 2021 that American CBD would reach $6 billion by 2026, their analysis was based on previous years’ results combined with forecasts regarding future changes to regulatory and market dynamics. Now that some time has elapsed, it’s clear that Brightfield was correct in its expectations for the CBD industry.

Current dynamics

The American hemp industry has entered an era of normalization in which highly capitalized companies with top talent are consolidating much of the market’s expanding wealth. Overall industry growth has slowed from the industry’s prime, but certain companies continue to enjoy accelerating gains every year.

As the cannabinoid market solidifies, consumer tastes are also refining. Today’s CBD consumers, for instance, have tired of the simple tinctures they used to buy from mom-and-pop shops. They want their CBD to be just as professional and reliable as any other health product they buy.

Growth across all categories

Since the inception of the online CBD industry, a variety of new subcategories of products have emerged. Starting with the leading trio of tinctures, capsules, and oil-based topicals, the American hemp industry has moved on to incorporate gummies and a more diversified array of topical products as well.

A wider array of available products has allowed the cannabinoid industry to enjoy even greater growth with every product category continuing to reach new consumers on a daily basis. Certain cannabinoid product subcategories have grown more than others, though, becoming the core of the industry’s next wave of growth.

Top 2 fastest-growing cannabinoid subcategories

Out of all the different kinds of cannabinoid products that have entered the market over the last few years, GVB Biopharma has experienced the most growth in the categories of capsules and gummies, revealing that interest in these product types is growing at the fastest pace overall. Here’s what you need to know about cannabinoid capsules and gummies to make an informed business decision:

Capsules

– Orally ingested
– Swallowed
– Flavorless
– Familiar
– High-potency options

Surprising initial adopters who favored tinctures, capsules have gained ground to become the most popular type of cannabinoid product sold at GVB Biopharma. In the end, consumers are already familiar with capsules — nothing new or unexpected must be done to enjoy cannabinoids in this format.

Cannabinoid capsules also benefit from being flavorless, allowing brands to include comparatively high doses of cannabinoid extract in each capsule. Perhaps the greatest strength of cannabinoid capsules is their innocuous appearance, which positions cannabinoids as mainstream and familiar substances.

Gummies

– Orally ingested
– Chewed
– Flavored & sweetened
– No cannabis taste
– Dosing is more limited

Used traditionally in the arena of pediatric medicine, gummies have now become a component of the adult health industry as well, with everything from daily vitamins to digestive aids now commonly being offered in gummy format. Cannabinoid gummies capitalize on this trend, masking the taste of hemp extract and making cannabinoids convenient and delicious to ingest.

When appealing to health-conscious consumers, cannabinoid gummies can be made with entirely non-GMO or organic ingredients. Making budget hemp gummies in bulk is also an option with an entire spectrum of possibilities existing between these two extremes.

How to benefit from cannabinoid industry growth

Abundant opportunities are constantly opening up in the cannabinoid industry. The nature of these opportunities changes as the cannabinoid market develops, however, requiring a fresh perspective on current circumstances to make the best business decisions. Below, we lay out the 5 steps every brand should take to make the most out of the current evolutions the cannabinoid industry is undergoing:

1. Analyze the market

Your first step should be to fully familiarize yourself with the prevailing dynamics at work in the hemp cannabinoid market. The industry is growing, for instance, but in which categories, and by how much? It also pays at this juncture to fully assess consumer sentiment toward certain ingredients and product categories, which has a tendency to change on a rather-frequent basis.

As we’ve covered, for instance, consumers now prefer cannabinoid gummies and capsules. Also, organic and non-GMO ingredients are preferred more than ever, and consumers are also beginning to demand that lab reports for cannabinoid products feature more reliable levels of detail.

2. Develop a plan

Based on your analysis of the prevailing trends in the cannabinoid market, develop a tentative plan regarding where you see your company within the ongoing growth of this highly profitable niche industry. Your business plan does not need to be ironclad at this point — the idea is to be able to provide a general idea of your position when it comes time to collaborate with others.

3. Contact a supplier

The cannabinoid industry may still be growing, but it has also consolidated considerably. This shift has driven a concurrent increase in quality, which has caused consumer standards for cannabinoid products to similarly rise. As a result, working with an existing white label cannabinoid supplier is the best way to enter this much-evolved hemp market.

4. Come to a manufacturing agreement

Throughout the course of your conversation, you’ll gradually put together the bones of a business agreement with your cannabinoid white labeler. This agreement to produce marketable products must be made on fully equitable lines, and it is incumbent upon cannabinoid producers to provide full proof of relevant certification as well as third-party lab test results for all products.

5. Launch & market

Once your cannabinoid products have been made and you’ve developed an eye-catching label, all that’s left is to get them in front of the consumers who they’d benefit the most. Bringing a brand to success within its market is always a unique journey, but armed with the best cannabinoid products in the world, obstacles to your success will be few and far between.

Long-term cannabinoid growth predictions

Like any industry, the cannabinoid market may occasionally experience ups and downs. Hemp is now once again firmly a component of the American economy, though, meaning this industry will continue to grow as long as America’s economy does likewise.

As an abundant source of everything from medicine to textiles, hemp may actually be a great boon to the American economy even when it is in turmoil. Now that hemp is out in the open and sold in massive volumes on a daily basis, it paves the way for a bright and sustainable future for the American cannabinoid economy.

Beyond 2026, expect the hemp cannabinoid industry to continue growing as more and more Americans begin to prefer hemp-derived products over conventional alternatives. With few side effects and immense potential benefits, the popularity of cannabinoids will only grow over time, especially as unfortunate consequences of conventional treatments become an increased point of focus in society.

Enter an accelerating industry today

Since 2017, GVB Biopharma has been at the forefront of the hemp cannabinoid industry, recognized worldwide as one of the largest and most professional producers of both bulk hemp ingredients and finished cannabinoid products. Over the years, our growth has been extraordinary, fueled by an overall rise of interest in hemp cannabinoids that even the most optimistic prognosticators could never have predicted.

Today, GVB’s growth is stronger than ever. Just as the hemp cannabinoid market has largely consolidated under the control of a handful of companies such as ours, we’ve also seen the industry consolidate into a few core sets of products that consumers have clearly selected to be their hemp standbys for the foreseeable future.

Innovation is, of course, still rewarded within the hemp industry. It’s also now possible, though, to simply choose a reliable manufacturer to make products like capsules and gummies that consumers have already accepted, improving on the concept one iteration at a time.

Just like growth in value, improvements in the hemp industry’s products will now be incremental instead of taking place at a breakneck pace. By positioning yourself within this steady flow of improvement and professionalization, you can craft a brand that is perfectly suited to succeed in today’s modernized hemp economy.

Sources

1. Total CBD product sales U.S. 2014-2022 | Statista. (2022, July 27). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/760498/total-us-cbd-sales/
2. Statista. (2021, October 19). E-commerce sales of CBD in the U.S. 2019-2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1244901/cbd-e-commerce-sales-us/

As an early proponent of both medicinal and adult-use cannabis, expectations would be that Washington state is friendly to CBD sales. Observers of cannabinoid law in WA over the last decade or so can easily confirm, though, that things aren’t always as they seem with cannabis in this Pacific Northwest state.

While it may come as a surprise to many of those familiar with Washington state, CBD products are now almost entirely illegal for general sale in Washington, stymying the business efforts of entrepreneurs statewide. Now is, perhaps, the worst time in 21st-century history to market CBD products within Washington state’s borders, a claim we’ll support with evidence over the course of this guide.

Washington cannabinoid law overview

– The Evergreen State has declared that all products with any detectable THC are cannabis¹ and must be sold only through the state’s taxed and tightly controlled network of adult-use cannabis dispensaries

– Washington infamously eliminated its thriving medical cannabis industry the moment tax revenue began flowing in from recreational dispensaries in 2015²

– This recent move to eliminate untaxed CBD sales may not be seen as a surprise, therefore, but rather as an inevitability

– If shoppers in Washington state wish to buy THC-containing CBD products legally, they must now purchase them in recreational cannabis dispensaries

– This greatly reduces the convenience of purchasing cannabinoid products since all cannabis sales must be made in-person in WA — no deliveries³

– It is unclear whether this measure will truly make cannabinoid products safer for Washington residents or merely increase tax revenue for the state government

– What is abundantly clear, though, is that selling products containing any THC at all in Washington state directly to consumers is now a criminal offense

Can I sell CBD in Washington?

No, it is now illegal to sell CBD products in Washington without first receiving approval from the Washington state government, which will then only allow you to sell your products through state-taxed recreational dispensaries. Washington no longer has any patient cooperatives, so it is not possible to sell CBD through this type of storefront either.

All food co-ops, gas stations, and other businesses aside from state-approved adult-use dispensaries will need to remove cannabinoid products from their shelves if they contain any detectable THC at all. Otherwise, stiff penalties will be enforced, potentially leading to the closure of the offending business.

What is WA bill SB 5367?

SB 5367⁴ is the Washington state bill that amended the state’s definition of cannabis under Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 69.50.101 to include “any product intended to be consumed or absorbed inside the body by any means including inhalation, ingestion, or insertion, with any detectable amount of THC.” This is the piece of legislation that makes essentially all CBD products illegal in the state, putting near-complete control of CBD commerce in Washington in the hands of state regulators in Olympia.

Is it legal to grow hemp in Washington?

