The 2020 year of cannabis

Despite a year marked by stop-and-go Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the cannabis industry has seen significant developments around the world, paving the way for developments that are as promising as they are chaotic in 2021.

International Recognition of the Medical Benefits of Cannabis

At the international level, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs decided, following a lengthy process, to Reclassify cannabis and recognize its medical potential. Although symbolic, this decision has already had an impact and could facilitate the adoption of medical cannabis by countries that have so far been reluctant to do so.

The World Opens Up

Across the Americas, the momentum is stronger than ever toward legalization and the abolition of prohibition, if that hasn’t already happened:

• Canada is expected to exceed 2.6 billion $CA (1.6 billion €) in cannabis sales in 2020
• There are now 16 states in the United States where cannabis is legal and 2 states where it is illegal. All the others have either decriminalized either legalize medical use and/or CBD. Illinois has sold more than $ of cannabis in 2020.
• Mexico is expected to legalize it in 2021, after failing to do so in 2020
• South America is generally opening up to the large-scale production of medical cannabis for local needs and for export, as is the case in Uruguay or Colombia

Cannabis is still more widely decriminalized in the Caribbean, pending Legalization for Certain Islands.

In Asia, Thailand still stands out as something of an anomaly, even compared to Europe. After establishing an efficient system for the production and distribution of medical cannabis, it is now testing the cultivation of medical cannabis by individuals in addition to having decriminalized drugs for medical use.

Not far from there, the referendum in New Zealand failed to get its measure passed on the legalization of cannabis. In Australia, medical cannabis is growing rapidly and is now exported as far as Germany. After legalizing cannabis in 2019, the Australian Capital Territory wants to decriminalize small amounts of drugs.

In Africa, South Africa has made progress toward legalizing cannabis the initial outlines of which are now known. Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Nigeria are considering or have already enacted legislation to legalize hemp and/or medical cannabis for export, confirming the early positioning of the continent on cannabis.

In particular, Israel has made progress on its cannabis flower exports, ease Nationwide access to medical cannabis and announced his intention to legalize cannabis in 2021.

Lebanon, a land of cannabis, has so far approved the cultivation of cannabis with a low THC content. Morocco is still Reflections on the potential legalization.

Europe is moving forward slowly

The most significant event in Europe was probably the Ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Kanavape case : CBD is not a narcotic and should be able to circulate freely in Europe. The decision is expected to serve as a major springboard for the European CBD industry in 2021.

Germany has seen steady growth in the medical cannabis market, which is still entirely reliant on imports for the time being, and received a higher reimbursement than in previous years.

Malta continues to attract investment and issued its first license to produce medical cannabis products.

The Danish pilot program has provided increasing access to medical cannabis, undoubtedly positioning Denmark as a future key player in the European industry and supply chain.

The Netherlands has begun the process of legally producing recreational cannabis by issuing the first 10 licenses, laying the groundwork for the first truly regulated market in Europe.

The United Kingdom has seen a positive momentum for reform, driven by patients and advocacy groups. Medical cannabis is still hard to access and works by individual authorization under pressure from activists. A private medical cannabis program plans to treat 20,000 patients at a lower cost. A health insurance card, the Cancard, was also launched to protect medical users who cannot afford a prescription and who use cannabis illegally from prosecution, at the final discretion of law enforcement officials, who have been made aware of the issue.

In Ireland, patients will no longer have to travel to the Netherlands to pick up their cannabis-based medications.

France is stagnating

As if one misfortune weren't enough, the coronavirus pandemic was also fined for cannabis possession aimed at French consumers, yet another declaration of war on drugs and ongoing legal action against sellers of CBD flowers in certain regions of France, despite the Kanavape ruling.

There is hope, however, for 3,000 patients who, despite a great deal of reluctance and, thanks to a clear political effort, will likely be provided with medical cannabis in 2021. According to the latest information, the most recent deadlines announced will be met (the initial deadlines had called for the pilot program to launch in early 2020).

A A coalition of pro-legalization elected officials was also formed in 2020, bringing together political figures who are usually conservative on this issue.

As for CBD, the Parliamentary Fact-Finding Mission on Cannabis Use, following a series of hearings held in the summer of 2020, is expected to publish a report and its recommendations on the regulation of CBD in France in mid-January.