Denmark’s Medical Cannabis Program to Become Permanent
Denmark is making its biggest move yet towards a permanent medical cannabis program in what is considered a major development in European drug policy. Years of carefully implemented trial programs started back in 2018.
Denmark, home to some of the world’s biggest medical cannabis production facilities, is a significant player in European medical cannabis cultivation, where top companies like Aurora Cannabis and Canopy Growth set up important operations.
The permanent program brings with it clearer guidelines for health providers and researchers while establishing a stable environment in which further investments can be made in Danish cannabis production.
This move is particularly welcome for patients suffering from chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis and persistent pain, who now enjoy guaranteed long-term access to cannabis-based treatments.
Source: Forbes
FDA Approves Study on Cannabis for PTSD in Veterans
The FDA’s approval of the veteran’s PTSD study proposed by MAPS is a landmark event in cannabis research. At 320 participants, this is going to be one of the largest studies of its kind, in particular, how high-THC cannabis flower affects veterans who suffer from moderate to severe PTSD.
Indeed, around 1.1 million veterans struggle with PTSD; most often, they find conventional treatments unsatisfying; this puts the gravitas of this study in perspective.
Such findings could dramatically alter how the VA considers the drug as an available treatment option and, perhaps more quickly, larger federal policy changes regarding research into cannabis.
Source: Marketwatch
New York’s Legal Cannabis Sales Near $1 Billion
New York’s nearly $1 billion cannabis market shows how even the most rocky of rollouts can become a shining example of what’s possible under good regulation.
The state has conquered an array of challenges and lawsuits to roadside pot shops via ramped-up enforcement and increased licensing.
Growth in the market shows that regulated cannabis can thrive alongside illegal drug dealers if good enforcement and licensing regimes are in place.
The tens of millions of dollars in tax money thusly collected are funding everything from schools to anti-homelessness programs.
Source: New York Post
Mississippi Court Upholds Ban on Medical Marijuana Advertising
The Mississippi Court of Appeals decision upholding the ban on medical cannabis advertising represents a growing tension between the state and federal laws.
This evidences how such federal prohibition continues to bear upon the operators of state-legal cannabis in a variety of ways, not the least in the areas of true marketing and promotion.
This decision can have far-reaching consequences on how other states make decisions on cannabis advertising regulation and may eventually involve federal courts to address the underlying constitutional issues with regard to commercial speech rights.
Source: APNews
Berlin Senator Criticizes Cannabis Legalization
In Berlin, a critique by Justice Senator Felor Badenberg of the cannabis legalisation law in Germany points to bigger challenges of implementing cannabis reform throughout Europe.
She is worried that the new law will hamper police investigation into organized crime and black-market dealings, more so because it will limit their observation capability.
The move to have the law repealed, which Berlin and Baden-Württemberg have given together, illustrates the increasing difficulty of the problems the legislators have been trying to balance between personal freedom and public safety.
This debate will set a significant precedent in Germany that could affect how other European countries tackle cannabis reform, especially regarding law enforcement and public safety.
Source: Welt