Yes, it is legal to grow hemp in Washington state. Until 2020, the state operated a research program for hemp cultivation, which was replaced with a comprehensive hemp cultivation program in 2020. Around 210 acres⁵ of hemp were cultivated in WA in 2022.

Do you need a license to grow hemp in Washington?

Yes, licensing is required if you wish to grow hemp in Washington state. Hemp growers and processors apply for the same licensing through the WSDA Hemp Program Portal⁶, and a $1,200 yearly fee is applied for licensed hemp businesses.

Washington hemp license process

The process of acquiring a hemp license in Washington is relatively straightforward. Simply navigate to the Hemp Program page provided by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), and select the “Register and Apply” button if you intend to cultivate hemp.

Download and fill out the Hemp Processor Registration Application (PDF) if you intend to process rather than cultivate hemp in WA. Processor and grower applications are both accompanied by $1,200 fees, payable to the WSDA.

Does Washington have a good climate for hemp cultivation?

The climate in Washington state is reasonably good for hemp cultivation overall with the eastern half of the state being more amenable to agriculture of all kinds. Western Washington receives abundant rainfall but hardly any sunshine during its growing season, leading to issues like mold and rot in crops like cannabis that are harvested in the autumn. All areas of Washington have long winters due to the state’s latitude, restricting hemp cultivation to a single growing season.

How to start a hemp business in Washington

Starting or operating a hemp business in Washington is a remarkably difficult proposition at the moment. While the state will continue issuing hemp cultivation licenses in 2024, it is unclear where Washington’s hemp producers will unload their harvests since any hemp products containing any THC at all are now considered cannabis in Washington.

As for those intending to import CBD products produced elsewhere, your options are now extremely limited. Ingestible CBD products containing no THC whatsoever are theoretically still viable for general sale in Washington, so non-THC cannabinoid products containing isolate or broad-spectrum extracts should be admissible. Cannabinoid topicals can still contain up to 0.3% THC as well, just no ingestible products.

Even sellers of THC-free CBD products, however, must contend with the constant burden of state oversight, which could lead to the shutdown of infringing businesses. The presence of a few stray THC molecules was never previously much concern for either consumers or sellers of CBD products in Washington. Now, though, ingestible hemp products are illegal in Washington if they contain any THC, a remarkable reversal for one of the nation’s first adopters of pro-cannabinoid policies.

Benefits of private labeling

Established bulk cannabinoid producers have been grappling with the complexities of state and federal hemp law for nearly a decade. While hemp laws like Washington’s can seem almost incomprehensibly abstruse at first, larger hemp producers have entire legal departments dedicated to staying in compliance with laws and regulations.

If any producer can succeed in today’s severely tightened Washington state hemp cannabinoid economy, it will be an industry leader like GVB Biopharma. Backed with considerable financial capability and acting from years of experience, major hemp white-labelers can easily ensure that zero THC remains in hemp products, something that cannot be claimed by small-time producers.

The bottom line: Is starting a hemp business in Washington a good idea?

The prospects of starting a hemp cannabinoid business in the state of Washington could accurately be described as dismal at the moment. Hemp growers in the state are at a loss as to what to do with their THC-containing harvests, and local businesses more than likely rue the name of CBD as they face thousands of dollars in inventory losses due to new Washington state zero-THC guidelines.

Every cloud has a silver lining, though, and professionally made products containing absolutely no THC will be the focus of attention in the future of the Washington hemp industry. At any time, state regulators will be able to pull products off shelves if they are suspected of containing THC. If laboratory tests come back negative, there is nothing to fear — a tenuous but perhaps tenable situation for entrepreneurs intrepid enough to face down the odds.

It’s unavoidably ironic that CBD policies in Washington are now nearly as restrictive as those in neighboring Idaho, which has stayed stalwartly anti-hemp even as the rest of the nation moved gradually forward. It remains to be seen how the hemp situation in Washington will pan out in the long term: Operators in the state should maintain a stance of cautious optimism as they await a return to policies more in line with the needs of the state’s constituency.

Washington Hemp Business FAQ

Continue getting up to date with the hemp cannabinoid situation in Washington in the following FAQ section:

Is CBD legal in Washington state?

Yes, CBD is still legal in Washington state, but the state legislature severely curtailed CBD commerce in 2023. Now, most CBD products must be sold through the state’s recreational cannabis dispensaries, generating tax revenue for the state while making it harder for residents to buy CBD. The only types of ingestible CBD products that can still be sold outside of dispensaries in Washington are those that contain zero detectable THC — not a single molecule.

Can you buy CBD at gas stations in WA?

Yes, CBD will most likely remain available at many gas stations in Washington state, but all ingestible products containing any detectable THC will need to be pulled off the shelves. Many gas station owners may turn away from CBD due to concerns over testing by state regulators. In any case, only zero-THC products will remain available on the shelves of general businesses in Washington state — all THC-containing ingestible products must now be sold through adult-use dispensaries.

Can you buy CBD at Washington dispensaries?

Yes, it is possible to buy CBD products at Washington state dispensaries, but the process of doing so is cumbersome, and your selection is highly limited. Only products approved and tested by state regulators may be sold in Washington adult-use dispensaries, a process that many major national brands will be unwilling to go through just to reach Washington state’s 7 million residents⁷.

Can you buy CBD at 18 in Washington?

No, you must be at least 21 years old to buy CBD products containing any detectable THC due to 2023 Washington state legislation. Now, ingestible CBD products with THC (even less than 0.3%) must be sold in WA adult-use dispensaries, which deny entry to anyone under 21 years of age.

Sources

1. Scrantom, J. (2023). Washington upends its CBD industry. Harris Sliwoski LLP (Formerly Harris Bricken). https://harrisbricken.com/cannalawblog/washington-upends-its-cbd-industry/
2. “A failure”: How Washington’s cannabis program shut out Black business owners. (n.d.). KING5. https://www.king5.com/article/news/community/facing-race/washington-cannabis-program-shut-out-black-business-owners/281-319c9559-1733-4556-b702-87f2a48c34d8
3. Weed delivery in Washington | WashingtonStateCannabis.org. (n.d.). Washington Cannabis Information Portal. https://washingtonstatecannabis.org/delivery#:~:text=The%20state%20does%20not%20authorize,of%20the%20service%20in%20Washington.
4. Washington State Legislature. (n.d.). https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5367&Year=2023&Initiative=false
5. PRESS RELEASE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE. (n.d.-b). USDA. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Idaho/Publications/Crops_Press_Releases/2023/HEMP.pdf
6. WSDA Hemp Program. (n.d.). https://agr.wa.gov/departments/agricultural-products/hemp#current%20hemp%20program%20activities
7. United States Census Bureau QuickFacts. (n.d.). U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Washington. Census Bureau QuickFacts. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/WA/PST045222

Starting a hemp business in North Carolina might follow a slightly different process than in other states, but as one of the original American Colonies to engage in cannabis cultivation, hemp is still at the core of this coastal state’s culture. Grown in the reedy marshland along North Carolina’s coast, hemp became a staple crop for its usefulness in making strong and durable sailcloth.

Nowadays, North Carolina mainly turns to hemp for CBD, not canvas. This notably pro-commerce state remains stalwart in its defense of hemp, however, fully and permanently removing it from the North Carolina list of controlled substances in 2022¹.

That wasn’t the only major change to occur within the North Carolina hemp economy in 2022. With the state’s hemp industry now overseen directly by the federal government², how might the situation change for existing or prospective hemp producers? Learn all the details in this comprehensive guide to starting a hemp business in North Carolina.

North Carolina cannabinoid law overview

– Hemp cultivation and CBD commerce originally became legal in North Carolina in 2017 due to a state pilot program³
– This program expired in 2022, however, briefly raising concerns⁴ that CBD would be “illegalized”
– If the hemp program had expired without new legislation taking its place, CBD commerce would, indeed, have been affected since North Carolina is one of the few states where hemp itself was considered an illicit drug
– At the last minute, NC lawmakers came to a deal⁵ under which hemp and CBD products became permanently legalized in the state
– With the expiration of the hemp pilot program, however, the state elected to hand jurisdiction of its hemp industry over to the federal government
– Hemp cultivators and processors must now seek licensing directly from the USDA
– New hemp legislation⁶ would set standards for regulation of CBD products in North Carolina by 2024

Can I sell CBD in North Carolina?

Yes, it is legal to sell CBD products in North Carolina. In the absence of comprehensive state regulations, the position on CBD in North Carolina reverts to the federal level, at which the 2018 Farm Bill provides clear guidance for hemp CBD products. If products contain less than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol on a dry weight basis, they are “industrial hemp” and not, therefore, governed by regulations pertaining to the illegal drug “marijuana.”

Now that CBD and hemp are permanently legal, North Carolina lawmakers are seeking to impose restrictions on the types of hemp products that can be marketed within their state and where they can be sold. The primary focus of this legislation is to crack down on sales of delta-8 and other THC-like cannabinoids, primarily for the purpose of keeping them out of the hands of minors.

Recent changes to hemp legislation in North Carolina only show that lawmakers in the state are becoming more friendly toward hemp over time and seek to expand cannabinoid commerce as long as it is done safely and appropriately. Expect certain restrictions to appear around the sale of CBD and other cannabinoid products in North Carolina in the near future, but also expect that these restrictions will not be aimed at limiting commerce but rather at maintaining consumer safety.

Is it legal to grow hemp in North Carolina?

Yes, growing hemp is legal in North Carolina. Since 2022, hemp cultivation in the state has been under the direct governance of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)⁷, which oversees the hemp programs in a variety of other states as well. New or existing North Carolina hemp cultivators seeking licensing will need to work with the USDA now since the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services no longer governs hemp production.

Do you need a license to grow hemp in North Carolina?

Yes, licensing is required to grow hemp in North Carolina. If a state does not choose to manage hemp licensing itself, governance falls to the USDA, which is in charge of issuing hemp licensing in North Carolina.

North Carolina hemp license process

The USDA has created a dedicated portal for all hemp licensing and registration activity called the Hemp eManagement Platform (HeMP). Aspiring hemp cultivators or processors in North Carolina must apply for licensing through this platform.

Many components of the USDA hemp licensing process are very similar to the processes used in other states: It is necessary, for instance, to pass an FBI background check and submit a thorough application. What entrepreneurs who have worked with hemp in other states might notice, though, is the lack of fees associated with applying for USDA hemp license in North Carolina.

Some fees may be applicable in certain situations, but it is also sometimes possible to become licensed by the USDA to grow or process hemp without paying any fees whatsoever. As more states lose their provisional hemp programs and gather under the USDA banner, expect the norms surrounding hemp licensing to change nationwide.

Does North Carolina have a good climate for hemp cultivation?

Yes, the climate in North Carolina has been considered ideal for hemp cultivation since the earliest days of American history. Many regions of this warm, coastal state are excellent for growing hemp, with estuary areas traditionally housing the bulk of hemp cultivation operations in North Carolina. While the growing season is long, North Carolina experiences winters cold enough to prohibit year-round hemp cultivation.

How to start a hemp business in North Carolina

At present, there are no significant obstacles whatsoever to companies that seek to sell CBD products or otherwise open hemp-related storefronts in North Carolina. So long as their products contain only 0.3% THC or less, North Carolina does not currently regulate the sale of CBD products.

The situation is expected to change in 2024, when North Carolina lawmakers have signaled they will meet to discuss comprehensive regulation of consumer hemp products in the state. Until then, the only hemp operators in North Carolina with hurdles to overcome are those who are growing or processing hemp.

In a way, now is a great time to become a hemp grower or processor in North Carolina. You’ll have an advantage over legacy operators who grew used to the old state-run system. It won’t be as much of a learning curve to adopt the state’s new USDA hemp licensing procedures if you never learned the old way of doing things.

Federal programs are, by their very nature, more monolithic than state systems. It’s true that, compared to certain highly optimized state hemp cultivation programs, navigating the USDA’s hemp licensing and compliance framework can initially be more imposing. On the other hand, keep in mind that the federal government has a far larger budget and staff than state programs, helping ensure that applications and questions are handled promptly and accurately.

Benefits of private labeling

Whether it’s the North Carolina state government or the USDA, it’s clear that applying for hemp licensing and staying in compliance with regulations takes a lot of effort. With all the opportunities of CBD commerce at your fingertips by other means, does it really make sense to start your own hemp cultivation or processing business in North Carolina just to get your products into the hands of the state’s customers?

At least until 2024, no regulations on CBD commerce in North Carolina are expected to be imposed. Now is certainly the time to access the state’s population of more than 10 million residents, building a following in North Carolina that will help maintain your brand’s popularity through any ensuring regulatory changes.

The best way to do so is to have your cannabinoid products made by another company in a different state — a company that has been producing hemp for years and is abreast of all pertinent regulatory requirements. Not only does private labeling hemp save costs otherwise spent on licensing and other forms of overhead, but it also ensures a level of professionalism in products that state regulators can’t help but appreciate.

The bottom line: Is North Carolina a good place to start a hemp business?

North Carolina is currently in the midst of many changes regarding hemp. And, whenever there is change, there is also opportunity for those who have the ability to see it.

None of the changes to the hemp economy in North Carolina have been negative. They all indicate that lawmakers in the state intend to make hemp more a part of agricultural operations once again. Handing over control of the state’s hemp industry to the federal government simply indicates that North Carolina takes hemp seriously and wants to manage it appropriately and responsibly.

It’s true that producing hemp in compliance with North Carolina’s standards may become considerably more difficult in the not-so-distant future. Plenty of companies already produce hemp products compliant with even the strictest state standards, however, eliminating this potential obstacle before it even appears.

Hemp has a long history in North Carolina that has not been forgotten. Both in the state’s coastal farmlands and in the thoughts of its people, hemp and its cannabinoids will have an enduring place in North Carolina. All it takes to succeed with hemp in this state is the vision to plot a course that fully harnesses these advantageous prevailing factors.

North Carolina Hemp Business FAQ

Learn more about starting a hemp business in North Carolina below:

1. What are the rules for CBD in North Carolina?

Currently, North Carolina does not impose any rules regarding CBD commerce aside from the federal requirement that hemp products contain less than 0.3% THC. This is expected to change, however, in 2024, when lawmakers intend to meet and discuss comprehensive hemp cannabinoid regulation measures.

2. How much does it cost to get a CBD license in NC?

No licensing is currently required to sell CBD in North Carolina. Vendors are simply limited to restrictions that apply to all other NC businesses along with the federal 0.3% THC limit.

Sources

1. Ingram, K. (2022, June 30). Hemp, CBD get permanent legal status in NC after 11th-hour rescue. Raleigh News & Observer. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article263021958.html
2. North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. (n.d.). https://www.ncagr.gov/hemp
3. Doran, W. (2022, June 22). Hemp and CBD could be illegal in NC by next week, if the legislature doesn’t act. Raleigh News & Observer. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article262770203.html
4. Dolder, L., & Doran, W. (2022, June 29). Hemp, CBD likely will be illegal in NC by Friday, barring last-minute legislative action. Raleigh News & Observer. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article262973833.html
5. Ingram, K. (2022b, June 30). Hemp, CBD get permanent legal status in NC after 11th-hour rescue. Raleigh News & Observer. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article263021958.html
6. Henkel, C. (2023). North Carolina lawmakers take first steps to regulate hemp-derived consumables, CBD products. NC Newsline. https://ncnewsline.com/2023/06/22/north-carolina-lawmakers-take-first-steps-to-regulate-hemp-derived-consumables-cbd-products/
7. For USDA licensed producers only | Agricultural Marketing Service. (n.d.). https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/hemp/licensed-producers

Italy, renowned for its Mediterranean climate, laid-back ambiance, and rich history, is gradually gaining recognition for a different reason. The southern European country is being considered a place where people can use whichever cannabinoids they wish without repercussion.

Is it true that cannabis has been decriminalized in Italy, and what does this mean for entrepreneurs seeking to offer cannabinoids to the Italian people? In this guide, we’ll explore all the intricacies of Italian law and culture pertaining to cannabis, providing a roadmap for approaching the Italian market with CBD, CBG, and other hemp cannabinoids.

Are cannabinoids legal in Italy?

Italy has decriminalized THC cannabis possession in quantities up to 1.5 grams. When it comes to other cannabinoids, the nation follows the general EU rule on the subject, which dictates that cannabinoid products are admissible for entry into EU countries as long as they are produced in the EU and contain less than 0.3% THC¹.

Overall, Italy should be viewed as one of the more lax cannabis markets. In nations that impose strict controls on cannabis in general, a confluence of cultural and regulatory factors usually prevents even non-intoxicating cannabinoids from flourishing. Since Italy accepts cannabis overall, it usually has no problem accepting non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD and CBG.

Italy operates a medical cannabis market, but oddly enough, the entirety of the medical cannabis supply chain in Italy is overseen by the military². Rather than standardizing the industry, this approach has simply led to supply chain gaps and facilities shutting down³.

Clearly, Italy is not without its own struggles surrounding cannabis production and regulation. It remains the case, though, that the general attitude toward cannabis is highly relaxed in the Mediterranean country.

History of cannabis in Italy

Cannabis has been cultivated in Italy⁴ since time immemorial. Archaeological records show that Ancient Romans grew hemp as early as the Late Pleistocene age with clear records evident dating at least as far back as 1000 BC. The cultivation of cannabis for textile, medicinal, and spiritual purposes has continued uninterrupted in Italy ever since.

The use of cannabis was so widespread in Rome that Pliny the Elder makes considerable space to mention its cultivation in his history. Detailed notes are provided on the sowing of seeds in the spring, reaping of buds at the autumn equinox, and then drying the plants by wind or the smoke of a fire. Cannabis cultivation remains a core component of treatises on agriculture throughout the ups and downs of the Roman Empire’s tenure in Italy.

After the fall of Rome, cannabis enjoyed great usage in Italy during the period of the merchant republics, who largely relied on hemp sailcloth to make their voyages throughout the Mediterranean. Hemp remained the main fiber used for sails throughout Italian Unification and only saw a decrease in popularity as synthetic sailcloths became available.

Then, the global War on Drugs swept through Italy, bringing along with it a temporary rejection of cannabis. This distance has only made the Italian people fonder of the plant, however, who now recognize in even more detail the vast medicinal and healing properties of cannabinoids.

History of cannabis laws in Italy

Despite the outbreak of anti-cannabis laws that spread throughout Europe in the wake of Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt, Italy, enjoying long relations with the Moors and their hash-smoking practices, continued to allow cannabis use all throughout the 19th century. In 1887, in fact, the Italian Dr. Raffaele Valieri⁵ became one of the first scientists to publish the results of his research into cannabis use among the terminally ill.

At the First International Opium Conference in 1912, though, Italy turned heads when it demanded that cannabis be banned⁶ along with opium, citing sudden issues with hashish that had erupted in Italian colonies in Libya. This request was granted during the Second International Opium Conference in 1925, but only in the context of international trade.

Even as its position toward the intoxicating components of cannabis soured, Italy remained one of the world’s most prominent producers and exporters of hemp until the 1950s. Then, a combination of slowing domestic production and hostile international views on drugs led Italy to shrink back on hemp production for more than half a century.

Italy was one of the signatories of the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961⁷, effectively making cannabis use illegal. Then, the nation banned hemp cultivation altogether in 1980, leading to the erasure of many irreplaceable Italian cannabis phenotypes that had resulted from centuries of careful interbreeding.

The period of full Italian cannabis prohibition would prove short-lived. In 1993, Italy made the controversial move⁸ of removing penalties for the possession of “soft drugs” at the culmination of a lengthy national discourse on the differences between “using” and “pushing” illegal narcotics.

This move began an overall push to bring hemp and cannabis back into the Italian regulatory fold. An era not without its drama, cannabis would be famously re-criminalized in Italy in 2006 before finally becoming decriminalized again in 2014⁹. This decriminalization only applies to personal use, however, with the cultivation and sale of THC cannabis remaining federal offenses under Italian law.

Which cannabinoids are legal in Italy?

The story surrounding cannabinoids in contemporary Italy is somewhat complex. The nation suffers from an overall drug criminality problem that it has tried to solve in countless ways. Recently, for instance, Italy legalized what it calls “cannabis light¹⁰,” which refers to domestically produced hemp products containing less than 0.2% (now 0.3%) THC.

Retailers took to this new law like wildfire, in many cases offering products containing more than the legal THC threshold or using strains not approved as “hemp” by the Italian government. Inevitable regulatory pushback has ensued, and the status of “cannabis light” products is anything but stable.

Despite these minor quirks, Italy generally allows the import and sale of non-THC cannabinoids as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC. CBD and CBG are not considered “cannabis light” by default and do not necessarily need to be derived from approved strains.

Is CBD legal in Italy?

Yes, CBD is legal in Italy due to a combination of both EU and domestic law. Following all applicable EU guidelines on the subject, CBD products entering Italy must simply contain less than 0.3% THC and meet any other general import requirements. Italy is considered a CBD-friendly country with sales massively increasing through both brick-and-mortar and online platforms.

Is CBG legal in Italy?

The lesser-known cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) has not been explicitly addressed by Italian law. As long as CBG products contain less than 0.3% THC, however, offering them to Italians most likely won’t meet with any obstacles. Impressed by the benefits of both THC and CBD, the Italian market is eager to encounter new cannabinoids.

Is THC legal in Italy?

In Italy, possession of up to 1.5 grams of THC-rich cannabis is decriminalized, but not legal. This means that Italian police cannot arrest or fine you if there is less than 1.5g of cannabis in your possession. For larger quantities, fines may apply, but the possibility of jail time only appears if you have been caught with quantities of cannabis beyond the possession limit multiple times.

Enforcement of cannabis laws has gone down even more with the advent of Italy’s medical cannabis industry. Overall, culturally relaxed views on cannabis appear to have trickled down to the level of law enforcement, which is evidenced by even the Italian military playing a major role in relaying cannabis to its people.

Despite all this, it’s still important to remember that cannabis is not legal in Italy, only decriminalized. This remains a nation where cannabis is generally illegal, and if you bend the law too far, you might find out just how inflexible Italian cannabis policies can be.

Does Italy have adult-use cannabis?

No, Italy has not legalized adult-use cannabis, though it will likely be one of the first European countries to do so. The EU continues to make it difficult for individual member nations to establish adult-use cannabis industries, but Germany is spearheading a multi-nation initiative to overrule this position. As a country that embraces cannabis overall but is struggling with supply chain issues, Italy is an obvious candidate for a streamlined and modern adult-use cannabis industry.

Can you import cannabinoids into Italy?

Yes, cannabinoid products containing less than 0.3% THC are generally admissible for import into Italy. EU law dictates that imported hemp products must originate in member nations, however, so it’s necessary to work with a European distributor to access the Italian market.

Are there cannabinoid manufacturers in Italy?

Italy is bereft of cannabinoid manufacturers with domestic producers forced to stick to non-intoxicating strains of cannabis for the time being. As odd as it may seem at first, the primary cannabis producer in Italy is the Italian military with its monopoly on medical cannabis cultivation. Otherwise, the Italian market is wide open for cannabinoid manufacturers to establish their brands.

Summary: Viva Italia, viva cannabis

Out of all the European nations, Italy may be the foremost when it comes to cannabis history. The plant played a crucial role in every stage of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and Italian farmers continued to grow hemp in the region for centuries afterward.

To the Italians, cannabis is no big deal: It’s an ancestral plant, widely misunderstood, that has the potential to be misused under some circumstances. The centerpiece of Europe’s diverse swath of positions on cannabis, Italy’s cannabinoid market is as ripe as its beautiful, ancestral farmlands.

Sources

1. Sabaghi, D. (2021c, December 14). European Union Increases THC Level For Industrial Hemp. Why Does It Matter? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2021/12/14/european-union-increases-thc-level-for-industrial-hemp-why-does-it-matter/?sh=5a3d8f18128b
2. Kington, T. (2022, December 30). A high ambition: Italian Army aims for self-sufficient cannabis market. Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/12/30/a-high-ambition-italian-army-aims-for-self-sufficient-cannabis-market/
3. Stevens, B. (2023). Italian Military Halts Production Of Medical Cannabis Production Piling Pressure On Supply Chain. Business of Cannabis. https://businessofcannabis.com/italian-military-halts-production-of-medical-cannabis-production-piling-pressure-on-supply-chain/
4. The long history of Cannabis and its cultivation by the Romans in central Italy, shown by pollen records from Lago Albano and Lago di Nemi on JSTOR. (n.d.). https://www.jstor.org/stable/23418014
5. Dell’Amico, M. (2014, January 9). La canapa in Italia dalle pipe preistoriche alla legge Cossiga. Wired Italia. https://www.wired.it/lifestyle/salute/2014/01/09/quando-tutti-gli-italiani-amavano-la-canapa/
6. A cannabis reader: global issues and local experiences: Volume 1 | www.emcdda.europa.eu. (2023, September 13). https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/monographs/cannabis-volume1_en
7. SINGLE CONVENTION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS, 1961. (n.d.). United Nations. https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1961_en.pdf
8. Sabaghi, D. (2021a, September 13). Inside Italy’s Push To Decriminalize Recreational Cannabis. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2021/09/13/italy-wants-to-decriminalize-marijuana-on-the-ballot-amid-a-race-against-time/?sh=57d745a9639b
9. Cruciata, G. (2020). The crisis of marijuana criminalization in Italy. Filter. https://filtermag.org/criminalization-italy-marijuana-hash/
10. Italy’s “cannabis light” creates buzz even if the pot won’t | AP News. (2021, May 1). AP News. https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-italy-business-courts-international-news-ea9ac614af74488b8977e3dbe54dd795

Italy, renowned for its Mediterranean climate, laid-back ambiance, and rich history, is gradually gaining recognition for a different reason. The southern European country is being considered a place where people can use whichever cannabinoids they wish without repercussion.

Is it true that cannabis has been decriminalized in Italy, and what does this mean for entrepreneurs seeking to offer cannabinoids to the Italian people? In this guide, we’ll explore all the intricacies of Italian law and culture pertaining to cannabis, providing a roadmap for approaching the Italian market with CBD, CBG, and other hemp cannabinoids.

Are cannabinoids legal in Italy?

Italy has decriminalized THC cannabis possession in quantities up to 1.5 grams. When it comes to other cannabinoids, the nation follows the general EU rule on the subject, which dictates that cannabinoid products are admissible for entry into EU countries as long as they are produced in the EU and contain less than 0.3% THC¹.

Overall, Italy should be viewed as one of the more lax cannabis markets. In nations that impose strict controls on cannabis in general, a confluence of cultural and regulatory factors usually prevents even non-intoxicating cannabinoids from flourishing. Since Italy accepts cannabis overall, it usually has no problem accepting non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD and CBG.

Italy operates a medical cannabis market, but oddly enough, the entirety of the medical cannabis supply chain in Italy is overseen by the military². Rather than standardizing the industry, this approach has simply led to supply chain gaps and facilities shutting down³.

Clearly, Italy is not without its own struggles surrounding cannabis production and regulation. It remains the case, though, that the general attitude toward cannabis is highly relaxed in the Mediterranean country.

History of cannabis in Italy

Cannabis has been cultivated in Italy⁴ since time immemorial. Archaeological records show that Ancient Romans grew hemp as early as the Late Pleistocene age with clear records evident dating at least as far back as 1000 BC. The cultivation of cannabis for textile, medicinal, and spiritual purposes has continued uninterrupted in Italy ever since.

The use of cannabis was so widespread in Rome that Pliny the Elder makes considerable space to mention its cultivation in his history. Detailed notes are provided on the sowing of seeds in the spring, reaping of buds at the autumn equinox, and then drying the plants by wind or the smoke of a fire. Cannabis cultivation remains a core component of treatises on agriculture throughout the ups and downs of the Roman Empire’s tenure in Italy.

After the fall of Rome, cannabis enjoyed great usage in Italy during the period of the merchant republics, who largely relied on hemp sailcloth to make their voyages throughout the Mediterranean. Hemp remained the main fiber used for sails throughout Italian Unification and only saw a decrease in popularity as synthetic sailcloths became available.

Then, the global War on Drugs swept through Italy, bringing along with it a temporary rejection of cannabis. This distance has only made the Italian people fonder of the plant, however, who now recognize in even more detail the vast medicinal and healing properties of cannabinoids.

History of cannabis laws in Italy

Despite the outbreak of anti-cannabis laws that spread throughout Europe in the wake of Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt, Italy, enjoying long relations with the Moors and their hash-smoking practices, continued to allow cannabis use all throughout the 19th century. In 1887, in fact, the Italian Dr. Raffaele Valieri⁵ became one of the first scientists to publish the results of his research into cannabis use among the terminally ill.

At the First International Opium Conference in 1912, though, Italy turned heads when it demanded that cannabis be banned⁶ along with opium, citing sudden issues with hashish that had erupted in Italian colonies in Libya. This request was granted during the Second International Opium Conference in 1925, but only in the context of international trade.

Even as its position toward the intoxicating components of cannabis soured, Italy remained one of the world’s most prominent producers and exporters of hemp until the 1950s. Then, a combination of slowing domestic production and hostile international views on drugs led Italy to shrink back on hemp production for more than half a century.

Italy was one of the signatories of the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961⁷, effectively making cannabis use illegal. Then, the nation banned hemp cultivation altogether in 1980, leading to the erasure of many irreplaceable Italian cannabis phenotypes that had resulted from centuries of careful interbreeding.

The period of full Italian cannabis prohibition would prove short-lived. In 1993, Italy made the controversial move⁸ of removing penalties for the possession of “soft drugs” at the culmination of a lengthy national discourse on the differences between “using” and “pushing” illegal narcotics.

This move began an overall push to bring hemp and cannabis back into the Italian regulatory fold. An era not without its drama, cannabis would be famously re-criminalized in Italy in 2006 before finally becoming decriminalized again in 2014⁹. This decriminalization only applies to personal use, however, with the cultivation and sale of THC cannabis remaining federal offenses under Italian law.

Which cannabinoids are legal in Italy?

The story surrounding cannabinoids in contemporary Italy is somewhat complex. The nation suffers from an overall drug criminality problem that it has tried to solve in countless ways. Recently, for instance, Italy legalized what it calls “cannabis light¹⁰,” which refers to domestically produced hemp products containing less than 0.2% (now 0.3%) THC.

Retailers took to this new law like wildfire, in many cases offering products containing more than the legal THC threshold or using strains not approved as “hemp” by the Italian government. Inevitable regulatory pushback has ensued, and the status of “cannabis light” products is anything but stable.

Despite these minor quirks, Italy generally allows the import and sale of non-THC cannabinoids as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC. CBD and CBG are not considered “cannabis light” by default and do not necessarily need to be derived from approved strains.

Is CBD legal in Italy?

Yes, CBD is legal in Italy due to a combination of both EU and domestic law. Following all applicable EU guidelines on the subject, CBD products entering Italy must simply contain less than 0.3% THC and meet any other general import requirements. Italy is considered a CBD-friendly country with sales massively increasing through both brick-and-mortar and online platforms.

Is CBG legal in Italy?

The lesser-known cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) has not been explicitly addressed by Italian law. As long as CBG products contain less than 0.3% THC, however, offering them to Italians most likely won’t meet with any obstacles. Impressed by the benefits of both THC and CBD, the Italian market is eager to encounter new cannabinoids.

Is THC legal in Italy?

In Italy, possession of up to 1.5 grams of THC-rich cannabis is decriminalized, but not legal. This means that Italian police cannot arrest or fine you if there is less than 1.5g of cannabis in your possession. For larger quantities, fines may apply, but the possibility of jail time only appears if you have been caught with quantities of cannabis beyond the possession limit multiple times.

Enforcement of cannabis laws has gone down even more with the advent of Italy’s medical cannabis industry. Overall, culturally relaxed views on cannabis appear to have trickled down to the level of law enforcement, which is evidenced by even the Italian military playing a major role in relaying cannabis to its people.

Despite all this, it’s still important to remember that cannabis is not legal in Italy, only decriminalized. This remains a nation where cannabis is generally illegal, and if you bend the law too far, you might find out just how inflexible Italian cannabis policies can be.

Does Italy have adult-use cannabis?

No, Italy has not legalized adult-use cannabis, though it will likely be one of the first European countries to do so. The EU continues to make it difficult for individual member nations to establish adult-use cannabis industries, but Germany is spearheading a multi-nation initiative to overrule this position. As a country that embraces cannabis overall but is struggling with supply chain issues, Italy is an obvious candidate for a streamlined and modern adult-use cannabis industry.

Can you import cannabinoids into Italy?

Yes, cannabinoid products containing less than 0.3% THC are generally admissible for import into Italy. EU law dictates that imported hemp products must originate in member nations, however, so it’s necessary to work with a European distributor to access the Italian market.

Are there cannabinoid manufacturers in Italy?

Italy is bereft of cannabinoid manufacturers with domestic producers forced to stick to non-intoxicating strains of cannabis for the time being. As odd as it may seem at first, the primary cannabis producer in Italy is the Italian military with its monopoly on medical cannabis cultivation. Otherwise, the Italian market is wide open for cannabinoid manufacturers to establish their brands.

Summary: Viva Italia, viva cannabis

Out of all the European nations, Italy may be the foremost when it comes to cannabis history. The plant played a crucial role in every stage of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and Italian farmers continued to grow hemp in the region for centuries afterward.

To the Italians, cannabis is no big deal: It’s an ancestral plant, widely misunderstood, that has the potential to be misused under some circumstances. The centerpiece of Europe’s diverse swath of positions on cannabis, Italy’s cannabinoid market is as ripe as its beautiful, ancestral farmlands.

Sources

1. Sabaghi, D. (2021c, December 14). European Union Increases THC Level For Industrial Hemp. Why Does It Matter? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2021/12/14/european-union-increases-thc-level-for-industrial-hemp-why-does-it-matter/?sh=5a3d8f18128b
2. Kington, T. (2022, December 30). A high ambition: Italian Army aims for self-sufficient cannabis market. Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/12/30/a-high-ambition-italian-army-aims-for-self-sufficient-cannabis-market/
3. Stevens, B. (2023). Italian Military Halts Production Of Medical Cannabis Production Piling Pressure On Supply Chain. Business of Cannabis. https://businessofcannabis.com/italian-military-halts-production-of-medical-cannabis-production-piling-pressure-on-supply-chain/
4. The long history of Cannabis and its cultivation by the Romans in central Italy, shown by pollen records from Lago Albano and Lago di Nemi on JSTOR. (n.d.). https://www.jstor.org/stable/23418014
5. Dell’Amico, M. (2014, January 9). La canapa in Italia dalle pipe preistoriche alla legge Cossiga. Wired Italia. https://www.wired.it/lifestyle/salute/2014/01/09/quando-tutti-gli-italiani-amavano-la-canapa/
6. A cannabis reader: global issues and local experiences: Volume 1 | www.emcdda.europa.eu. (2023, September 13). https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/monographs/cannabis-volume1_en
7. SINGLE CONVENTION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS, 1961. (n.d.). United Nations. https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1961_en.pdf
8. Sabaghi, D. (2021a, September 13). Inside Italy’s Push To Decriminalize Recreational Cannabis. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2021/09/13/italy-wants-to-decriminalize-marijuana-on-the-ballot-amid-a-race-against-time/?sh=57d745a9639b
9. Cruciata, G. (2020). The crisis of marijuana criminalization in Italy. Filter. https://filtermag.org/criminalization-italy-marijuana-hash/
10. Italy’s “cannabis light” creates buzz even if the pot won’t | AP News. (2021, May 1). AP News. https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-italy-business-courts-international-news-ea9ac614af74488b8977e3dbe54dd795

Cannabis cafes in Amsterdam have always been notorious, but is that the only way Holland has distinguished itself as an epicenter of cannabinoid culture? Why is cannabis purchasable in the Netherlands in the first place, and what does it mean for entrepreneurs seeking to enter the Dutch market? We’ll cover all the details in this comprehensive guide to cannabinoid law and culture in Holland.

A note on terminology

First, it’s important to clear up the confusing English terms that refer to Holland. Technically, Holland is only an area in the Netherlands, the official term for the nation of the Dutch people. However, in English and other languages, Holland is commonly used to refer to the Netherlands as a whole. As a result, the names “Holland” and “the Netherlands” are usually interchangeable even though they mean slightly different things.

Are cannabinoids legal in Holland?

Most cannabinoids are illegal in Holland, including THC, which is outright banned. If this situation seems counterintuitive at first, you’re not to blame.

Contrary to popular opinion, cannabis is not legal in Holland. Instead, Dutch authorities have simply turned a blind eye to black-market cannabis operations servicing a network of coffee shops, in which the sale of up to 5 grams of cannabis per person was decriminalized in 1976¹.

Decriminalization is not the same thing as legalization, however. THC possession and use remains a crime in the Netherlands.

The nation established an Office of Medicinal Cannabis in 2001², making it one of the first nations to allow medical use of THC. However, access to the official Dutch medical cannabis system is very limited and only available through the context of conventional medicine. Even users who rely on cannabis for medical purposes, therefore, usually acquire their THC through gray-market coffee shops anyway.

Holland has one of the most bizarrely restrictive policies on CBD found anywhere in the world. CBD products are allowed in the Netherlands, but only as long as they contain less than 0.05% THC³, six times less than the general standard of 0.3%.

Adhering to this policy means that only isolate and broad-spectrum CBD products are allowed in Holland, reducing the potential benefits of the entourage effect. There has been a recent effort to change Holland’s tourism image, and perhaps imposing strict restrictions on the CBD market is a way of showing solidarity with this movement.

History of cannabis in the Netherlands

During a Dutch Rail effort to establish a new train line to the northeast region of Holland, workers stumbled upon a 4,200-year-old grave⁴ containing traces of Cannabis sativa. As appears to be the case for the vast majority of Western Europe, ancient peoples inhabiting what is now the Netherlands clearly incorporated cannabis into their medicinal and religious rituals.

Cannabis use in the region of Holland was generally unstigmatized until the formation of the Dutch East India Company, which unveiled the use of cannabis as a narcotic by certain cultures of the Far East. The economic closeness of the Dutch with these cultures led to a serious cannabis import problem, which wasn’t fully addressed until the late 1920s.

While still following general EU and UN guidelines on illegal drugs, the Dutch chose to go their own way with cannabis by allowing cafes to sell it for recreational use since the 1970s. Over the course of nearly 50 years, though, this practice has only exacerbated, not alleviated, social pressures caused by the illegality of cannabis.

History of cannabis laws in Holland

The first historical record of Dutch cannabis law comes from 1921⁵ when a ban on cannabis was lifted in Dutch-controlled Suriname at the behest of an immigrant association. The Dutch clearly continued to struggle with controlling cannabis use and commerce, however, as is evidenced by a ban on cannabis in Dutch Indonesia in 1927⁶ and a subsequent ban in all Dutch holdings (including Holland) the following year.

Then, in 1953, the Netherlands signed the Geneva Convention on Drugs⁷, enshrining the Dutch cannabis ban in international law. This ban would only last 23 years, however, before a Dutch commission on drugs found reason to believe teenagers buying cannabis from street dealers would make them more likely to try more dangerous drugs as well.

The Dutch, therefore, made a distinction in their law between “hard” and “soft” drugs, with cannabis being one of the latter and now authorized for sale in coffee shops in quantities of up to 5 grams. What Dutch authorities failed to do at the same time, however, was ensure a supply of cannabis to these shops existed outside the black market.

As a result, all cannabis sold in Dutch coffee shops is still provided by black-market growers, which has only strengthened organized crime in the Netherlands. Cultural acceptance of cannabis has led to both legal and economic incentives to produce other drugs, like MDMA, in the Netherlands as opposed to other European countries, giving Holland an overall reputation of criminality that its increasingly cosmopolitan-leaning government is having trouble tolerating.

Which cannabinoids are legal in the Netherlands?

The only cannabinoid that can be considered legal in Holland is CBD, and even then only under very strict guidelines. The conception that THC is legal in the Netherlands is entirely erroneous, and the Dutch government has not given any indication that they intend to allow the sale of any cannabinoids other than CBD anytime in the near future.

Is CBD legal in Holland?

CBD is legal in Holland as long as it contains less than 0.05% THC, one of the lowest THC thresholds for CBD products in the world. Hemp or cannabis cannot legally be processed into CBD extract in the Netherlands, so any CBD products sold in the nation must be imported.

Even though it is not considered to be within the sphere of Holland’s medical cannabis system, CBD imports are nonetheless processed by the Healthcare and Youth Care Inspectorate. Those interested in importing cannabinoids into the Netherlands can learn more on the official website⁸ of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport.

Is CBG legal in Holland?

Holland has not made any special concessions for the recently popular cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) in the same way that it has for CBD, so it is safe to assume that CBG products are not allowed for import or sale in the Netherlands. Given the Dutch government’s unsparing approach to CBD commerce, it would be unwise to assume that imports of CBG or other non-CBD, non-intoxicating cannabinoids would simply fly under the radar.

Is THC legal in Holland?

No, THC-rich cannabis, still referred to as “marijuana,” remains illegal in the Netherlands for adult use. The only context in which THC cannabis is allowable in the Netherlands is when it is used and sold in authorized cannabis cafes or dispensed in pharmacies on a prescription basis. Coffee shop cannabis only becomes decriminalized at the point of sale with producers still operating entirely within the black market.

The Dutch medical cannabis program is too small and restrictive to meet a citizen’s average needs. The current “coffee shop” system only promotes low-quality products and criminal behavior. Clearly, the answer is a regulated and inclusive adult-use and medical cannabis industry, an answer that politicians in the Netherlands are proving slow to accept.

Does Holland have adult-use cannabis?

No, there is no adult-use cannabis program in the Netherlands. Citizens who wish to use cannabis products must buy them from a questionable coffee shop. Requests for third-party lab reports are often not taken seriously and usually do not result in the provision of any substantial information.

Once you have bought cannabis from a Dutch shop, you must use it on-site to stay within the nation’s decriminalization framework. It is illegal for Dutch authorities to arrest you for possession of under 5 grams of cannabis, but it is also illegal to possess THC-rich cannabis in any quantity, meaning that slap-on-the-wrist cannabis confiscations are common — especially in Dutch border towns.

Can you import cannabinoids into Holland?

Yes, importing cannabinoid products into Holland is the only way for them to enter the Dutch market. And, at present, the legitimate Dutch cannabinoid market consists solely of a highly restrictive CBD economy (<0.05% THC threshold) and a minuscule medical cannabis program mainly servicing the terminally ill, perhaps calling into question the overall viability of cannabinoid imports into the nation at this time.

Are there cannabinoid manufacturers in Holland?

No, the only cannabinoid manufacturers operating within the borders of Holland are either black-market or associated with the nation’s medical cannabis system. Processing hemp or cannabis for other reasons in the Netherlands is illegal by national law9.

Summary: Holland, an illusory cannabis paradise

It wasn’t so long ago that cannabis was fully illegal practically everywhere in the world. By contrast, the Netherlands served as a nearly comical oasis for cannabis use due to its unique coffee shop culture.

While cannabis tourism still brings in nearly $400 million a year, the cost to the Dutch social fabric has been severe. A program initially started to prevent youth drug use has made the Netherlands the drug capital of Europe. Holland is now known as the continental epicenter of drug and sex tourism, something local authorities never intended.

Ironically, Holland is now also one of the most backward European countries when it comes to overall cannabis law. By legitimizing a gray-area industry, the Dutch allowed their cannabis black market to blossom while disabling average citizens from enjoying the manifold benefits of cannabinoids.

Caution is certainly warranted when approaching the Dutch cannabinoid market in its current state. As intensely restrictive policies on CBD show, the Netherlands has had a complex and challenging relationship with cannabis over the last 50 years, necessitating a thoughtful and measured approach moving forward.

Sources

1. Visram, T. (2023). The Netherlands was once a cannabis pioneer, but it still hasn’t legalized weed. What happened? Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90832031
2. Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport. (2020, September 24). Office of Medicinal Cannabis – The Office of Medicinal Cannabis. https://english.cannabisbureau.nl/
3. Hazekamp, A. (2018). The Trouble with CBD Oil. Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids, 1(1), 65–72. https://doi.org/10.1159/000489287
4. Pascoe, R. (2012, April 11). Marijuana traces found in early bronze-age grave – DutchNews.nl. DutchNews.nl. https://www.dutchnews.nl/2012/04/marijuana_traces_found_in_earl/
5. Hoefte, R. (1998). In place of slavery: A Social History of British Indian and Javanese Laborers in Suriname.
6. Slone, T. H. (2003). Prokem.
7. UNODC – Bulletin on Narcotics – 1953 Issue 3 – 011. (1953, January 1). United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/bulletin/bulletin_1953-01-01_3_page012.html
8. Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport. (2021, September 14). Foreign patients and businesses. Import and Export | the Office of Medicinal Cannabis. https://english.cannabisbureau.nl/import-and-export/foreign-patients-and-businesses
9. Netherlands: An overview of the Dutch hemp market. (2020, May 18). USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/netherlands-overview-dutch-hemp-market

Renowned for its cultural sophistication, one might assume that French culture would warmly welcome cannabis. Just the contrary is true, though — today, France remains one of the few European nations with essentially zero medical or adult-use cannabis infrastructure, putting on an initially intimidating face for prospective cannabinoid entrepreneurs.

Just appraising France’s hardened exterior position on cannabis, however, would overlook its surprising acceptance of CBD. It’s unclear when, if ever, France will follow the rest of Europe’s lead on cannabis law. In the meantime, selling cannabinoid products in France certainly isn’t impossible even if the process presents unique challenges.

Are cannabinoids legal in France?

Some cannabinoids are legal for sale in France, but only by a hair’s breadth. CBD only became legal in France in 2021¹, for instance, by a court ruling that determined existing bans on CBD products were unconstitutional. This same ruling, though, determined that flowers of the hemp or cannabis plant containing CBD were still illegal, a ruling that was itself overturned two years later².

In summation, France has largely been forced to make certain legal concessions for the sale of CBD by pressure from its citizenry. After the dust cleared from a spate of overturned CBD rulings, it became clear that CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC are legal in France. The nation has not made any concessions for other cannabinoids, however, and THC remains strictly illegal in France except by specific government authorization.

History of cannabis in France

In 2015, archaeologist Hervé Delhoofs discovered a vase³ within the burial site of an ancient Gallic woman who died at around age 30 in the 2nd century BC. Further investigations found that the vase had been used to house wine infused with Cannabis sativa.

This isn’t the only evidence that the Galls and related peoples of ancient Europe used cannabis in the distant past, but it’s compelling on its own. It appears that cannabis was a component of most religious and healing rituals of ancient Europeans with knowledge of its medicinal properties decreasing rather than growing over the centuries.

By the year 1800, Napoleon’s French found cannabis to be so disruptive that it was banned throughout occupied Egypt⁴, where French troops had seized upon the intoxicating properties of hashish in a culture where alcohol was religiously banned. Nonetheless, cannabis found its way back to France, where it played a pivotal role in the nation’s arts and culture of the mid-1800s.

Most famously, the use of cannabis amongst the literati in Paris led to the rise of the Club du Hashischins, whose members included Charles Baudelaire, Victor Hugo, and Alexandre Dumas among others. Baudelaire became notable for his poetic description of the hashish experience in Les paradis artificiels, considered a seminal piece of psychonaut literature to this day.

History of cannabis laws in France

Even in 1800s France, cannabis was firmly illegal with strict punitive measures put in place to disincentivize its sale and use. This uniquely anti-cannabis stance persisted throughout the 20th century with France being one of the key signatories of the 1953 Geneva Convention on drugs⁵, considered to be one of the first international anti-drug policies.

In 1991, controversy erupted as a non-governmental organization was denied importation of cannabis into France for administration to 10 terminally ill patients. In its defense, the court issuing the order referenced France’s adherence to the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs⁶, which made imports of cannabis products illegal.

France is unusual in its strictness in following this Single Convention, however, with many other signatories allowing medical cannabis programs. The only reasonable conclusion to draw is that France remains uniquely held back by its anti-cannabis stigma, a stigma over two centuries in the making.

Which cannabinoids are legal in France?

As it stands, the only legal cannabinoid in France is CBD. It wasn’t until 2013⁷ that France allowed the processing of cannabis into strictly medical products, which could be acquired with a doctor’s prescription only when all other available prescription treatments failed. Five years later, France announced it was launching a full inquiry⁸ into the potential medicinal benefits of cannabis, which would involve volunteer patients with various conditions.

The inception of this cannabis “medical experimentation” was delayed until 2021, and reports indicate that some French citizens with epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and cancer have now received cannabis therapy. This highly limited, experimental program remains the only state-authorized form of THC cannabis commerce in France.

Is CBD legal in France?

Yes, French courts have been forced to admit that CBD products containing under 0.3% THC are admissible under both French and EU law⁹. As a result, products containing CBD but no more than 0.3% THC are now allowed for sale in France, opening up the French CBD market like never before.

Is CBG legal in France?

It does not appear that France’s good graces with CBD extend to similar compounds. It was necessary to impose immense pressure against the French court system to even allow CBD commerce, meaning that selling cannabinoids like CBG in France could still be many years away.

Is THC legal in France?

No, THC is largely illegal in France with the only exceptions being made for terminally or chronically ill patients who did not experience improvements with mainline treatments. As a result, France maintains a highly cautious approach to its THC laws, a stance that is beginning to be revisited and discussed publicly in order to align with the evolving perspectives in Europe.

Does France have adult-use cannabis?

No, adult-use or recreational cannabis is not legal in France. The nation has not even decriminalized small quantities of cannabis, a measure that many European nations have taken as a way of side-stepping comprehensive cannabinoid reform.

As a result, possession of even small amounts of cannabis in France could lead to arrests, fines, or even prison times. It is highly recommended that you do not possess or travel with THC-rich cannabis in France.

Can you import cannabinoids into France?

Importation of CBD products into France is possible, though a greater number of restrictions face entrepreneurs who would do so compared to other EU nations. The French judicial system has only begrudgingly admitted that CBD products are not marijuana, after all, and the overall position of the French government remains remarkably hostile against cannabinoids of all kinds.

Those seeking to import cannabinoids into France are strongly cautioned to work with a distributor that already operates within the EU or EEA. The French legal case that led to the legalization of CBD specified that only CBD products made in EEA countries are strictly legal, raising potential issues with the import of American CBD.

When offered in bulk, there’s usually nothing about CBD itself that indicates its nation of origin. Paperwork and packaging will say otherwise, though, underscoring the importance of working with a cannabinoid producer with operations in the European Economic Area.

Are there cannabinoid manufacturers in France?

No, there are not very many cannabinoid producers in France, and those that exist make medical cannabis products for the French government. Processing hemp into CBD extracts remains illegal in France, a fact that is quite ironic given the nation’s position on Cannabis sativa within the context of agriculture.

Summary: Is France ready for cannabinoids?

Stricken by continual riots and a refugee crisis over the last decade, it’s a small wonder that France has not remained abreast of the latest developments in the fineries of cannabinoid law. It seems that the French will continue to endure a lack of access to cannabinoid products for the foreseeable future, as their government shows no signs of expanding hemp commerce beyond CBD.

If CBD is the cannabinoid you want to offer to France, you happen to be in luck. The nation now accepts CBD imports as long as they are made in an EEA country. Other cannabinoids like CBG, though, may draw undue attention from French authorities despite their similarly non-psychoactive properties.

As CBD becomes more popular in France, it’s inevitable that the hearts of citizens and even bureaucrats will be softened to the benefits of cannabis, a plant with which the French have a unique history. Long-gone, though, are the socially disruptive hashish cafes of Baudelaire and Dumas — cannabis is becoming an everyday item for the rest of the world, and France will eventually follow suit.

Sources

1. Reuters. (2021, June 23). French court overturns ruling saying sale of cannabidiol is illegal. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-court-overturns-ruling-saying-sale-cannabidiol-is-illegal-2021-06-23/
2. Sabaghi, D. (2023, January 5). France’s Court Overturns Government Ban On Sale Of CBD Flowers. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2023/01/05/frances-court-overturns-government-ban-on-sale-of-cbd-flowers/?sh=7318ba3444c1
3. Bennett, C. (2020). The Cannabis infused Wine of Dionysus? www.academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/44689568/The_Cannabis_infused_Wine_of_Dionysus
4. Booth, M. (2015). Cannabis: A History. Macmillan.
5. UNODC – Bulletin on Narcotics – 1953 Issue 3 – 011. (1953, January 1). United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/bulletin/bulletin_1953-01-01_3_page012.html
6. SINGLE CONVENTION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS, 1961. (n.d.). United Nations. https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1961_en.pdf
7. TÖRnkvist, A. (2013, June 10). French law on pot-based medicine takes effect. The Local France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130610/legalized-cannabis-tea-could-be-on-drug-menu-for-french-patients-in-pharmacies
8. Jean-Luc MOUNIER. (2019, June 2). France to launch medical cannabis experiment in coming weeks. France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/20190602-france-launch-medical-cannabis-experiment-authier
9. Sabaghi, D. (2021, December 14). European Union Increases THC Level For Industrial Hemp. Why Does It Matter? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2021/12/14/european-union-increases-thc-level-for-industrial-hemp-why-does-it-matter

German culture is rich in historical traditions and is renowned for its long history of medical excellence. As a result, breakthroughs like cannabinoids are well-suited for German culture, but nonetheless, certain barriers remain in the way of a flourishing German cannabinoid economy.

As has always been the case in history, these barriers will be erased by the nuanced-yet-intrepid actions of individual companies as they expand the German cannabinoid economy. Along the way, specified knowledge will be required to avoid pitfalls and maximize successes. What is the current status of the cannabinoid market in Germany, and — specifically — how is German law shaping the evolution of the industry?

Are cannabinoids legal in Germany?

Yes, some cannabinoids are legal in Germany in certain contexts. For instance, Germany has adopted the general European Union (EU) position that non-food CBD products are usually acceptable for some form of reasonably unrestricted sale as long as they contain less than 0.2% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The German Bundestag is also hard at work on a major revision to the nation’s adult-use and medical cannabis laws. A series of two draft bills¹ are in the works that would, first, allow the reasonable possession of cannabis by German adults, and second, remove cannabis from the German Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG) or narcotics code.

Germany remains restricted in its ability to legalize cannabis by overall EU legislation, which has a significant impact on economic relations between member countries. Instead of allowing commercial sale of cannabis, for instance, the first draft bill was revised to simply allow possession and the establishment of “grower clubs” of up to 500 members each.

Among European nations, Germany is taking some of the greatest strides to accept cannabinoids. In the process, though, the prominent EU state is illustrating the significant challenges that are still operative in the European market — challenges continued investment into German cannabinoids is expected to gradually relieve.

History of German Cannabis

In “Marijuana Medicine: A World Tour of the Healing and Visionary Powers of Cannabis,” author Christian Rätsch relates how² people living in Thuringia, Central Germany, must have discovered cannabis as far back as 7,500 years ago. Also, cannabis seeds were found in the ashes of a funerary urn discovered in Wilmersdorf dating back to 500 BC. Clearly, cannabis has played a major role in German culture since before recorded history.

It’s only recently, in fact, that cannabis use in Germany received any stigma whatsoever. From the days of the ancient alchemists to the more-recent physicians of the Enlightenment age, Germans did more to promote the ancestral understanding of cannabis³ and its medical uses than, arguably, any other historical people.

German physicians were just as well-versed on the physical healing powers of cannabis as they were aware of its spiritual or psychological capacities. Even though cannabis has now been swept under the rug of prohibition practically worldwide, Germany can fall back on this ancestral reverence for the cannabis plant, a factor that makes it quite unique among European nations.

History of cannabis laws in Germany

Cannabis first entered the lexicon of German law in 1981 with the introduction of the BtMG⁴, Germany’s overall narcotics law. Germany had a law against opium in place in 1929, but the BtMG marked the country’s first move to restrict the production, possession, and use of cannabis and derivative products.

Regardless of the BtMG, Germany has long been known as having some of the most lax laws on drug possession and use. To be clear, possessing most narcotics is just as illegal in Germany as it is in the United States, but laws are somewhat looser in the realm of enforcement and prosecution.

Germany displayed its overall laissez-faire toward cannabis (and perhaps revealed its ancestral history with the plant) in 2007 when it became one of the first nations in the world to legalize medical cannabis⁵. This legislation remained so limited in scope, however, that by 2015⁶, it was estimated that only 300 Germans had access to medical cannabis products.

That all changed when Germany “renewed” its medical cannabis legislation in 2017, massively expanding the program⁷. At this point, it essentially became legal for all Germans to buy and possess cannabis through the state medical system. Restrictions on applications became considerably looser, resulting in a massive expansion of the German cannabinoid industry at large.

Just how large was this expansion? In 2022, Statista⁸ estimated that more than 6.7 million Germans now use cannabis, an increase from just 600,000 patients right after the expansion of the nation’s medical-use program in 2017.

This makes Germany one of the largest global cannabinoid economies, trailing just behind Canada (~7.5 million users⁹). One day, it’s even possible Germany will rival America’s cannabinoid economy (~48 million users¹⁰), given the nation’s considerable population size over that of Canada’s (83 million vs. 38 million).

Now, as mentioned at the beginning of this guide, German legislators are preparing to open the country’s cannabis economy even further. This is certainly an excellent time to be learning more about Germany and the nation’s perspective on cannabinoids.

Which cannabinoids are legal in Germany?

The country’s perspective on THC products may be unique, but German views on CBD, CBG, and other non-intoxicating cannabinoids are relatively generic and unlikely to pose significant challenges. That being said, an understanding of German views on CBD and similar compounds cannot be complete without taking the nation’s overall cannabis history into account. Below, we’ll take a look at the top three cannabinoids currently leading the international cannabinoid economy, diving deeper into the ways ancient German cannabis wisdom may be informing contemporary positions:

Is CBD legal in Germany?

Yes, CBD is legal in Germany both due to German law and the nation’s participation in the EU. CBD is not specified under the BtMG, so this German narcotics law has no bearing on the compound itself. Furthermore, EU regulations have long held that, under most circumstances, cannabis containing less than 0.2% THC (increased to 0.3% in 2021¹¹) is useable for industrial or scientific purposes, not for the purpose of intoxication.

German courts have a considerable history with CBD. In some cases, even CBD products containing less than 0.2% have been wrongly designated as having intoxicating value¹². Given the overall progression of EU cannabinoid law combined with Germany’s increased acceptance of Cannabis sativa in general, misunderstandings like these are certain to become increasingly uncommon.

Due to EU regulations, Germany views various categories of CBD products quite differently. Many orally ingested CBD products, for instance, are considered to be strictly for “industrial or commercial use,” but if the product is blatantly food-related, then it is ineligible for sale in Germany.

CBD gummies, for instance, are illegal in Germany since they violate EU code regarding CBD in food products. Cosmetics containing CBD are also viewed differently from other CBD products, another factor requiring due consideration when approaching the German CBD market.

Is CBD legal in Germany?

The CBD-adjacent cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) remains something of an unknown in Germany despite making considerable gains in American markets. Similar to CBD in being non-intoxicating but fully distinct in its effect and benefit profiles, CBG is certainly something Germans would be interested in under normal circumstances.

With CBD still on its way toward full acceptance in the country, however, attention for new cannabinoids remains divided. The challenge is to present CBG as something new and interesting for Germans to try without raising alarm among authorities that the cannabinoid is somehow more adjacent to THC than it is to CBD.

Is THC legal in Germany?

THC is not legal in Germany as an overall compound. The European country has massively expanded its medical cannabis industry in recent years with plans to expand it even more. THC-rich cannabis use in Germany remains restricted behind a strictly non-commercial wall, though — due to EU law, it is illegal to outright sell cannabis for general adult use within member states, a point it appears the Bundestag has currently chosen to accept rather than contest.

In summation, THC is only legal in Germany in the context of medical cannabis acquired via a state-run pharmacy. As this implies, a doctor’s prescription is also required to legally purchase THC-rich cannabis in Germany. While mainly a formality, this extra step creates extra legwork for consumers, a main driver behind recent legislation designed to revise the nation’s stance on cannabis.

Does Germany have adult-use cannabis?

No, adult-use or recreational cannabis is not legal in Germany. As a result, proper medical authorization is required to possess cannabis products, or the products must contain less than 0.2% THC in pursuance with EU code.

Lack of adult-use cannabis in Germany contributes to a persistence of access challenges for average Germans. Given the fact that the German government has moved so greatly in recent years to embrace cannabis, the proper stance is to simply empower Germans as allies in making their interest in cannabinoids heard.

Can you import cannabinoids into Germany?

Imports into Germany of cannabinoid products containing less than 0.3% THC generally follow EU code. The German government imposes significant regulations on the import of THC-rich cannabis, but no such regulations apply to cannabinoid products that the EU has determined are industrial hemp instead.

Are there cannabinoid manufacturers in Germany?

Cannabinoid manufacturers in Germany are generally restricted to medical or research purposes. There are, however, major cannabinoid manufacturers that have set up operations in neighboring European countries, ensuring steady access for German clients without dependence on uninterrupted intercontinental trade.

Summary: Future prospects of German cannabinoid culture

Germany is a nation with a proud and complex history. Reluctant to appear too headstrong, German lawmakers tend to defer to EU positions.

While this approach can certainly help a great deal in supporting European unity, it also sometimes fails to fully enshrine German distinctness. The truth of the matter is that Germany is objectively distinct in its relationship with cannabis, making it a prime target for the lifting of prohibition.

In approaching the German public or lawmakers regarding the issue of cannabis, this cultural distinctness may resonate strongly. Paired with proper respect for the nation’s impressive diplomatic acumen, forge an allegiance with the German people in their urge to return cannabis to the heart of their ancestral pharmacopeia.

In time, this disciplined and nuanced approach can’t help but develop Germany into the epicenter of the European cannabis industry that it was always fated to become. In the wider view, the complexities the German cannabinoid market currently faces are nothing compared to the future that is being sculpted by the industry’s visionaries.

Sources

1. Sabaghi, D. (2023, July 10). Germany Unveils Draft Bill To Legalize Cannabis. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2023/07/10/germany-unveils-draft-bill-to-legalize-cannabis/?sh=1fc6fd0d2272#:~:text=Under%20the%20draft%20bill%2C%20adults,a%20maximum%20of%20three%20plants

2. Google Books. (n.d.). https://www.google.com/books/edition/Marijuana_Medicine/o_dKbMFRSzUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=the+Healing+and+Visionary+Powers+of+Cannabis&printsec=frontcover

3. Grotenhermen, F. (2002). The Medical use of Cannabis in Germany. Journal of Drug Issues, 32(2), 607–634. https://doi.org/10.1177/002204260203200218

4. Details. (n.d.). https://www.unodc.org/LSS/Country/DetailsLegalSystem?code=DLIL&country=DE

5. Welle, D. (2007, August 21). Landmark drug ruling. dw.com. https://www.dw.com/en/germany-allows-patient-legal-use-of-cannabis/a-2746463

6. Welle, D. (2015, February 3). Cannabis in Germany. dw.com. https://www.dw.com/en/high-time-for-medical-marijuana-in-germany/a-18231922

7. Germany: Medical Marijuana Act Enters into Force. (2017, March 13). The Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2017-03-13/germany-medical-marijuana-act-enters-into-force/

8. Topic: Cannabis in Germany. (2023, June 13). Statista. https://www.statista.com/topics/11023/cannabis-in-germany/#topicOverview

9. Canadian Cannabis Survey 2022: Summary. (2022, December 16). Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/research-data/canadian-cannabis-survey-2022-summary.html#:~:text=Significant%20difference%20between%20males%20and%20females.&text=Overall%2C%2019%25%20of%20Canadians%20age,from%2017%25%20in%202021).

10. Data and statistics. (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/data-statistics.htm#:~:text=Marijuana%20is%20the%20most%20commonly,at%20least%20once%20in%202019.&text=Recent%20research%20estimated%20that%20approximately,marijuana%20have%20marijuana%20use%20disorder.

11. Sabaghi, D. (2021, December 14). European Union Increases THC Level For Industrial Hemp. Why Does It Matter? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2021/12/14/european-union-increases-thc-level-for-industrial-hemp-why-does-it-matter/?sh=4721a5e8128b#:~:text=The%20European%20Parliament%20approved%20on,enter%20into%20force%20in%202023.

12. Cannabis law and legislation in Germany | CMS Expert Guides. (n.d.). CMS Law.Tax. https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-a-legal-roadmap-to-cannabis/germany